Filippo di Piero Strozzi

Filippo di Piero Strozzi
Born	1541 Florence
Died	27 July 1582 (aged 40–41) Azores
Allegiance	Kingdom of France
Service/branch	French Army
Years of service	1557–1582
Rank	Colonel General
Battles/wars	Italian War of 1551–59 Great Siege of Malta French Wars of Religion War of the Portuguese Succession
Awards	Order of the Holy Spirit

Coat of arms of Filippo Strozzi containing theOrder of the Holy Spiritand theOrder of Saint Michael.

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.

Biography

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.

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 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.