Gabrio Serbelloni
Encyclopedia
Gabriele Serbelloni, better known as Gabrio Serbelloni (also Gabrio Cerbellon in Spanish), (1509 - January 1580) was an Italian condottiero and general.
), he achieved an even higher status through his military accomplishments.
, later to become his lord and employer; a few weeks later, he took part in the defence of Lecco
together with Niccolò Pelliccione. Later on still he followed his cousin in exile into Piedmont
, in the service of the duke of Savoy. At the end of 1536, he was imprisoned along with Medeghino in the Castello Sforzesco
of Milan as suspect of being an accomplice to the rebel Lodovico da Birago. After that he offered his services to the Holy Roman Empire and fought in Hungary
. With 300 infantrymen at his command, in 1542 Serbelloni distinguished himself against the Ottoman Turks
in the defence of Esztergom
. Four years later he rejoined his cousin Gian Giacomo Medici to fight against the Protestant coalition in Germany
; he was now a general in the artillery corps fighting against the Duke of Saxony.
to defend Asti
against the French; he conquered the town of Saluzzo
and was appointed as its governor. Always with his fierce cousin, he commanded the Florentine artillery in the war for Siena
in 1554; the nexy year in the summer he first took by assault Porto Ercole fortress after a four-day artillery barrage, then with 700 German Landsknechts he defended Populonia
against a Turkish sea-bourne assault, receiving support from the Florentine cavalry.
, touring the whole of the Papal States
in his duty. After the Pope's death, he entered the service of Philip II of Spain
, who employed him in the same tasks in the Spanish-held kingdom of Naples
. Serbelloni entered the ranks of Knights of Malta
, sending troops to help break the Turkish siege
and organizing naval raids against the Muslims. After receiving the title of prior of Hungary
, Serbelloni oversaw the reconstruction of the Maltese fortifications damaged or destroyed under the Turkish assault, and acted as middle-man between Jean de la Vallette, his order's Grand Master, and the viceroy of Sicily
, don Garcia de Toledo.
under the Duke of Alva
during the repression of the Flemish revolt, being appointed twice as governor of Antwerp. He took part in the Battle of Lepanto (1571)
and, two years later, he captured Tunis
. The following year Ottoman forces under the command of Sinan Pasha
besieged and eventually took Tunis; Serbelloni was humiliated, dragged by his beard to ask for mercy on his knees to the conqueror, as many of his surviving men were slain. He had then to physically work to restore the fortifications. Brought in Constantinople
as an important prisoner, he was ransomed in 1575 by the Venetian ambassador Antonio Tiepolo under a prisoner of war exchange. He was thus able to come back to his Milan through Ragusa
and Naples
. His last military campaign was against the Flemish and Dutch rebels: he took part in the Spanish capture of Maastricht
in 1578.
Early life
A noble by birth (his family was and still is among the noblest in MilanMilan
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 ,...
), he achieved an even higher status through his military accomplishments.
Military career
As a lieutenant to his cousin, the condottiero Gian Giacomo Medici (known as Medeghino), in the fall of 1531 Gabrio Serbelloni fought against the Sforza militias and the imperial forces of Charles VCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, later to become his lord and employer; a few weeks later, he took part in the defence of Lecco
Lecco
Lecco is a town of c. 47,760 inhabitants in Lombardy, northern Italy, north of Milan, the capital of the province of Lecco. It lies at the end of the south-eastern branch of Lake Como...
together with Niccolò Pelliccione. Later on still he followed his cousin in exile into 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...
, in the service of the duke of Savoy. At the end of 1536, he was imprisoned along with Medeghino in the Castello Sforzesco
Castello Sforzesco
Castello Sforzesco is a castle in Milan, Italy, that used to be the seat and residence of the Duchy of Milan and one of the biggest citadels in Europe and now houses several of the city's museums and art collections.-History:...
of Milan as suspect of being an accomplice to the rebel Lodovico da Birago. After that he offered his services to the Holy Roman Empire and fought in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. With 300 infantrymen at his command, in 1542 Serbelloni distinguished himself against the Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
in the defence of Esztergom
Esztergom
Esztergom , is a city in northern Hungary, 46 km north-west of the capital Budapest. It lies in Komárom-Esztergom county, on the right bank of the river Danube, which forms the border with Slovakia there....
. Four years later he rejoined his cousin Gian Giacomo Medici to fight against the Protestant coalition in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; he was now a general in the artillery corps fighting against the Duke of Saxony.
Defending Asti
Still with 300 men on foot in 1551 he was sent by Ferrante GonzagaFerrante Gonzaga
Ferrante I Gonzaga was an Italian condottiero, a member of the House of Gonzaga and the founder of the branch of the Gonzaga of Guastalla.-Biography:...
to defend Asti
Asti
Asti is a city and comune of about 75,000 inhabitants located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, about 55 kilometres east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River...
against the French; he conquered the town of Saluzzo
Saluzzo
Saluzzo is a town and former principality in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont region, Italy.The city of Saluzzo is built on a hill overlooking a vast, well-cultivated plain. Iron, lead, silver, marble, slate etc...
and was appointed as its governor. Always with his fierce cousin, he commanded the Florentine artillery in the war for Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
in 1554; the nexy year in the summer he first took by assault Porto Ercole fortress after a four-day artillery barrage, then with 700 German Landsknechts he defended Populonia
Populonia
Populonia or Populonia Alta today is a frazione of the comune of Piombino . As of 2009 its population was 17...
against a Turkish sea-bourne assault, receiving support from the Florentine cavalry.
Papal Guard
After serving as overseer of the fortresses for duke Cosimo II de' Medici, Serbelloni's career skyrocketed when another of his cousins was elected Pope as Pius IV. He was now (1559) Captain General of the Papal Guard, Governor of Borgo and overseer for all the fortresses of the Apostolic See; he was especially active in rebuilding CivitavecchiaCivitavecchia
Civitavecchia is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the central Italian region of Lazio. A sea port on the Tyrrhenian Sea, it is located 80 kilometers west-north-west of Rome, across the Mignone river. The harbor is formed by two piers and a breakwater, on which is a lighthouse...
, touring the whole of the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
in his duty. After the Pope's death, he entered the service of Philip II of Spain
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....
, who employed him in the same tasks in the Spanish-held kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
. Serbelloni entered the ranks of Knights of Malta
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
, sending troops to help break the Turkish siege
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...
and organizing naval raids against the Muslims. After receiving the title of prior of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Serbelloni oversaw the reconstruction of the Maltese fortifications damaged or destroyed under the Turkish assault, and acted as middle-man between Jean de la Vallette, his order's Grand Master, and the viceroy of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, don Garcia de Toledo.
Flemish revolt
In 1567 Serbelloni followed the Spanish armies into BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
under the Duke of Alva
Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba
Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba was a Spanish general and governor of the Spanish Netherlands , nicknamed "the Iron Duke" in the Low Countries because of his harsh and cruel rule there and his role in the execution of his political opponents and the massacre of several...
during the repression of the Flemish revolt, being appointed twice as governor of Antwerp. He took part in the Battle of Lepanto (1571)
Battle of Lepanto (1571)
The Battle of Lepanto took place on 7 October 1571 when a fleet of the Holy League, a coalition of Catholic maritime states, decisively defeated the main fleet of the Ottoman Empire in five hours of fighting on the northern edge of the Gulf of Patras, off western Greece...
and, two years later, he captured Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
. The following year Ottoman forces under the command of Sinan Pasha
Sinan Pasha
Sinan Pasha or Sinan Pashë Kahremanliu was an Albanian Grand Vizier, Ottoman military commander and statesman.-Life:...
besieged and eventually took Tunis; Serbelloni was humiliated, dragged by his beard to ask for mercy on his knees to the conqueror, as many of his surviving men were slain. He had then to physically work to restore the fortifications. Brought in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
as an important prisoner, he was ransomed in 1575 by the Venetian ambassador Antonio Tiepolo under a prisoner of war exchange. He was thus able to come back to his Milan through Ragusa
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
and Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. His last military campaign was against the Flemish and Dutch rebels: he took part in the Spanish capture of Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
in 1578.