Francesco Piccinino

Francesco earned a reputation as a gallant warrior serving the Duchy of Milan under the Visconti and the Papal States under Pope Martin V (d. 1431).

In 1436, he was serving the Aragonese Kings of Naples, and he took part in the 1437 siege of Cerreto Umbra against Francesco Sforza.

On 19 August 1444 he was again defeated by Sforza's forces at Montolmo (now Corridonia) and taken prisoner, while his brother Jacopo was able to escape.

Niccolo and Luigi dal Verme besieged that city, paid by Filippo Maria Visconti.

Despite these setbacks, he managed to gain a contract under the newly formed and short-lived Ambrosian Republic (1447-1450) together with Jacopo, in order to thwart Sforza's claim to be Duke of Milan.