Franzone
Encyclopedia
Franzone was a servant of the Lampugnani family of Milan
, and a figure in the assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza
, the Duke of Milan.
Franzone was a servant to Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani
, the head conspirator in a plot to assassinate the Milanese Duke.
Little is known about his life up to the assassination, in which Franzone was on hand in the Church of Santo Stefano, along with the three assassins and about thirty other supporters.
When the Duke's procession arrived at Mass, Giovanni and the two other assassins (Gerolamo Olgiati
and Carlos Visconti
) stepped before the Duke, Giovanni going down on one knee. After a brief exchange of words, Lampugnani rose suddenly, stabbing the Duke in the groin and chest. Soon he was joined by Franzone, Visconti and Olgiati. As the Duke bled to death in the church, one witness claims that Franzone plunged his hands directly into the flowing blood.
In the pandemonium that immediately ensued, Franzone made his escape, as did all the other assassins except Giovanni, who was killed. Franzone was found the next day, however, given away by his stockings which displayed the Lampugnani colours. Summarily tortured, he gave up the identities of Visconti and Olgiati, and the three were publicly executed on January 2, 1477. The bodies of the three men were torn from groin to neck and affixed to the gates of Milan as a warning to others; the heads were separated and displayed on lances on the city's belltower.
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, and a figure in the assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza
Galeazzo Maria Sforza
Galeazzo Maria Sforza was Duke of Milan from 1466 until his death. He was famous for being lustful, cruel and tyrannical....
, the Duke of Milan.
Franzone was a servant to Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani
Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani
Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani was a member of the Milanese nobility and an assassin of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, the Duke of Milan....
, the head conspirator in a plot to assassinate the Milanese Duke.
Little is known about his life up to the assassination, in which Franzone was on hand in the Church of Santo Stefano, along with the three assassins and about thirty other supporters.
When the Duke's procession arrived at Mass, Giovanni and the two other assassins (Gerolamo Olgiati
Gerolamo Olgiati
Gerolamo Olgiati was a government official in Milan and one of the assassins of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, the Duke of Milan, along with Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani and Carlo Visconti....
and Carlos Visconti
Carlos Visconti
Carlo Visconti was a member of the prominent Visconti family, a government secretary in Milan's Council of Justice, and an assassin of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, the Duke of Milan....
) stepped before the Duke, Giovanni going down on one knee. After a brief exchange of words, Lampugnani rose suddenly, stabbing the Duke in the groin and chest. Soon he was joined by Franzone, Visconti and Olgiati. As the Duke bled to death in the church, one witness claims that Franzone plunged his hands directly into the flowing blood.
In the pandemonium that immediately ensued, Franzone made his escape, as did all the other assassins except Giovanni, who was killed. Franzone was found the next day, however, given away by his stockings which displayed the Lampugnani colours. Summarily tortured, he gave up the identities of Visconti and Olgiati, and the three were publicly executed on January 2, 1477. The bodies of the three men were torn from groin to neck and affixed to the gates of Milan as a warning to others; the heads were separated and displayed on lances on the city's belltower.