Alessandro dal Borro

Marchese was known for obesity.

Alessandro Marchese del Borro (b. 22 April 1600, Arezzo-December 2 1656, Corfu) was a Tuscan nobleman and general. He became a Field Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire.

Biography

He was the son of Girolamo dal Borro, captain and a noble from an illustrious family in Arezzo. He studied mathematics at the University of Florence. Destined for a military career, he took part in the Thirty Years' War in the ranks of the company of Ottavio Piccolomini, captain for the Grand Duke of Siena, Cosimo II de Medici, sent to Germany to help the emperor Ferdinand II who was his brother. Del Borro gained many victories on the battlefield, and received for this two baronies and was admitted to the Bohemian nobility.

Alessandro also fought in many campaigns against the Turks and earned the nickname "Terror of the Turks." He fought also in the service of Spain and Venice.

The Grand Duke of Tuscany Ferdinand II de Medici called him back to Florence and named him commander of the army of the Grand Duchy. On July 29, 1643, for services rendered to the Grand Duchy, he gave him the marquisate of Borro.

Alessandro del Borro returned to the service of the Venetians and died in 1656 in Corfu, as a result of wounds received in battle with Barbary pirates. In the management of his estate in Arezzo, he was succeeded by his son Nicholas de Borro (1644-1690), like his father a career soldier who also died in battle.

Links

Alessandro dal Borro detto "Il Terrore dei Turchi" (in Italian)