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 at Lavello, Basilicata, he trained under the military school of Ceccolo Broglia and served the Republic of Florence. On 26 June 1402, he fought in the Battle of Casalecchio, charged with overseeing the bridge of Reno but he left his position to participate in the combat, leaving the camps without any defense on his side. His imprudence cost the defeat of his army and Tartaglia was captured and imprisoned.
Released, he assumed responsibility for the defeat but not enough to appease the wrath of Muzio Attendolo, who didn't tolerate his action. Since then, Tartaglia and Sforza got into bad relations and established a strong rivalry that lasted forever. In 1409, he fought in the service of Ladislaus of Naples, defending Perugia and Civitavecchia from the assaults of Braccio da Montone and conquering Rome, scaring away the antipope John XXIII.
As a token of gratitude, Ladislaus gave him the title of lord of Toscanella in 1413. In 1418, he swore allegiance to the Pope Martin V and occupied Assisi one year later and other territories between Lazio and Umbria. Tartaglia was arrested in his sleep by his rival Muzio Attendolo. After being tortured, he was decapitated at Aversa in 1421.
Bibliography
- Antonio Di Chicco, Il condottiero Angelo Tartaglia di Lavello, nel primo Ventennio del sec. XV, Lavello, Tip. Finiguerra, 1957; nuova edizione TARSIA di Melfi, 1990.
- Patrizia Chiatti, La biografia del condottiero Angelo Tartaglia (1370-1421), Edizioni Penne & Papiri, Tuscania, 2011.