Postby Gianluca Zanini » Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:55 am
An extract from the short thesis:
Fiore’s students, mentioned in the prologue, are all Knights of Fortune.
Piero Paolo dal Verde (PM) o del Verde (GL), German mercenary captain, self-proclamed in 1379 Lord of Colle Val d’Elsa. We have information of his life from December 1375 to 1384, when he died. Piero Paolo fought “in sbara" (lists) in Perugia versus Pietro Cornauld - Piero dala Corona (PM e GL), another German knight of fortune renowned for his valour. We have information from 1377 to 1391, when he died injured in Naples.
The combat between these two knight could only take place from the August 1379 and January 1381, the only lapse of time when both the knights were in Umbria, and therefore we can put Fiore in this region.
It is not a surprise the presence of Fiore and many mercenary knights as this region was the theatre of many battles.
In 1369 Carlo IV of Boemia, arrived in Italy the year before at war with Viscontis, conquered Lucca, Pisa and Siena, and then settled a truce (1323-1385).
Visconti kept on fighting in Tuscany with Florence and in Umbria in the Pope’s territory.
In 1383 Fiore, who must have an age of 33/39 years, is signed in Public Registers of Udine, where there was in progress the war against the Patriarch of Aquileia, the French Filippo d’Alençon, in charge for supervisory and maintenance of the crossbows and all the weapons “atte a saettare” (useful to throw) for the defence of the Town.
Then we can infer that he already had a good knowledge of the war machines, acquired in previous experiences. This could confirm our theory of his presence in the war theatres of the past period.
In 1395 he is registered in Padova where he had the "scholaro" (student) Galeazzo Cattaneo dei Grumelli (even said da Mantova or Gonzaga - Galeazo (PM) o Galeaço (GL) delli capitani de Grimello called in both Prologues from Mantoa)
We have records from 1393 to 1406, when he died because of a dart, which run through his eye into the brain during the battle of Medolago.
Cattaneo, remembered for his strength and experience, got famous for the fight in Padova, in the August 1395, against Jean II Le Maingre named Boucicault (Tours 1364-Yorkshire 21 Giugno 1421) - Briçichardo (PM) o Buçichardo (GL) de Franza, one of the most popular knight of the period for his duels and his athletic skills:
He could go up on a ladder in reverse with only his own hands and could make a twist in full armour.
Having dinner with Cattaneo he scorned the Italians accusing them of cowardy. It followed a challenge fought in front of Francesco Gonzaga, Lord of Mantova.
As this challenge was stopped by intervention of the Lord, it was repeated another time in March 1406 where Boucicault was defeated.
Fiore was 45/50 years old, his experience was very good and he was for sure popular as valorous teacher. He had been already in contact with Cattaneo. They were both alike-minded about books and master of combat.
