Marcantonio Colonna

Marcantonio Colonna.
The Victors of Lepanto (from left: John of Austria, Marcantonio Colonna, Sebastiano Venier).

Marcantonio II Colonna (sometimes spelled Marc'Antonio; 1535 August 1, 1584), Duke of Tagliacozzo and Duke and Prince of Paliano, was an Italian general and admiral.

Biography

Marcantonio Colonna, born at Civita Lavinia, was a member of the Colonna noble family of the Lazio, then one of the most powerful fief holder of the Papal States and the Kingdom of Sicily, which was under Spanish rule. His parents were Ascanio Colonna, Duke of Tagliacozzo and Giovanna d'Aragona.

In 1553–1554, during the war against Siena, Colonna was created commander of the Spanish cavalry. At the Battle of Lepanto (October 7, 1571), his admiral ship was protagonist of the decisive victory of the Christian League against the Ottoman fleet. On his return to Rome, Pope Gregory XIII confirmed him Captain General of the Church.

In 1577 King Philip II named him Viceroy of Sicily. Marcantonio Colonna was also Lord [Signor] of Marino, then a village some kilometers south of Rome, where the population honoured him with a great feast which is held yearly still today, under the name of "Sagra dell'uva".

Coats of arms of Marcantonio Colonna.

External links


Preceded by
Carlo d'Aragona Tagliavia
Viceroy of Sicily
15771584
Succeeded by
Juan Alfonso Bisbal