Leone Strozzi
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Leone Strozzi (October 15, 1515 - June 28, 1554) was an Italian condottiero belonging to the famous Strozzi family of Florence.
[edit] Biography
He was the son of Filippo Strozzi the Younger and Clarice de' Medici, and brother to Piero, Roberto and Lorenzo Strozzi.
After his father's defeat in the Battle of Montemurlo, he fled with his brothers to France, at the court of Catherine de' Medici. Later he fought against Cosimo I de' Medici at Siena, but was again defeated.
In 1530 he became Knight of the Order of Malta, for which he was Prior in Capua. In 1536 he was named commander of the galleys of the Order, a position he held again in 1552. In 1544 he was ambassador for the Order at Constantinople. Later Strozzi was also admiral of the French Navy, distinguishing himself in numerous campaigns against Spain and England.
He died in the siege of Scarlino, in Tuscany, during the unsuccessful defence of Republic of Siena against Florence and the Holy Roman Empire, shot by an arquibuse ball.
