Jacopo Caldora

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Jacopo Caldora (1369 - December 18, 1439) was an Italian condottiero.

[edit] Biography

Caldora was born in Castel del Giudice (Abruzzo, then part of the Kingdom of Naples), into a feudatary family. He began his military career under Braccio da Montone, and, returned to his lands, expanded them by hiring mercenaries from the mountains around. Called to Neapolitan court by Queen Joan II of Anjou, he became a favourite of powerful minister Sergianni Caracciolo.

However, in the political turmoil of the period, Caldora became later a general of Alfonso V of Aragon in his conquest of the Kingdom. When the Aragonese troops were left under siege in Naples, he changed side again and received by Joan the title of conestabile, serving as assistant to the Kingdom's commander-in-chief Muzio Attendolo Sforza. When in 1424 the latter drowned before the Battle of L'Aquila, Caldora led the Angevine army to the victory.

Subsequently he continued to defend the Anjou cause after Alfonso's return. In 1431 he was sent to fight against the excommunicated Colonna in southern Lazio, but he was bribed by them and remained unactive. When his protector Sergianni Caracciolo died, and the marriage of his daughter to Francesco Sforza was annulled by Pope Martin V, he returned to his lands.

He died during a siege at Colle Sannita, near Benevento. His son Antonio Caldora was also a successful condottiero.