Born in
Lavello, in either 1370 or, according to his son Gaspare writing in the
Cronaca Malatestiana del secolo XV , as an illegitimate son of
Raimondo Orsini del Balzo in 1350. Tartaglia was later adopted by Lord Andrea da Lavello, who he succeeded as lord of Lavello in 1406. Tartaglia trained at the military school of Ceccolo Broglia and served the
Republic of Florence. On 26 June 1402, he fought in the
Battle of Casalecchio; he was charged with overseeing the bridge of
Reno, but he left his position to participate in the combat, leaving the camps without any defence on his side. His imprudence cost the defeat of his army, and Tartaglia was captured and imprisoned. Released, he assumed responsibility for the defeat, but not enough to appease the wrath of
Muzio Attendolo Sforza, with whom he developed a strong rivalry. In 1408, he fought in the service of
Ladislaus of Naples, defending
Perugia and
Civitavecchia from the assaults of
Braccio da Montone and conquering
Rome, scaring away the
antipope John XXIII. As a token of gratitude, Ladislaus gave him the title of Lord of Toscanella in 1413. In 1418, he swore allegiance to
Pope Martin V and occupied
Assisi one year later and other territories between
Lazio and
Umbria.
Death In October of 1421, Tartaglia was accused by rival
Muzio Attendolo Sforza of treason and conspiring with
Alfonso V of Aragon and
Braccio da Montone. Based on this accusation,
Pope Martin V ordered his arrest. Tartaglia was captured in his sleep at
Aversa,
tortured, and executed by
decapitation. ==Bibliography==