Fabrizio Colonna ( – 18 March 1520) was an Italian

condottiero Condottieri (; singular: ''condottiero'' or ''condottiere'') were Italian military leaders active during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The term originally referred specifically to commanders of mercenary companies, derived from the ...

, a member of the powerful Colonna family. He was the son of Edoardo Colonna and Filippa Conti. Fabrizio was born sometime before 1452. He was married to Agnese di Montefeltro daughter of Federico da Montefeltro, 1st Duke of

Urbino Urbino ( , ; Romagnol: ''Urbìn'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Italy, Italian region of Marche, southwest of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical legacy of independent Renaissance culture, especially und ...

, and Battista Sforza. Fabrizio was known as count of Tagliacozzo and grand constable of the

kingdom of Naples The Kingdom of Naples (; ; ), officially the Kingdom of Sicily, was a state that ruled the part of the Italian Peninsula south of the Papal States between 1282 and 1816. It was established by the War of the Sicilian Vespers (1282–1302). Until ...

. During the Italian War of 1499–1504, he played a notable part in the Battle of Cerignola in 1503. He was a general in the Holy League that fought against Louis XII of France from 1509 to 1515, and at the Battle of Ravenna, he commanded the army of the

Papal States The Papal States ( ; ; ), officially the State of the Church, were a conglomeration of territories on the Italian peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope from 756 to 1870. They were among the major states of Italy from the 8th c ...

against France. His daughter was Vittoria Colonna, who was an Italian poet, and a close friend of

Michelangelo Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6March 147518February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspir ...

. His son Ascanio Colonna (1500–1557) was 2nd Duke of Paliano and father of Marcantonio Colonna (1535-1584). His nephew Marcantonio was also a successful general. Fabrizio is the main speaker in Machiavelli's '' The Art of War'' and is referenced throughout the book as an authority on both Classical and current military structure, strategy, and tactics.

References

1450s births 1520s deaths Fabrizio 16th-century condottieri Military leaders of the Italian Wars 15th-century condottieri People of the Italian Wars of 1499–1504 {{Italy-mil-bio-stub

See also

References