Individual Details
Giovanni "delle Bande Nere" de' Medici
(8 Apr 1498 - 30 Nov 1526)
Giovanni was born in 1498, the son of Giovanni de' Medici and Caterina Sforza. He was trained from childhood for the military life. Having killed a boy of his own age at only thirteen, Giovanni was banished from Florence. In 1516 his relative Pope Leo X gave him a command in the papal army. He soon won a great reputation for violence but also of military excellence. His nickname (Bande Nere) was probably acquired because of the black stripes of mourning on his banners after the death (in 1521) of Leo X.
He founded his own group of soldiers of fortune. With a simple tunic and strict discipline, he led them into rape and pillaging wherever the opportunity arose. He also modernised guerrilla warfare by using light horses and attacking by surprise.
In the Italian wars, Giovanni fought (in 1521-22) in northern Italy for the pope, on the side of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V against François I of France. He later changed sides, however, and fought on the side of François in the battle of Pavia (1525), where he was severely wounded and the French king was captured. In 1526 he again sided with François, fighting for the League of Cognac.
He spent his short life in battle, hunting and womanising, and died almost an outcast of a gangrenous wound received in battle in 1526. Giovanni delle Bande Nere possessed great courage and tactical ability. His hold over his men was remarkable, and his corps remained together long after his death. His wife Maria Salviati was a grandchild of Lorenzo 'the Magnificent' de' Medici. Their son became Grand Duke of Tuscany as Cosimo I.
Source: Leo van de Pas
He founded his own group of soldiers of fortune. With a simple tunic and strict discipline, he led them into rape and pillaging wherever the opportunity arose. He also modernised guerrilla warfare by using light horses and attacking by surprise.
In the Italian wars, Giovanni fought (in 1521-22) in northern Italy for the pope, on the side of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V against François I of France. He later changed sides, however, and fought on the side of François in the battle of Pavia (1525), where he was severely wounded and the French king was captured. In 1526 he again sided with François, fighting for the League of Cognac.
He spent his short life in battle, hunting and womanising, and died almost an outcast of a gangrenous wound received in battle in 1526. Giovanni delle Bande Nere possessed great courage and tactical ability. His hold over his men was remarkable, and his corps remained together long after his death. His wife Maria Salviati was a grandchild of Lorenzo 'the Magnificent' de' Medici. Their son became Grand Duke of Tuscany as Cosimo I.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 8 Apr 1498 | Fiori | |||
| Death | 30 Nov 1526 | Mantua | |||
| Biography |  |  |
Families
| Spouse | Maria Salviati (1499 - 1543) |
| Child | Cosimo I. de' Medici Grand Duke of Toscana (1519 - 1574) |
| Father | Giovanni de' Medici (1467 - 1498) |
| Mother | Caterina Sforza Countess of Forli (1462 - 1509) |
Notes
Biography
Giovanni was born in 1498, the son of Giovanni de' Medici and Caterina Sforza. He was trained from childhood for the military life. Having killed a boy of his own age at only thirteen, Giovanni was banished from Florence. In 1516 his relative Pope Leo X gave him a command in the papal army. He soon won a great reputation for violence but also of military excellence. His nickname (Bande Nere) was probably acquired because of the black stripes of mourning on his banners after the death (in 1521) of Leo X.He founded his own group of soldiers of fortune. With a simple tunic and strict discipline, he led them into rape and pillaging wherever the opportunity arose. He also modernised guerrilla warfare by using light horses and attacking by surprise.
In the Italian wars, Giovanni fought (in 1521-22) in northern Italy for the pope, on the side of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V against François I of France. He later changed sides, however, and fought on the side of François in the battle of Pavia (1525), where he was severely wounded and the French king was captured. In 1526 he again sided with François, fighting for the League of Cognac.
He spent his short life in battle, hunting and womanising, and died almost an outcast of a gangrenous wound received in battle in 1526. Giovanni delle Bande Nere possessed great courage and tactical ability. His hold over his men was remarkable, and his corps remained together long after his death. His wife Maria Salviati was a grandchild of Lorenzo 'the Magnificent' de' Medici. Their son became Grand Duke of Tuscany as Cosimo I.
Endnotes
1. Genealogics.org, Leo van de Pas online [http://www.genealogics.org/index.php], accessed 2008 on, http://www.genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00004036&tree=LEO.