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Niccolò Scotti
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Family
From Piacenza. From the Fombio branch.
Niccolò Scotti Douglas, Conte
di Fombio †1514 was the son of Troilo Scotti Douglas, Conte di Fombio
and Susanna Visconti and grandson of Alberto Scotti Douglas, Conte di
Fombio †1479
Brother of Paride Scotti
Timeline
In 1509, Niccolò Scotti Douglas, Conte
di Fombio was contacted by the Venetians to fight the troops of
the League of Cambrai.
In February 1512, with 500 infantry, he was
involved in the defence of Bologna when the city was besieged by the
Spaniards and the Popes (Spanish Church). In April, he takes part in the
battle of Ravenna, in Romagna: he faces the enemies in the rearguard
while his brother Paride is responsible for guarding the Montone bridge
to keep open a possible retreat route on the left flank.
He was in
Piacenza for about a year until, in 1513, the Spaniards enter Piacenza;
he leaves the city with the governor Giovanni Gozzadini. He takes refuge
with 400 supporters in his castles in Val Nure: he contacts the
Venetians.
He returned to Piacenza and formed a company with Lazzaro
Malvicini that controls the collection of city taxes.
Through 1514,
Pietro Buso Scotti opposes its almost monopolistic presence in the tax
collection sector: the conflict shifts from an economic to a military
point of view and is the opportunity for the resurgence of conflicts
between Guelphs and Ghibellines.
He left the city with the leaders of
the rival faction: thus begins the looting of the territory organized by
both sides.
In September 1514, he was in the Brescia area with
Bartolomeo da Villachiara, and in October, he eludes the surveillance of
the Swiss commanded by Silvio Savelli and enters Crema, whose defense is
Renzo di Ceri, at the head of 700 infantry.
In November, he is sent
from Crema to Bergamo with Silvestro da Narni and Andrea della Matrice
to bring 500 infantry and 8 loads of gunpowder. He leaves the city at
night; at Morengo he clashes with 200 Swiss whom he initially disperses.
They are supported by other Sforza troops so Scotti is put to flight
with his men. Captured at Canonica d'Adda, he is taken to Milan; for
another version he entrusts himself to a traveler (whom he promises a
reward of 500 ducats) who instead of taking him to safety in Piacenza
guides him to Milan where he is captured.
In the Lombard capital
he was tortured and beheaded at night by order of Duke Massimiliano
Sforza despite the opposition of the Milanese senate.
Quotes
• “Who had not left behind any office of being most loyal to the
republic (of Venice), and with his life, and with his property and with
the favor of his partisans.” BARBARIAN
• “For his war virtue, he
was worthy of his elders.” GIOVIO
• “Brave captain.” MENS
See also:
•
Pietro Maria Scotti (Buso)
• Douglas Scotti
family of Fombio
For more on the Douglas Scotti families of
Italy, see our Italy portal.
Notes:
• Possibly also referred to as Niccolò da Piacenza.
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Source
Sources for this article include:
Roberto Damiani, author of the Condottieri di ventura website
Any contributions will be
gratefully accepted
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