Braccio da Montone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Braccio da Montone
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| Prince of Capua | |
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| Prince of Capua | |
| Coat of arms | |
| Reign | July 1421 – 5 June 1424 |
| Predecessor | Rinaldo d'Angiò-Durazzo |
| Successor | Sergianni Caracciolo |
| Born | Andrea Fortebraccio Perugia |
| Died | 5 June 1424 (aged 55) L'Aquila |
| Buried | Chiesa di San Francesco al Prato, Perugia |
| Noble family | Fortebraccio |
| Spouse(s) | Elisabetta Armanni Nicolina da Varano |
| Issue | Oddo Fortebraccio Lucrezia Fortebraccio Carlotta Fortebraccio Carlo Fortebraccio (legitimate) |
| Father | Oddo Fortebraccio |
| Mother | Giacoma Montemelini |
Braccio da Montone (born Andrea Fortebraccio on July 1, 1368 – died June 5, 1424) was a famous Italian condottiero. A condottiero was a leader of a group of soldiers for hire. These groups were called "companies of fortune." Braccio was known for his clever military tactics.
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Who Was Braccio da Montone?
Braccio da Montone was born in Perugia, Italy. His father was Oddo Fortebraccio, a nobleman. His mother was Giacoma Montemelini.
Braccio married Elisabetta Ermanni and they had three daughters. After she passed away in 1419, he married Niccolina Varano. They had a son named Carlo. Braccio also had another son, Oddo, who later became a condottiero like his father.
Starting a Military Career
Braccio began his military journey as a young page. He worked for a military leader named Guido d'Asciano. His family was forced to leave Perugia. Braccio also lost his family's castle in Montone.
Because of this, he joined the "Company of St. George." This company was led by Alberico da Barbiano. Here, Braccio became friends with another future famous condottiero, Muzio Attendolo Sforza. Braccio led a small group of 150 knights. He used quick, surprise attacks. These actions showed the smart tactics his own company would use later.
Fighting Across Italy
After a short time back in Montone, Braccio fought for different powerful families. These included the Montefeltro and the Malatesta families in Romagna. He was slightly hurt during a battle in 1391. In 1394, he was captured but was set free after a payment.
He fought for Barbiano again in the Kingdom of Naples in 1395. Two years later, the city of Florence hired him. In 1398, he fought for the Pope against his home city of Perugia.
In 1402, Braccio fought against the army of Milan for the Pope. The next year, Pope Boniface IX took back control of Bologna, Perugia, and Assisi. But Braccio and other exiles from Perugia could not return home. So, Braccio joined Barbiano again. He fought against Faenza and the Pope's lands.
Some of his companions thought Braccio was planning to harm their commander. So, Braccio had to escape. In 1406, he fought against Perugia with other exiles. The next year, many of these exiles joined Braccio's new company. They attacked the countryside around Umbria. In May 1407, the people of Rocca Contrada made him their lord. They did this in exchange for his help against the ruler of Fermo.
Serving Kings and Popes
Later, Braccio worked for King Ladislaus of Naples. Ladislaus was fighting Florence and the Pope. Braccio commanded 1,200 horsemen and 1,000 foot soldiers. He attacked lands near Foligno. But when Perugia agreed to be under Ladislaus's rule, Braccio switched sides. He moved to Ancona and captured Jesi.
In 1409, Braccio fought at Città di Castello for Florence. Then he went to Rome and surrounded Castel Sant'Angelo. He returned to the Marche region for the winter. In 1410, Rome was attacked by troops from Naples and other mercenary groups, including Braccio's. When the Neapolitan troops left, Braccio attacked and defeated them at Sora. He also took valuable goods from Sora.
In the same year, he worked for both Florence and Spoleto. But he still tried to capture Perugia, though he failed. His army's fast movements became famous. A new way of fighting for condottieri was even named after him: the Braccesca school.
Becoming a Powerful Lord
The next year, Antipope John XXIII gave Braccio the town of Montone. He also made him governor of Bologna. Braccio used this power to get a lot of money from cities in Romagna. In 1414, he fought in Todi against Sforza. Sforza had been hired by the King of Naples. In June, Braccio entered Florence and signed a 10-year peace agreement with the city.
In August, King Ladislaus died. Braccio then freed Bologna after receiving a huge payment of 180,000 gold coins called ducats. He then took over most of Umbria. His main goal was to finally conquer Perugia, the city that had exiled him. Perugia gave itself to Carlo Malatesta.
At the battle of Sant'Egidio on July 12, 1416, Braccio's army won. This battle was later shown in a famous painting by Paolo Uccello. Perugia was finally forced to let Braccio da Montone enter. Other cities in Umbria, like Todi, Narni, Orvieto, and Terni, also made him their lord. At this point, Braccio da Montone was close to creating his own state in central Italy.
He asked the new Pope Martin V to make him the Pope's representative for Umbria. But the Pope sent two armies against him. Braccio defeated them both. On March 14, 1419, he met the Pope in Florence. He finally received the title he wanted. This included control over Perugia, Todi, Assisi, Spello, Jesi, and other places. In return, he had to remove Antongaleazzo Bentivoglio from Bologna. After conquering Bologna, Braccio could finally return to Perugia. He enjoyed ruling the city that had once forced him and his family to leave.
Final Battles and Death
Later, Pope Martin V removed Joanna II, the Queen of Naples, from her position. The Pope named Louis III of Anjou as the new heir to the throne. Queen Joanna then named King Alfonso of Aragon as her heir. She asked Braccio da Montone to fight for her.
Once again, Braccio faced Sforza, who was leading the army for Louis. There wasn't a big open battle. Braccio's army moved all over Abruzzo. Queen Joanna gave him control of Teramo. Soon after, Braccio began a 13-month-long siege of L'Aquila. Meanwhile, on February 3, 1424, Braccio was made a top commander of the Kingdom. He also received the lands of Capua and Foggia. However, Queen Joanna later changed her mind. She left Alfonso and joined Louis. Braccio remained loyal to Alfonso.
The final battle happened just outside the walls of L'Aquila, which was still under siege. It was near a small village called Bazzano.
On June 2, the battle took place. Many famous condottieri of the time fought there. Braccio was badly wounded in the neck. He was captured and taken to L'Aquila. He died three days later, on June 5, 1424. The Pope had him buried in unconsecrated ground. This was because Braccio had been removed from the church before he died. His body stayed there until 1432. Then, his nephew Niccolò Fortebraccio moved it to the church of San Francesco al Prato in Perugia.
