Paolo Orsini (1369 – 5 August 1416) 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 ...

and lord of

Canino Canino is a town and ''comune'' of Italy, in the province of Viterbo (northern Lazio) in the internal part of Maremma Laziale. It is west of Valentano and northwest of Viterbo. It is also near the ancient Etruscan town of Vulci, and the des ...

Fiano Romano Fiano Romano is a town and ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Italy, approximately north of the city. Fiano Romano borders the following municipalities: Capena, Civitella San Paolo, Montelibretti, Montopoli di Sabina, Na ...

Gallese Gallese is an Italian ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Viterbo, from Viterbo. It was taken by Duke Thrasimund II of Spoleto in 737 or 738, at which time it was essential to communications between Rome and Ravenna and had a large for ...

Olevano Romano Olevano Romano is a (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Italian region of Latium, located about east of Rome. It is the probable birthplace of the composer Giovanni Gentile. Culture Starting from the early 19th century, and c ...

Orvieto Orvieto () is a city and ''comune'' in the Province of Terni, southwestern Umbria, Italy, situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff. The city rises dramatically above the almost-vertical faces of tuff cliffs that are compl ...

Marta Marta may refer to: People * Marta (given name), a feminine given name * Märta, a feminine given name * Marta (surname) * Marta (footballer) (born 1986), Brazilian professional footballer Places * Marta (river), an Italian river that flow ...

Montalto di Castro Montalto di Castro is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the province of Viterbo, in the Italian region of Lazio, located about northwest of Rome and about west of Viterbo. It is home to a large fossil fuel powered power plant managed by Enel and t ...

Narni Narni () is an ancient hilltown and (municipality) of Umbria, in central Italy, with 19,252 inhabitants (2017). At an altitude of , it overhangs a narrow gorge of the River Nera in the province of Terni. It is very close to the geograp ...

and

Tuscania Tuscania is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Viterbo, Lazio Region, Italy. Until the late 19th century the town was known as Toscanella. History Antiquity According to the legend, Tuscania was founded by Aeneas' son, Ascanius, wher ...

. He belonged to the

Orsini family The House of Orsini is an Nobility of Italy, Italian noble family that was one of the most influential princely families in Middle Ages, medieval Italy and Renaissance Rome. Members of the Orsini family include five popes: Pope Stephen II, Step ...

. He married Rita Sanguigni and with her had two children, Giampaolo and Calvinia, on whom little evidence survives. He also had an illegitimate son Francesco who also became a condottiero.

Life

The son of Francesco Orsini, he distinguished himself as a soldier and diplomat from his youth onwards. In the struggles between

Ladislaus of Naples Ladislaus the Magnanimous (, ; 15 February 1377 – 6 August 1414) was King of Naples from 1386 until his death and an unsuccessful claimant to the kingdoms of Hungary and Croatia. Ladislaus was a skilled political and military leader, protector ...

and

Pope Innocent VII Pope Innocent VII (; ; 1339 – 6 November 1406), born Cosimo de' Migliorati, was head of the Catholic Church from 17 October 1404 to his death, in November 1406. He was pope during the period of the Western Schism (1378–1417), and was opposed ...

, he re-established the pope's authority over Rome in 1406 and the following year defended Innocent against Ladislaus' allies in the

Colonna family The House of Colonna is an Italian noble family, forming part of the papal nobility. It played a pivotal role in Middle Ages, medieval and Roman Renaissance, Renaissance Rome, supplying one pope (Pope Martin V, Martin V), 23 cardinals and many ot ...

and was made

Captain General of the Church The captain general of the Church () was the ''de facto'' commander-in-chief of the Papal States' armed forces (generally, the Papal Army and the Papal Navy) from the Middle Ages into the early modern period. The post was usually conferred on ...

. During Innocent's time away from Rome, Paolo sided with

Louis II of Anjou Louis II (5 October 1377 – 29 April 1417) was Duke of Anjou and Count of Provence from 1384 to 1417; he claimed the Kingdom of Naples, but only ruled parts of the kingdom from 1390 to 1399. His father, Louis I of Anjouthe founder of the House o ...

against a new assault by Ladislaus, managing to defeat him in the 1411

battle of Roccasecca Roccasecca is a town and ''comune'' in the Province of Frosinone, in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is the birthplace of Thomas Aquinas. History The history of Roccasecca is tightly bound to its strategic position, a "dry '' rocca''" at ...

.Paolo Orsini's entry on condottieridiventura.it.
/ref> Whilst en route to the

battle of Sant'Egidio The Battle of Sant'Egidio was fought on 12 July 1416 at Sant'Egidio, near Umbertide (central Italy) between the condottiere Braccio da Montone and the troops of Perugia, under Carlo I Malatesta. Braccio's victory resulted in his long-desired c ...

against Braccio da Montone, Paolo was treacherously killed by his enemies

Angelo Tartaglia Angelo Broglio da Lavello, known as Angelo Tartaglia (1350 or 1370–1421), was an Italian condottiero and nobleman, captain of the Papal Army, lord of Lavello and Toscanella. Biography Born in Lavello, Basilicata, Tartaglia trained at th ...

, Cristoforo da Lavello and

Ludovico Colonna Ludovico Colonna (1390 - 12 October 1436) was an Italian condottiero, count of Santa Severina and lord of Ardea. An illegitimate son of Giovanni Colonna, he began his military career at a young age, joining Braccio da Montone's 'compagnia di v ...

Colfiorito Colfiorito (; "Flowery Hill") is a village in Umbria, central Italy, now a (borough) of the (municipality) of Foligno. Under its Roman name Plestia, it was the seat of a Roman Catholic bishopric which is currently a titular see. It is known for ...

and his army overwhelmed by Braccio's force. A later anonymous sonnet on him stated

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Orsini, Paolo 1369 births 1416 deaths

Paolo Paolo is a masculine given name, the Italian language, Italian form of the name Paul (name), Paul. It may refer to: People Art * Paolo Abbate (1884–1973), Italian-American sculptor * Paolo Alboni (1671–1734), Italian painter * Paolo Anton ...