Cartoon of Roncadelle
Francesco da Roncadelle (1403-1451) was a condotierro in the service of Venice who was Lord of Brescia from 1441 to 1451.
Biography[]
Francesco da Roncadelle was born in the Province of Brescia in the Lombardy region of northern Italy in 1403, and he used his father Mario da Roncadelle's funds to create an army of mercenari. In 1430 he was employed as a general of the Republic of Venice, and in 1441 he defeated the Duchy of Milan at the Battle of Travagliato. His victory allowed him to capture Brescia, and he was made the Lord of Brescia under Venice. However, in 1451, Brescia was recaptured by Milan and Roncadelle was killed in battle with the Milanese forces. His lands were reclaimed by Milan, and remained part of their Lombardy province for many more decades.