Prospero Colonn Italian condottiere, military leader in the service of the Pope Country: Italy

1. Prospero Colonna: A Renowned Italian Condottiere
2. Early Life and Military Prowess
3. Political Intrigues and Imprisonment
4. Alliance with Fabrizio Colonna
5. Service under Spain and the Pope

Prospero Colonna: A Renowned Italian Condottiere

Prospero Colonna was an illustrious Italian condottiero who served as a military leader for both the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor during the Italian Wars.

Early Life and Military Prowess

Hailing from the ancient Roman Colonna family, Prospero first distinguished himself in 1484 by valiantly defending his ancestral castle against the attacks of the Orsini and Riario families.

Political Intrigues and Imprisonment

As a supporter of Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, Prospero incurred the wrath of Pope Alexander VI and was imprisoned in the Castel Sant'Angelo. He was later released but arrested again for his alliance with Charles VIII of France during the French invasion of Italy.

Alliance with Fabrizio Colonna

Prospero's cousin, Fabrizio Colonna, was another prominent soldier. Together, they allied with King Federico I of Naples against the French and Spanish incursions during the War of 1501-1504.

Service under Spain and the Pope

After the fall of King Federico, the Colonna cousins joined the Spanish forces led by Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba in their campaign against the French. Subsequently, they fought alongside Pope Julius II in the War of the League of Cambrai against King Louis XII of France.