Filippo di Piero Strozzi
Filippo di Piero Strozzi | |
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Born | 1541 Florence,Italy |
Died | 27 July 1582 (aged 40–41) Azores |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | French Army |
Years of service | 1557–1582 |
Rank | Colonel General |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Order of the Holy Spirit |
Relations | Piero Strozzi(father) |
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Coat_of_Arms_of_Philippe_Strozzi%2C_councillor_of_State.svg/240px-Coat_of_Arms_of_Philippe_Strozzi%2C_councillor_of_State.svg.png)
Filippo di Piero Strozzi(French:Philippe Strozzi;1541 – 27 July 1582) was an Italiancondottiero,a member of the Florentine family of theStrozzi.He fought mainly for France.[1]
Biography
[edit]He was born inFlorencetoPiero Strozziand Laudomia de' Medici. His father had been exiled from his native city and found refuge in France whereCatherine de' Mediciwas queen. Piero would go on to be appointed asMarshal of France.His son Filippo becamethe pageof the future kingFrancis II.
In 1557, Strozzi entered the French army. Starting from the first battles inPiedmont,he fought in numerous battles of the 16th century. In 1558, he took part in thesiege of Calaisagainst England, where his father was killed soon afterward at theSiege of Thionville.In 1560, he was sent toScotlandto fight for the then-regentMary of GuiseagainstElizabeth of Englandand was made lord ofÉpernay.Three years, later he became colonel of the Royal Guards.
In 1564, he came to help EmperorMaximilian IIduring theOttomaninvasion in Hungary. The following year, he faced again the Ottomans at thesiege of Malta.From there, he moved to Rome and called to counter the Turk menace in theAdriatic Sea,distinguishing himself in the defence ofAncona.He later fought also inTransylvania.
Returned to France in 1567, he fought against theHuguenots.Two years later, he became the soleColonel General(commander-in-chief of the army) of France, and subsequently took part to the longsiege of La Rochelle.He was accompanied by his friendPierre de Bourdeille.In 1573, he fought alongside theHouse of Orangeagainst the Spaniards.
In 1581, Filippo Strozzi exchanged the position of General Commander for that of lord ofBressuireand was called byAntónio, Prior of Crato(Portugueseclaimantto thePortuguese throneagainst SpanishHabsburgKingPhilip II) as a private mercenary. With a contingent of French, Dutch, English, and Portuguese volunteers, he set sail to theAzores,a Portuguese Atlantic territory that still did not recognize Philip II as king. His fleet was, however, destroyed in theBattle of Terceira(26 July 1582) by the Spanish-Portuguese navy under the admiralÁlvaro de Bazán, 1st Marquis of Santa Cruz.[2][3]
Taken prisoner, he was executed at age 42, by being wounded to death and then thrown into the sea from a Spanish ship, as apirate.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.
References
[edit]- ^Sims, Jennifer E. (2022-08-02).Decision Advantage: Intelligence in International Politics from the Spanish Armada to Cyberwar.Oxford University Press. p. 74.ISBN978-0-19-750806-0.
- ^Best, Brian (2021-03-15).Elizabeth's Sea Dogs and their War Against Spain.Frontline Books. p. 141.ISBN978-1-5267-8288-5.
- ^Gargiolli, Carlo (1866).Vite di uomini d'arme e d'affari del secolo 16. narrate da contemporanei Pier Capponi, Giovanni De' Medici, Niccolò Capponi, Francesco Ferrucci, Piero Strozzi [a cura di C. G.](in Italian). G. Barbèra. p. 601.
- 1541 births
- 1582 deaths
- Strozzi family
- Nobility from Florence
- Italian emigrants to France
- 16th-century condottieri
- French generals
- Executed military leaders
- People of the French Wars of Religion
- Italian people executed abroad
- People executed by Spain by decapitation
- People executed for piracy
- 16th-century executions by Spain
- Military personnel from Florence
- People of the Italian Wars
- People of the War of the Portuguese Succession