Marcantonio Colonna

Marcantonio II Colonna (sometimes spelled Marc'Antonio; 1535[1] – August 1, 1584), Duke of Tagliacozzo and Duke and Prince of Paliano, was a Roman aristocrat who served as Viceroy of Sicily in the service of the Spanish Crown, general of the Spanish forces, and Captain General of the Church.

Due to acts of rebellion, he was disinherited by his father; but in 1562 Colonna was able to regain the family fiefs for himself, largely thanks to the support of Pope Pius IV.

However, he had to forfeit several possessions, such as Nemi, Ardea, and Civita Lavinia, due his father, Ascanio, having left little money.

The banner of the Holy League was hoisted on the captured ship, breaking the morale of the Turkish galleys nearby.

He was also Lord of Marino, then a village a few miles south of Rome, where the inhabitants honoured him with a great annual feast which still takes place today, under the name of "Sagra dell'uva".

The Victors of Lepanto (from left: John of Austria , Marcantonio Colonna, Sebastiano Venier ).
The Colonna coat of arms, from the Palazzo Bellomo in Syracuse .
Entry of Marcantonio Colonna to Rome, 1571. Etching by Francesco Tramezzino .