Niccolò Vitelli
Encyclopedia
Niccolò Vitelli was an Italian condottiero of the Vitelli family from Città di Castello
.
The son of Giovanni Vitelli and Maddalena dei Marchesi di Petriolo, he was orphaned and grew under the tutelage of his uncle Vitellozzo
who introduced him into the political life of the area. He was podestà
in some of the major Italian cities, such as Florence
, Siena
, Genoa
ans Perugia
.
He frequently clashed with the Popes Paul II
and Sixtus IV for the rule of Città di Castello. In 1474 he was besieged in the city by Giuliano della Rovere (future Pope Julius II) and Federico III da Montefeltro. He had to cease the city, in which he however returned in 1482 after ravaging for years the castles and estates in the area. The following year he was excommunicated and, in 1484, left Città di Castello again, only to return shortly after Sixtus IV's death.
At his death, in 1486, the city's people had the definition Pater Patriae ("Father of the Nation") written on his tomb. His son Chiappino
was also a military leader for Tuscany
and Spain
.
Città di Castello
Città di Castello is a city and comune in the province of Perugia, in the northern part of the Umbria region of Italy. It is situated on a slope of the Apennines, on the flood plain of the river Tiber. The city is north of Perugia and south of Cesena on the S3bis. It is connected to the A1...
.
The son of Giovanni Vitelli and Maddalena dei Marchesi di Petriolo, he was orphaned and grew under the tutelage of his uncle Vitellozzo
Vitellozzo Vitelli
Vitellozzo Vitelli was an Italian condottiero. He was lord of Montone, Città di Castello, Monterchi and Anghiari.-Biography:...
who introduced him into the political life of the area. He was podestà
Podestà
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...
in some of the major Italian cities, such as Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, 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...
, Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
ans Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
.
He frequently clashed with the Popes Paul II
Pope Paul II
Pope Paul II , born Pietro Barbo, was pope from 1464 until his death in 1471.- Early life :He was born in Venice, and was a nephew of Pope Eugene IV , through his mother. His adoption of the spiritual career, after having been trained as a merchant, was prompted by his uncle's election as pope...
and Sixtus IV for the rule of Città di Castello. In 1474 he was besieged in the city by Giuliano della Rovere (future Pope Julius II) and Federico III da Montefeltro. He had to cease the city, in which he however returned in 1482 after ravaging for years the castles and estates in the area. The following year he was excommunicated and, in 1484, left Città di Castello again, only to return shortly after Sixtus IV's death.
At his death, in 1486, the city's people had the definition Pater Patriae ("Father of the Nation") written on his tomb. His son Chiappino
Chiappino Vitelli
Giovan Luigi "Chiappino" Vitelli was an Italian marquis and military leader, son of Niccolò Vitelli.Vitelli served as captain under Cosimo I de' Medici in his wars to gain Florence, Siena and Montalcino, and was appointed governor of Piombino .He was also a general in the Spanish Army of...
was also a military leader for Tuscany
Grand Duchy of Tuscany
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.