Pizzighettone 1449
The castle intrigue

Pizzighettone – October 28^th and 30^th, 2011

What: Middle Ages and Renaissance history.
Where: Pizzighettone (Cremona, Italy).
How: historical narration and guided tour.
When: October 28^th, Friday, and 30^th, 2011, Sunday, hours 20:30.
Information: mobile (+39) 349 2203693; e-mail davide@tansini.it, Facebook Pizzighettone 1449: the castle intrigue.

Pizzighettone (Cremona, Italy).
Ravelin.
Casematte.
2005.
Digital filing (FS-2005-00005).

1449: an Italian Renaissance condottiero conquers a military place of Lombardy with a stratagem. Apparently, a rather ordinary and somewhat far-off historical fact; but what at sight would look like commonplace and remote can reveals interesting and unexpected aspects, from which a tell with a complex and involving plot springs.

It is the intention of the Pizzighettone 1449: the castle intrigue [Pizzighettone 1449: intrigo al castello] undertaking, which on October 28^th, Friday, and 30^th, 2011, Sunday, will tell to the public the sforzesca conquest of the castle of Pizzighettone (Cremona, Italy): a guided tour by night inside the ancient walls of the borgo upon the Adda River, lit up for the occasion with torches and lanterns.

A really evocative location which Davide Tansini will illustrate in architectonical particulars (the town walls, Cremona Gate [Porta Cremona], the Ravelin, the Tower of the Ford [Torre del Guado]), and in which he will evoke this fascinating Lombard Renaissance course again, made from wars, intrigues, money and treasons.

The sceneries in which the plot of the pizzighettonese tell will develope are the military contests among the several North Italy powers at Quattrocento’s half, begun – indeed, increased – after the death of the Duke of Milan Philip Mary Visconti, heirless-deceased in 1447.

Three the main characters of the course, and the most famous’s surely Francis Sforza Visconti: illegitimate son of a condottiero of Romagna and captain himself, who a surprising and extremely skilful carreer led to become Duke of Milan. But in 1449 this man was ‘only’ Count of Cremona: eight years back he married Bianca Mary Visconti, Duke Philip Mary’s legitimate daughter, who brought him as dower Cremona itself and the privilege to append the prestigious viscontean name beside his own, and an efficacious placing for the succession to his father-in-law as well.

The second protagonist of the course is the castle. In the XV Century Pizzighettone was considered a strategical locality, fortified centre on the two side of the Adda River, in a position to control the transits among Cremona, Crema, Lodi, Pavia and Piacenza. There were a bridge upon the river, a rocchetta beside the present hamlet of Gera, a wall enceinte and – precisely – a castle, which was placed on the East side of the Adda and which was controlled by a castellan.

Just this man is the third ‘lead’: Anthony Crivelli, who in Pizzighettone had arrived since 1437, designated as castellan by the Duke at that time Philip Mary. He was member of a family of the nobility of Milan which for years had been in service for the viscontean lords and which had been specializated in castle commands: to Anthony it had been up the one of Pizzighettone, furthermore in a critical moment, because since 1423 the Duchy of Milan had been undertaken against several powers – Venice above all – in a long war which had been involved the riverasca fortress too, aspired by many parts.

The narration of Pizzighettone 1449: the castle intrigue – based on careful and scrupulous documentary researches led by Tansini himself – also will concern many other characters who in Lombardy of half Quattrocento tried to make firmer or keep their own part.

In particular, the rivels of the three leads. First of all, the Golden Ambrosian Republic, the régime which had formed itself in Milan soon afterwards the death of Philip Mary Visconti. It had inherited part of Duke’s dominions: among these Pizzighettone, where it had maintened as castellan just Anthony Crivelli, even if with reciprocal suspicions. Then, The Most Serene Republic of Saint Mark, which from Venice had tried everything to extend its territory in Lombardy: also making and breaking alliances with Francis Sforza Visconti, allied-antagonist as much treacherous as the Republic was so towards the same condottiero. Finally, Francis and Jacopo Piccinino brothers, captains of fortune in service at first of Philip Mary and then of the Ambrosian Republic: more than antagonists, they were indomitable enemies of Francis Sforza Visconti, against whom the future Duke of Milan clashed almost all his life long.

Managing cleverly among subterfuges, tricks, negotiations and coups-de-scène Francis Sforza Visconti succeeded with ability – and luck – in bringing on his own side the castellan of Pizzighettone, and on August 28^th, 1449, he finally took possession of the riverasca place.

With the conquest of the stronghold upon the Adda the future of Lombardy was drawing with resolution to a new historical period, and for the three course leads new sceneries opened: for Francis Sforza Visconti Milan, the Duchy and the so aspired sway; for the castellan Anthony Crivelli riches and honours; for Pizzighettone a new chapter of its long and fascinating history.

Hovering between documentary and spy story, the tell developped by Davide Tansini won’t limit to the simple enumeration of the facts or of the biographical details, and won’t be a simple guided tour in the locations and in the edifices in which the course developed: instead, it will be the occasion for a very wider and more complex subject – but just for this interesting and involving – about a whole historical period and and about the heritage it left: society, economy, habits, arts, traditions, curiosities, in Pizzighettone and not only.

There will be political courses, with their inevitable consequence of hopes and disappointments; personalities most ‘in the public eyes’ of the period, regular vip between Middle Ages and Renaissance; most felt and debated questions, like taxes – always actual topic – and fears for an uncertain future. Hard not to find in present life contacts with this only in appearance far-off past.

In short, Pizzighettone 1449: the castle intrigue will be a double occasion: an evocative night guided tour by torches and lanterns light, and a starting point to know and come back in the history.

Francis Sforza Visconti.
In Grande Illustrazione del Lombardo-Veneto.
Cremona e la sua provincia.
1858.
Digital filing.

• Organization – Gruppo Volontari Mura (GVM) of Pizzighettone (Cremona).

• Conception and leading – Davide Tansini, historian and studious in fortified architecture, associated of the “Istituto Italiano dei Castelli” and of the “Istituto per la Storia dell’Arte Lombarda”.

• Notes – The Pizzighettone 1449: the castle intrigue manifestation is organized by the «Gruppo Volontari Mura» of Pizzighettone (Cremona) and is led by Davide Tansini. It is part of the Summer tales manifestations series. Its illustration is based upon personal researches of Tansini himself, and it is presented by form of thematic narration. Booking is requested to partake of (gratis and not fixing). Contribution: 2,⁵⁰ euro (down to 14-years-old boys gratis). Booking requested.

Download the release (PDF format)

Pizzighettone (Cremona, Italy).
Town walls.
Cremona Gate [Porta Cremona].
2008.
Digital filing (2008-00242).

Davide Tansini’s contacts:

• mobile (+39) 349 2203693;

• e-mail davide@tansini.it.