Giuseppe Rondizzoni (14 March 1788 – 24 May 1866) was an Italian army officer who contributed to the independence of

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...

Early life and Napoleonic Wars

He was born in Mezzano Superiore on 14 March 1788. Rondizzoni joined the French Imperial Guard in 1807. As a part of Napoleon's army he took part in the Spanish campaign in 1808 and the Austrian one in 1809. In 1812 he participated in the campaign of Russia and the year following in that of Germany. He fought with

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

until his end in 1813 and 1814 in Germany (the battles of Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresden, Leipzig, Magdeburg). In 1815, with the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

, Rondizzoni gave evidence that was of great value in

Waterloo Waterloo most commonly refers to: * Battle of Waterloo, 1815 battle where Napoleon's French army was defeated by Anglo-allied and Prussian forces * Waterloo, Belgium Waterloo may also refer to: Other places Australia * Waterloo, New South Wale ...

. The Napoleonic Wars caused him a total of four wounds and earned him twenty mentions in dispatches for his courage. He also received the

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...

Chile

Returning to Italy after Waterloo, Rondizzoni was admitted to the Regiment of the

Duchy of Parma The Duchy of Parma and Piacenza (, ) was an Italian state created in 1545 and located in northern Italy, in the current region of Emilia-Romagna. Originally a realm of the Farnese family after Pope Paul III made it a hereditary duchy for his s ...

which was then ruled by

Marie Louise of Austria Marie Louise (Maria Ludovica Leopoldina Franziska Theresia Josepha Lucia; 12 December 1791 – 17 December 1847) was Duchess of Parma from 11 April 1814 until her death in 1847. She was Napoleon's second wife and as such Empress of the French a ...

. Later he moved to

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

in the United States, and it was in this city, that he met the Chilean General

Jose Miguel Carrera Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. Given name Mishnaic and Talmudic periods *Jose ben Abin *Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galilean *Jose ben Halafta *J ...

. In February 1817 he traveled with him to

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...

on the schooner ''Clifton''. In July 1817 he joined the Chilean army and took part in ''Sorpresa de Cancha Rayada'' battle. He left the army after the shooting of the Carrera brothers, but came back in 1823 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Rondizzoni participated in the expedition for the liberation of

Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...

from the Spaniards earning the rank of

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

. Then he took part in the expedition of Chiloe in 1824 and 1826. He participated in the civil war of 1829–1830, fighting with

Ramón Freire Ramón Saturnino Andrés Freire y Serrano (; November 29, 1787 – December 9, 1851) was a Chilean political figure. He was head of state on several occasions, and enjoyed a numerous following until the War of the Confederation. Ramón Fr ...

in the battles of Ochagavía and Lircay. The defeat suffered in the last battle forced him going into exile, first in Peru and then in

El Salvador El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. El Salvador's capital and largest city is S ...

. He returned to Chile in 1839, where he was appointed governor of Constitución on 12 April 1842 and governor of

Talcahuano Talcahuano () (From Mapudungun ''Tralkawenu'', "Thundering Sky") is a port city and commune in the Biobío Region of Chile. It is part of the Greater Concepción conurbation. Talcahuano is located in the south of the Central Zone of Chile. ...

on 29 August 1849. In 1843 he was promoted to brigadier general. He remained loyal to the government during the Revolution of 1851, fighting in the

Battle of Loncomilla The Battle of Loncomilla was the decisive battle of the 1851 Chilean Revolution between conservative government and liberal rebel forces on 8 December 1851. The conservative victory in the battle essentially crushed the revolution. The rebel a ...

. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff in 1851. That same year he became ''intendente'' of Concepción and ''intendente'' of Chiloe in January 1853. In 1861 he took leave of the Army and retired in

Valparaíso Valparaíso () is a major city, Communes of Chile, commune, Port, seaport, and naval base facility in the Valparaíso Region of Chile. Valparaíso was originally named after Valparaíso de Arriba, in Castilla–La Mancha, Castile-La Mancha, Spain ...

where he died on 24 May 1866. Appointed a Member of the Legion of Merit of Chile, General Rondizzoni is still living in the memory of his adopted country, which has named streets, squares and monuments and even a fortified work in the port of Talcahuano in his honour.

Sources

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rondizzoni, Giuseppe 1788 births 1866 deaths Italian military personnel of the Napoleonic Wars Italian emigrants to Chile Military personnel from the Province of Parma People from Mezzani Chilean Army generals People of the Chilean War of Independence People of the Chilean Civil War of 1829–30 Intendants of Concepción Province Intendants of Chiloé Province