Monument to Pompeo Giustiniani Pompeo Giustiniani (1569–1616) was an Italian military commander and author.

Life

Giustiniani was born in 1569 in

Ajaccio Ajaccio (, , ; French language, French: ; or ; , locally: ; ) is the capital and largest city of Corsica, France. It forms a communes of France, French commune, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Corse-du-Sud, and head o ...

. He started his military career when he was only fourteen years old. In 1602, during the

Siege of Ostend The siege of Ostend was a three-year siege of the city of Ostend during the Eighty Years' War and the Anglo–Spanish War (1585), Anglo–Spanish War. A Spanish Empire, Spanish force under Archduke Albert (1559–1621), Archduke Albrecht besieg ...

, he was promoted

Maestre de campo ''Maestre de campo'' was a rank created in 1534 by the Emperor Charles I of Spain, inferior in rank only to the '' capitán general'' and acted as a chief of staff. He was chosen by the monarch in the Council of State, and commanded a ''tercio'' ...

in the

Army of Flanders The Army of Flanders (; ) was a field army of the Spanish Army based in the Spanish Netherlands between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was one of the longest-serving field armies of the early modern era, being founded in 1567 and disbanded in 170 ...

. Thanks to his military experience, he wrote ''Delle guerre di Fiandra'' (published in

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

by Joachim Trognaesius in 1609). He lost an arm in these conflicts and, from the artificial limb that he wore, came to be known by the sobriquet . In 1613 he entered service in the

Venetian army The Venetian army () was the army of the city-state of Venice, and later of the Republic of Venice and its dominions. During the Republic's early centuries, it was a force comprising an urban militia. During Venice's imperial age in the Late ...

. During the

Uskok War The Uskok War, also known as the War of Gradisca or the War of Friuli, was fought by the Austrians, Slovenes, Croats (from Croatia and Slavonia) and Spanish on one side and the Venetians, Croats (from Dalmatia and Istria), Slovenes (from Istri ...

, Giustiniani argued with other officials because of his promises of victory. In 1616 he besieged Gradisca, but he had to withdraw because the

Habsburg The House of Habsburg (; ), also known as the House of Austria, was one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of Europe and Western civilization. They were best known for their inbreeding and for ruling vast realms throughout Europe d ...

forces were too strong. On 10 October 1616, he died in battle at

Lucinico Lucinico (, ) is a ''frazione'' in Gorizia, in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The ''frazione'' lies 4.88 kilometres from the town of Gorizia. In literature Lucinico is featured in the last chapter of Italo Svevo's novel ''Zeno's Conscience''. In May 1915 ...

. He was buried in

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

, at the church of San Moisè.SANTON VANIA, Pompeo Giustiniani, Mastro di Campo a Gradisca, in 'Venezia non è da guerra'. L'Isontino, la Società friulana e la Serenissima nella guerra di Gradisca 1615–1617, Forum, 2008, pp. 35-48.

Works

* ''Delle guerre di Fiandra'', Antwerp, 1609 ** reprinted Venice, 1612
on Google Books
** reprinted Milan, 1615
on Google Books

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Giustiniani, Pompeo 1569 births 1616 deaths Italian soldiers Italian military writers Military personnel of the Eighty Years' War Republic of Venice military personnel killed in action People from the Republic of Genoa