Napoleone della Torre
Encyclopedia
Napoleone della Torre also known as Napo della Torre, was an Italian nobleman, who was effective Lord of Milan in the late 13th century. He was a member of the della Torre
family.
of Piacenza
.
He took the power in Milan in 1265, succeeding his cousin Filippo as Anziano del Popolo ("Elder of the People") and, at the same time, podestà of Como
, Novara
, Bergamo
and Lodi. He continued the family policy of support of Charles of Anjou and the Guelph
party against the Ghibellines and the Kingdom of Sicily
.
The Angeving victory at Benevento of the following year meant a triumph of the Guelphs in Italy; in 1267 the main members of the party met in Milan to renew the league against the new Ghibelline leader, the German Conradin
. Napo was named commander of the league together with his brother Raimondo and William VII of Montferrat. Napo however did not attack Conradin who was in Pavia
, perhaps due to personal problems with the Papacy. After Conradin's death in the battle of Tagliacozzo
(1268) and his definitive conquest of southern Italy, Charles of Anjou tried to extend his power to the whole peninsula: Napo refused to support his moves, attracting the Angevine revenge, in the form of rebellions against him.
In 1269 his brother Raimondo, bishop of Como, was captured by Conrad Venosta von Matsch (a minor vassal of Valchiavenna
); Napo intervened and freed him in 1273. In the same year, after the election of Rudolph of Habsburg
as Holy Roman Emperor
, Napo switched to the imperial party in order to counterbalance Charles of Anjou's predominance. His reward was the title of imperial vicar in Lombardy (1274).
At this point Ottone Visconti (who had been named archbishop of Milan in 1262 but had been never able to enter his seat), and now the main exponent of the opposition in Milan and in Brianza
against the Della Torre, waged war against him. Napo initially defeated Visconti's troops in the battle of Guazzera (near the Lake Maggiore
), but, on 21 January 1277, he was beat and captured in the battle of Desio
together with his son Guido
. His imprisonment marked the end of the della Torre's rule in Milan, replaced by the Visconti, who held it until the 15th century.
Napo was jailed in the Castel Baradello at Como, until his death in 1278. He was buried in the church of San Nicolao in that city.
Della Torre
The Della Torre were an Italian noble family who rose to prominence in Lombardy during the 12th-14th centuries, until they held the seigniory of Milan before being ousted by the Visconti....
family.
Biography
Napoleone was the son of Pagano I della Torre. In 1260 he was podestàPodestà
Podestà is the name given to certain high officials in many Italian cities, since the later Middle Ages, mainly as Chief magistrate of a city state , but also as a local administrator, the representative of the Emperor.The term derives from the Latin word potestas, meaning power...
of Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
.
He took the power in Milan in 1265, succeeding his cousin Filippo as Anziano del Popolo ("Elder of the People") and, at the same time, podestà of Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
, Novara
Novara
Novara is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. With c. 105,000 inhabitants, it is the second most populous city in Piedmont after Turin. It is an important crossroads for commercial traffic along the routes from Milan to Turin...
, Bergamo
Bergamo
Bergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan...
and Lodi. He continued the family policy of support of Charles of Anjou and the Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
party against the Ghibellines and the Kingdom of Sicily
Kingdom of Sicily
The Kingdom of Sicily was a state that existed in the south of Italy from its founding by Roger II in 1130 until 1816. It was a successor state of the County of Sicily, which had been founded in 1071 during the Norman conquest of southern Italy...
.
The Angeving victory at Benevento of the following year meant a triumph of the Guelphs in Italy; in 1267 the main members of the party met in Milan to renew the league against the new Ghibelline leader, the German Conradin
Conradin
Conrad , called the Younger or the Boy, but usually known by the diminutive Conradin , was the Duke of Swabia , King of Jerusalem , and King of Sicily .-Early childhood:Conradin was born in Wolfstein, Bavaria, to Conrad...
. Napo was named commander of the league together with his brother Raimondo and William VII of Montferrat. Napo however did not attack Conradin who was in Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
, perhaps due to personal problems with the Papacy. After Conradin's death in the battle of Tagliacozzo
Battle of Tagliacozzo
The Battle of Tagliacozzo was fought on 23 August 1268 between the French, Provençal, and Italian forces of Charles of Anjou and the Italian, Spanish, Roman, Arab and German troops of the Hohenstaufen army, led by Conradin , the sixteen year old Duke of Swabia and claimant to the throne of Sicily...
(1268) and his definitive conquest of southern Italy, Charles of Anjou tried to extend his power to the whole peninsula: Napo refused to support his moves, attracting the Angevine revenge, in the form of rebellions against him.
In 1269 his brother Raimondo, bishop of Como, was captured by Conrad Venosta von Matsch (a minor vassal of Valchiavenna
Valchiavenna
The Valchiavenna is an alpine region located to the north of Lake Como in the northern Italian province of Sondrio . It is traversed by the rivers Mera and Liro, and can be divided into three parts which branch from the confluence of these rivers near Chiavenna, the principal town of the region.The...
); Napo intervened and freed him in 1273. In the same year, after the election of Rudolph of Habsburg
Rudolph I of Germany
Rudolph I was King of the Romans from 1273 until his death. He played a vital role in raising the Habsburg dynasty to a leading position among the Imperial feudal dynasties...
as Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
, Napo switched to the imperial party in order to counterbalance Charles of Anjou's predominance. His reward was the title of imperial vicar in Lombardy (1274).
At this point Ottone Visconti (who had been named archbishop of Milan in 1262 but had been never able to enter his seat), and now the main exponent of the opposition in Milan and in Brianza
Brianza
thumb|250px|The [[Corni di Canzo]].Brianza is a geographical area at the foot of the Alps, in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy.-Geography:...
against the Della Torre, waged war against him. Napo initially defeated Visconti's troops in the battle of Guazzera (near the Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore is a large lake located on the south side of the Alps. It is the second largest of Italy and largest of southern Switzerland. Lake Maggiore is the most westerly of the three great prealpine lakes of Italy, it extends for about 70 km between Locarno and Arona.The climate is mild...
), but, on 21 January 1277, he was beat and captured in the battle of Desio
Battle of Desio
The Battle of Desio was fought on 21 January 1277 between the Della Torre and Visconti families for the control of Milan and its countryside. The battlefield was located near the modern Desio, a commune outside the city in Lombardy, northern Italy....
together with his son Guido
Guido della Torre
Guido della Torre , son of Francesco della Torre and Julia Castiglioni, was a Lord of Milan between 1302 and 1312.- Biography :...
. His imprisonment marked the end of the della Torre's rule in Milan, replaced by the Visconti, who held it until the 15th century.
Napo was jailed in the Castel Baradello at Como, until his death in 1278. He was buried in the church of San Nicolao in that city.
See also
- Wars of Guelphs and Ghibellines