Simone Orelli

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Simone Orelli (* around 1220 in Locarno , † around 1291 in Como ) was a Swiss condottiere .

Life

Simone Orelli was the son of Podestà by Biasca Guido Orelli († August 26, 1314). His cousin was Vogt Matteo Orelli († approx. 1282).

He was a field captain in the service of Milan and played a decisive role in the fighting in northern Italy in the 13th century; he contributed significantly to the failure of imperial politics in this region, but he also promoted the takeover of power by the Visconti in Milan.

At first he was part of the Ghibellines , who were followers of Frederick II , as well as the Guelphs , who were more inclined to the papacy , but also supported the emperor when it was in their interests. However, after imperial troops invaded the Ambrosian valleys in 1238 and temporarily robbed him of his fiefdom, he became an opponent of the emperor . In the same year he sat at the head of the Locarno nobles, liberated Locarno from Como and from the emperor and became Podestà generale der Pieve , which he had a governor rule.

In 1242 he led the siege of Bellinzona with Heinrich von Sax and took the city, which was then administered by the victors in the name of Milan. After the fall of Bellinzona, the Ambrosian valleys also returned to the Orellis, who took over the offices of castvögte and rectors of Biasca and the Blenio valley .

Between 1242 and 1286 he held the rectorate of Biasca and the Blenio Valley in the name of the Milan Cathedral Chapter , but in 1249 the Orellis actually lost control of Locarno and Bellinzona after the peace between Como and Milan.

In 1245, Simone Orelli, at the head of a Milan contingent of troops, repulsed the attack of Emperor Frederick II in Gorgonzola and took his son Enzio prisoner, who was exchanged for other prisoners shortly afterwards. After the death of Emperor Friedrich II. In 1250, Simone Orelli defected to the Ghibellines and became one of their leaders: he was now also active in other regions and, with his cousins ​​Guido and Matteo, supported the Graubünden nobles in their battles against the, with the Abbot of Disentis allies, Bishop of Chur , Heinrich I of Montfort . The peace treaty of 1261 between the Orellis and the Abbot of Disentis ended these feuds.

In 1256 he remained a loyal vassal of the Archbishop of Milan Ottone Visconti during the unrest between the Guelphs and Ghibellines in Milan and went into exile with him in 1259 .

From 1258 to 1261 he took part in the campaign of Peter II of Savoy against the bishop of Sion , Heinrich I of Raron .

He commanded the army that invaded Como in 1263 in the name of the new Podestà Corrado Venosta von Matsch (1226–1278), but was captured together with his nephew Guidoto and locked in a cage in Milan for twelve years. In 1276 he was released due to an exchange of prisoners between Guelphs and Ghibellines and returned to his castle in Biasca; shortly afterwards he allied himself with the archbishop Ottone Visconti and prepared his counterattack.

In 1277 he fought successfully against the da Torre from Como and in the same year the Guelphs were defeated in the Battle of Desio , after which the Visconti returned to Milan; As a result, the Ghibellines took control of Como and Locarno.

Simone Orelli received the general captainate with the title of capitano generale del comune e del popolo and, as the archbishop's right-hand man, was entrusted with important tasks in domestic and foreign policy in Milan. Presumably his position was weakened after defeats in various skirmishes, so that he lost his office again after a year and a half. He temporarily went to Como and allied himself with the Rusca, but when they fell out with the Visconti, he returned to the service of the Archbishop of Milan and at the end of 1284 began a war against the Rusca to retake Locarno, Bellinzona and Lugano . Although he was initially successful, he had to give up the cities again in 1286 after an agreement between the Rusca and the Visconti. He then left politics.

Simone Orelli was married. The names of his children are known:

  • Enrico Orelli († January 9, 1311), Podestà of Biasca;
  • Simone Orelli

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Orelli, Guido. Accessed August 31, 2019 .
  2. ↑ Orelli, Matteo. Accessed August 31, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Ambrosian Valleys. Accessed August 31, 2019 .
  4. ↑ Sax, Heinrich von. Accessed August 31, 2019 .
  5. ↑ Orelli, Enrico. Accessed August 31, 2019 .
personal data
SURNAME Orelli, Simone
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss governor
DATE OF BIRTH around 1220
PLACE OF BIRTH Locarno
DATE OF DEATH around 1291
Place of death Como