Campaldino wargaming

[Zopenco]

In Gianni Schicchi the character, the died  rich one,  was Buoso Donati "the old". He was uncle of Simone, Corso's father. So he was Corso's great uncle.

Thanks!

[Atheling]

More than 90% Mirliton. 

Thanks

[giorgio]

As I explained before, the war cannot be read with today eyes: it was the fight between cities but also between 2 different ways to see the life, the rules of universe, the role of Pope and Emperor.
So you must not be surprised if we have dedicated a base to Arezzo guelph exiles.


The war was fought with a Florentine army with allies going down to Valdarno towards the rich countries to be sacked and looted, but the Aretine exiles gave the idea to feint the usual tactic but change suddenly directions going through mountain of Consuma to arrive unexpected into Casentino, just North of Arezzo.
The suggestion was very risky because if ambushed on the mountain it should have been a disaster. But the trick worked and… they arrived directly in the lands of Guglielmo Ubertini,the old  bishop of Arezzo and… but that will be another post.
For the Aretine Guelphs we have chosen three powerful families: Bostoli del Contado (we gave him the flag of the “Taglia Guelfa”), on his left Albergotti and on his right Camaiani.


After the battle a legend spoke about a lady, Ippolita degli Azzi, who organized the city under siege. His son was captive and Florentines said to open the door or he was to be killed. Ippolita refused and shocked by her courage they decided to give him back by Rinaldo dei Bostoli. An impossible love grew up but  that is another story…
 
The demo in Agliana wargames event is coming: on April 14th! Genoa Garibaldi club will present this battle with the emended tailored sword and spear rules and the special cards with events taken by chronicles and Dante’s Comedia.
In the mean time scenario works are on going thanks to Club members, a reproduction of Certomondo Abbey included!



All this and much more only in Genoa wargames club Garibaldi
Genoa wargaming club Garibaldi, the best one for the discerning wargamer 😉

[Pattus Magnus]

All of those are beautifully done! The freehand shield closeup is especially impressive.

[Basementboy]

Agreed! Lovely stuff as always

[levied troop]

Very nice work and a fascinating history.

[giorgio]

Florence people didn’t want the war, but it was the only possibility for rich and noble knights to maintain the power. Without the war their influence was greatly reduced and they pushed to attack.
As we have seen the guelph army arrived into the lands of Guglielmo Ubertini, old bishop in Arezzo, that we have already met in this topic.

Vieri de Cerchi (we have met him before) tried to but those lands without fighting but bishop’s relatives said him that if he betrayed the Ghibellines he was to be a dead man.

In the base we have represented him with colour of Pazzi of Valdarno. Infact he changed his colours with his nephew Guglielmo Pazzi that we’ll meet in another post.

At his right we have the standard bearer with the imperial flag, Guidarello Filippeschi from Orvieto.

Usually, he is represented with the colours of his city, the withe eagle, but a member of our club made a deep research finding out  the most probable description of his shield, and we have painted him accordingly.

He died in Campaldino.

On the other side another great name in the Ghibellini hall of fame: Ordelaffi from Forlì

He was one of the twelve paladins who started the battle charging furiously into the guelph cavalry.
Too furiously perhaps, their stunning success caued the feeling of an easy victory and the remaining knights followed into the Guelphs trap.

[Basementboy]

Fascinating history, and even more beautiful miniatures! As always, thanks for posting

[giorgio]

Guccio dei Tarlati di Pietramala was lord of Pietramala in Arezzo. Dante quotes him in Purgatory - Canto VI (The other who drowned running in the hunt).
According to some ancient commentators, he died drowned in the Arno chasing his enemies, the Bostoli (we have met this family a couple of posts before); according to others, pursued by enemies in the battle of Campaldino. Double interpretation is possible, because running in the hunt in Dante’s words can have active meaning («chase») or passive («escape, be chased»).
The Tarlati were a noble Arezzo family of Ghibelline,holding the stronghold of Pietramala (between Arezzo and Anghiari)which was the residence of this powerful family.
After Campaldino this powerful noble family of ancient origin, decreed not only the rebirth of Arezzo and Ghibelline size, but the splendor of Arezzo a few decades after. The name of the one who brought the glory of the family and founded the lordship of Arezzo few decades after Campaldino is bishop Guido Tarlati.
As we are showing Campaldino we accepted the hypotesys that Guccio was there and drowned in Arno pursued by Guelhs. Perhaps one of Bostoli family?

the flag is by Mirliton

[giorgio]

This post is dedicated to Guido Novello, the lord who decided the fate of the battle of Campaldino. The name of the lord of Poppi castle has gone down in history because of the choice that during Campaldino battle  handed over Arezzo to Florence.


Guido Novello is a character who has gone down in history for choosing not to enter the battle, while the Aretine troops were hit hard by the Florentine one. A move that decided  the fate of the battle.


Both the parents of Guido Novello were openly Ghibellines, close to the cause of Frederick II and the political choices facilitated, along with the riches, the appointment of Guido Novello as podestà of Arezzo and Cortona. Aware of the importance of the alliance and the maintenance of Ghibelline power in Tuscany, he actively participated in the Battle of Montaperti in 1260 and he was among the protagonists in the Sienese victory against Florence. The battle that Dante remembers because, with the support of King Manfred, Farinata degli Uberti took part in it.


The victory led to the appointment of Guido Novello as podestà of Florence for two years and, on the death of Farinata degli Uberti (1264) he became head of the Ghibellines and imperial vicar for Tuscany.. The power of Guido Novello had reached its peak when the battle of Benevento in 1266 and the death of Manfredi led to the victory of the Guelphs. A battle that changed the role of Guido Novello forever.


At the beginning of the 80s relations with Arezzo, a Ghibelline city, became increasingly strong, and Guido Novello was placed at the head of the Ghibelline party; in 1289, a short time after the victory on Siena at Giostre del Toppo, was again podestà of Arezzo.
The evening before the battle in the castle of Poppi held a banquet that was to be auspicious in view of the battle. Guglielmino of the Ubertini, Guglielmo dei Pazzi, Bonconte da Montefeltro and other nobles had prepared the battle plan.


Guido Novello , on the threshold of his 62 years, would be placed in the rear, near the church of Certomondo, built by him perhaps after yet another excommunication.
The battle began on the right foot for the Ghibellines. The cavalry put a strain on the Florentine troops, although greater in number of men, but here in the middle of the storm of that day, the fate of the clash changed.
Corso Donati, at the time podestà of Pistoia, was with the same role of reserve Guido Novello posted in the Florentine rear when he decided with an act of insubordination to attack.

It was the move that decided the clash because the Aretines were surrounded and at that point Guido Novello decided to return to his castle, considering already lost the battle,

A choice that gave him serious accusations, in primis that of being a coward. The noble’s move did not help much as the Guelphs devastated his possessions. Guido Novello from that day was not the same and only three years later he died in Arezzo that had lost that central role in the political scene between Guelphs and Ghibellines because of Campaldino.

In Garibaldi wargame club in Genoa his forces are represented by 2 cavalry and 2 infantry bases plus his command one. All his reserve is made by Mirliton models. Will he act differently in Agliana on April 14th? Come and see with your eyes!

[Basementboy]

Wonderful work as always! Your explanations of the history is always very engaging and interesting, thanks for posting

[Skorda]

Guido Novello like Sackville the coward of Minden

[giorgio]

This post is for 3 important Ghibellini knights: Ubertino di Tebaldo Barbolani di Montauto, Neri Piccolino the young Uberti and Lapo di Messere Marito degli Uberti. Only the first survived and here are represented during a wargame simulation, few seconds before being wiped out by guelphs fierce countercharge, the base is in the upper center just in front of a purple dice!


Ubertino di Tebaldo Barbolani di Montatuto (said “Bocca”) belongs to one of the most ancient Italian aristocratic Families and leaded the reinforces from high Tiberina valley.
Less than 70 years before his ancestor in Montauto gave to Saint Francis the tunic which the great Saint still had when he was buried in Assisi. Ubertino survived to the battle.


Neri Piccolino the young  nephew of Farinata degli Uberti, leader of all Tuscany Ghibelline after Montaperti battle, who avoided the destruction of Florence. In the battle also Farinata’s son Federico died.

Lapo di Messere Marito degli Uberti, heroic veteran of the Sicilian wars between Angioin and Aragonese. He died in Campaldino.

The three knights are here below represented in font left of Ghibelline army:

[Basementboy]

Fantastic stuff!

[Skorda]

Great reserch job and eye candy miniatures and scenario.

Bravi

Skorda