| Tommaso Caracciolo, Count of Roccarainola | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 March 1572 Naples |
| Died | 05 December 1631 Naples |
| Allegiance | Spain |
| Years of service | 1594 - 1631 |
| Battles/wars | Eighty Years' War Thirty Years' War |
Tommaso Caracciolo, Count of Roccarainola (10 March 1572 – 5 December 1631), was among others a Field Marshal who commanded parts of the Spanish forces in the Thirty Years' War.
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His father, Tristano Caracciolo, was the son of Michele Caracciolo, II. Baron of Castelfranco (Terra di Lavoro) and signore of Lusciano (Terra di Lavoro) and Ponte Albaneto (Capitanata). Michele had the lordship of these lands from 1530 to his death in 1548, having inherited them from his uncle Berardino Caracciolo, created first baron by privilege signed by the King Fernando I of Aragon at Castelnovo of Naples on the 20 June 1598.[1]
He seems to have had some military experiences since youthful, being reported (although not proved) his assistance in the siege of Brichesario (1594). On 25 August 1600 he was made a captain by his relative Camillo Caracciolo (1563–1617), Count of Avellino, who entrusted him a tercio. On 5 September he was made a sergeant major of this tercio.[2]
He took part at the Siege of Ostend.[3]
He is mentioned as Maestro de campo (Field marshal) along the war in Montferrat (1614–1617).[4]
He is ordered to Sicily as a Turkish invasion was supposed. The viceking, Count of Osuna made him captain of war of the Val di Noto (between Catania and Messina).[5]
On 2 January 1619 he got the permit to leave Sicily an came back to Naples where he took part in the expedition of Carlo Spinelli to Bohemia as an adventurer without military order. Later the same Carlo Spinelli refuses to serve under Tommaso Caracciolo in Germany.[6]
He commanded parts of the Spanish troops on the way to the Battle of White Mountain north of Prague on 8 November 1620, in which half of the enemy forces were killed or captured.[7] After that the Emperor called him to the post of Master field general in Moravia, on the 22 July 1621.[8]
He successfully captured a hill with wallonian musceteers under his command at the Battle of Höchst.[9]
He was defeated by Savoian-French troops near Voltaggio, which he left to meet the enemy, being taken a prisoner by the Duke of Savoia on the 9 September 1625, in which hands he remained until on the 11 September 1625 Philip IV of Spain paid for his rescue.
After passing two years in Milano, he came back to Naples on the 3 August 1625, being appointed «Commissario e Supraintendente generale delle fortificazioni» of the Reign, a post that he maintained till his death. By his military services, the king of Spain had appointed him Duke of Roccarainola.[10]