Europe (c.1400-1458)

56. Italy: Piombino

Italy: Piombino 255 teemed far and wide for his knowledge of the law, not only in Siena but throughout Italy. 56 ITALY: PIOMBINO 223. THE FAMOUS town of Piombino is thought to have been built from the ruins of Populonia; some think it should be called Populino. It is situated on the shore of the Tuscan Sea opposite the island of Elba, whose inexhaustible deposits of iron provide the lord of Piombino with a large annual revenue. The ruler of this town was Jacopo d’Appiano, son of Paola, a most noble woman who was the sister of Pope Martin V.714 He was a peaceful ruler and loved by his neighbors. When he failed to obtain male offspring from his wife, he looked for an heir outside of marriage and began a love affair with a certain concubine. When her belly had swollen and the time for giving birth was imminent, Jacopo was overcome with incredible joy and pleadingly invited the Florentines and Sienese to send representatives to raise the newborn baby from the holy font and become godfathers; they consented, and the representatives arrived on the appointed day. The woman, after completing a long labor under the care of midwives, finally gave birth to a dark-skinned baby.715 As well as provoking the people’s merriment and guffaws, this put an end to the matter of godfathers and to the ruler’s happiness. There happened at this time to be a Moorish flute-player in his household, who was believed to be the father. As soon as he learned that his misconduct had been found out, he ran away to save himself. 224. When Jacopo died, he was replaced by Rinaldo Orsini—a sharp-witted man, experienced in the art of war—not through his own entitlement but that of his wife, who had been Jacopo’s daugh714 . Jacopo II d’Appiano (r. 1405–41), son of Paola Colonna, who acted as regent from 1441–45 after Jacopo’s death. 715. Lit. “Ethiopian.” 256 Italy: Piombino ter.716 When Alfonso was detained in Tuscany by the war against the Florentines, he discovered that Rinaldo was supporting the enemy . He therefore moved his camp to Piombino, blockaded him inside the walls, and launched an all-out assault by land and sea. However, Rinaldo defended his citizens from within no less courageously than the king’s soldiers attacked the walls from without. The fighting continued for a long time with fierce intensity, so that many were slain on both sides, and a considerable number of the wounded fell into the hands of the enemy.717 Many men showed conspicuous courage in this battle, including the two Antonios, Fuxanus and Caldora,718 who approached the walls together and were observed fighting bravely among the rest. But most admired of all was Galeotto Baldassino, a Sicilian by birth, who on three occasions attempted to break into the town by climbing to the top of the wall where it had been shattered by artillery.719 However, he was kept at bay by boiling water and quicklime, which was poured down on him amidst a volley of missiles and burned his limbs when it penetrated to the skin. He was finally dislodged by the blow of a heavy rock which broke off part of the rampart. Galeotto was of above-average height, with powerful, shapely limbs, and his strength was proportional to his size. He was second to none in wrestling, throwing, and running, and his spirit 716. Rinaldo Orsini, lord of Piombino (r. 1445–50); his wife, Caterina, was actually Jacopo II’s sister. 717. On the siege of Piombino (December 1447–September 1448) by Alfonso’s forces, see para. 209. 718. Fuxanus is perhaps Antonio de Foxa, an Aragonese castellan of Trani (1459–61); see Francesco Senatore, “Pontano e la Guerra di Napoli,” in Condottieri e uomini d’arme nell’Italia del Rinascimento, ed. Mario Del Treppo (Naples: Liguori, 2002), 282, n. 11. Pietragalla identifies him as Giannantonio Fossano; see Facio, Rerum gestarum, 439. Antonio Caldora (c. 1400–77) served as condottiere for René d’Anjou; he was named duke of Bari and viceroy of Abruzzi and taken prisoner in 1442. While supporting Alfonso at this time, he continued to pursue his own interests and change sides until Ferrante defeated him in 1465; DBI, vol. 16: 633–37. 719. Galeotto Baldassino (also spelled Bardassino or Bardaxi) (d. 1477), lord of Martini ; see Ryder, Kingdom of Naples, 275. This passage draws almost...