Orsini Overwhelm Papal Forces : January 24, 1497

There was a battle between forces of Pope Alexander VI and those representing the Orsini family. The pope had even recalled his own son Juan Borgia to Rome from Spain to be blessed and sent out, along with Guidalbo Montefeltro the Duke of Urbino, in order to push back the Orsini from their own properties held, north of Rome, near Lake Bracciano. Johann Burchard makes easy work of the battle itself leaving no doubt of the score.

"On Tuesday, January 24th, a battle was fought near Bassano and the fortress of Soriano between the papal troops and those of the Orsini, and in the engagement, the former were heavily defeated in great dishonour. The Duke of Urbino was captured, some five hundred of our troops were killed and many more wounded, whilst the Orsini captured all our artillery and completely scattered our forces."

A mere sixteen days after Gentile Virginio Orsinio the patriarch and leader of the Orsini clan had died, armed forces were arrayed and the surprising accounts from the battlefield once again sent out. Burchard says new negotiations 'were begun' and a new agreement between the pope and these antagonists drawn up and agreed to by February 5th. These antagonists were forces marshalled by the famed and 'ancient' Orsini clan of Italy. The conflict was one of self-interest and politics, as well as lands, inherited estates and the neighboring papal territories. They had done many favors and received many rich gifts and favors from many popes and princes and republics.

The family, despite having many lines reaching back and forth in time had made themselves useful across Italy, again and again, over centuries. For the previous while, Virginio the head of the leading branch had been in service to the King of Naples and was appointed to be constable of Naples. But when the French invaded in 1494, Virginio had deserted his post in Naples and gave up his own castle in Bracciano north of Rome to the French sovereign. The year after, he got himself captured along with other French hostages and was held in captivity back in Naples, until he died, January 8.

The family had long sought to expand its influence in Rome, all the while battling the local Colonna family, marrying into other prominent families, and sending its youth to far-off places to soldier, negotiate, or serve the church. Following all the leads of all the lines of this effective, far-reaching and prolific family could be a lifelong research project for someone. Their name certainly did ring out. Its offshoots and sidelines come up so often in the histories of the period, an interesting cross-section of professions in the age might be produced from such a catalogue of names. Much more could be found here.
__________________________________________
p. 135: Johann Burchard: At The Court of the Borgia translated for english, with introduction by Geoffrey Parker, The Folio Society, Ltd, 1963