Filippo di Piero Strozzi
Encyclopedia
Filippo di Piero Strozzi (French
: Philippe Strozzi) (1541 – July 27, 1582) was an Italian condottiero, a member of the Florentine family of the Strozzi
. He fought mainly for France.
to Piero Strozzi
and Laudomia de' Medici. His father had been exiled from his native city, and had been received in France by Queen Catherine de' Medici
, being appointed as Marshal of France
. Filippo became page
of the future king Francis II
.
In 1557 Strozzi entered the French army. Starting from first battles in Piedmont
, he fought in numerous of the battles of the 16th century. In 1558 the took part to the siege of Calais
against England, in which his father was killed. In 1560 he was sent to Scotland
to fight for the rebels, and was made lord of Épernay
. Three years later he became colonel of the Royal Guards.
In 1564 he came on help to Emperor Maximilian II
during the Ottoman
invasion in Hungary, and the following year he faced again the Ottomans at the siege of Malta
. From there he moved to Rome, called to counter the Turk menace in the Adriatic Sea
, distinguishing himself in the defence of Ancona
. He later fought also in Transilvania.
Returned to France in 1567, he fought against the Huguenots. Two years later he became the sole Colonel General
(commander-in-chief of the army) of France, and subsequently took part to the long siege of La Rochelle
. He was accompanied by his friend Pierre de Bourdeille
. In 1573 foughts alongside the House of Orange against the Spaniards.
In 1581 Filippo Strozzi exchanged the position of General Commander for that of lord of Bressuire
and was called by António, Prior of Crato
(Portuguese claimant to the Portuguese throne against Spanish Habsburg King Philip II
) as a private mercenary. With a contingent of French, Dutch, English and Portuguese volunteers, he set sail to the Azores
, a Portuguese Atlantic territory that still did not recognize Philip II as king. His fleet was however destroyed in the Battle of Terceira (July 26, 1582) by the Spanish navy under the great admiral, Álvaro de Bazán, 1st Marquis of Santa Cruz
.
Taken prisoner, he was executed at the age of 42, by being wounded to death and then thrown into the sea from a Spanish ship, as a pirate. The harsh punishments meted out to the unfortunate Strozzi and captured members of his crews were carried out at the instructions of the Spanish admiral, despite much protest from his own crews.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Philippe Strozzi) (1541 – July 27, 1582) was an Italian condottiero, a member of the Florentine family of the Strozzi
Strozzi
Strozzi is the name of an ancient and noble Florentine family. Palla Strozzi played an important part in the public life of Florence, and founded the first public library in Florence in the monastery of Santa Trinita...
. He fought mainly for France.
Biography
He was born in FlorenceFlorence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
to Piero Strozzi
Piero Strozzi
Piero Strozzi was an Italian military leader. He was a member of the rich Florentine family of the Strozzi.-Biography:Piero Strozzi was the son of Filippo Strozzi the Younger and Clarice de' Medici....
and Laudomia de' Medici. His father had been exiled from his native city, and had been received in France by Queen Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen consort of France from 1547 until 1559, as the wife of King Henry II of France....
, being appointed as Marshal of France
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
. Filippo became page
Page
-Position or occupation:* Page , a traditionally young male servant* Page * Page of Honour, a ceremonial position in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom* A participant in any of the following programs:...
of the future king Francis II
Francis II of France
Francis II was aged 15 when he succeeded to the throne of France after the accidental death of his father, King Henry II, in 1559. He reigned for 18 months before he died in December 1560...
.
In 1557 Strozzi entered the French army. Starting from first battles in Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
, he fought in numerous of the battles of the 16th century. In 1558 the took part to the siege of Calais
Siege of Calais (1558)
The Siege of Calais was fought in early 1558 during the Habsburg-Valois Wars. A French force commanded by the Duke of Guise captured the city of Calais from the English, who had ruled it since 1347.-See also:*Siege of Calais...
against England, in which his father was killed. In 1560 he was sent to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to fight for the rebels, and was made lord of Épernay
Épernay
Épernay is a commune in the Marne department in northern France. Épernay is located some 130 km north-east of Paris on the main line of the Eastern railway to Strasbourg...
. Three years later he became colonel of the Royal Guards.
In 1564 he came on help to Emperor Maximilian II
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
during the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
invasion in Hungary, and the following year he faced again the Ottomans at the siege of Malta
Siege of Malta
Siege of Malta may refer to:* The Siege of Malta , in which the Ottoman Empire failed to dislodge the Knights Hospitaller** Siege of Malta, 1570 work of the Cretan writer Antonios Achelis, about the above...
. From there he moved to Rome, called to counter the Turk menace in the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
, distinguishing himself in the defence of Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
. He later fought also in Transilvania.
Returned to France in 1567, he fought against the Huguenots. Two years later he became the sole Colonel General
Colonel General (France)
A Colonel General was an officer of the French army during the Ancien Régime, Napoleonic era and the Bourbon Restoration.The positions were not military ranks, but rather offices of the crown. The position was first created under François I. The Colonels General served directly below the Marshals...
(commander-in-chief of the army) of France, and subsequently took part to the long siege of La Rochelle
Siege of La Rochelle (1572-1573)
The Siege of La Rochelle of 1572–1573 was a massive military assault on the Huguenot-held city of La Rochelle by Catholic troops during the fourth phase of the French Wars of Religion, following the August 1572 St. Bartholomew's Day massacre. The conflict began in November 1572 when inhabitants of...
. He was accompanied by his friend Pierre de Bourdeille
Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantôme
Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantôme was a French historian, soldier and biographer.-Life:Brantôme was born in Périgord, Aquitaine, the third son of the baron de Bourdeille...
. In 1573 foughts alongside the House of Orange against the Spaniards.
In 1581 Filippo Strozzi exchanged the position of General Commander for that of lord of Bressuire
Bressuire
Bressuire is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in France. The town is situated on an eminence overlooking the Dolo, a tributary of the Argenton.-Notable buildings:...
and was called by António, Prior of Crato
António, Prior of Crato
António, Prior of Crato , was a grandson of King Manuel I of Portugal, claimant of the Portuguese throne during the 1580 dynastic crisis, who was King of Portugal as António I of Portugal during 33 days in the continent in 1580, and, after the crowning of Philip II of Spain as King of Portugal,...
(Portuguese claimant to the Portuguese throne against Spanish Habsburg King Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
) as a private mercenary. With a contingent of French, Dutch, English and Portuguese volunteers, he set sail to the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, a Portuguese Atlantic territory that still did not recognize Philip II as king. His fleet was however destroyed in the Battle of Terceira (July 26, 1582) by the Spanish navy under the great admiral, Álvaro de Bazán, 1st Marquis of Santa Cruz
Álvaro de Bazán, 1st Marquis of Santa Cruz
Álvaro de Bazán, 1st Marquis of Santa Cruz de Mudela , was a Spanish admiral.-Biography:Álvaro de Bazán was born in Granada....
.
Taken prisoner, he was executed at the age of 42, by being wounded to death and then thrown into the sea from a Spanish ship, as a pirate. The harsh punishments meted out to the unfortunate Strozzi and captured members of his crews were carried out at the instructions of the Spanish admiral, despite much protest from his own crews.