He was the son of
Prospero Colonna, duke of Traetto (modern
Minturno) and count of
Fondi, and Covella di Sanseverino. He fought for the
imperial side in the
Italian Wars; in 1524, in reward, he obtained by
Charles V the county of
Belgioioso, confiscated from the
Barbiano family. Sent to defend the Spanish-controlled
Kingdom of Naples, he however defected to the French in 1525, gaining
Pope Clement V's enmity. After the Colonna had occupied
Anagni, the Pope proposed to pardon him in exchange of stopping fighting against the papal lands: Colonna replied assaulting the papal palace in the
Vatican City, forcing the pope to take shelter in
Castel Sant'Angelo. Vespasiano and all his parents were therefore
excommunicated. In 1527 he was reconciled with the pope thanks to the intercession of imperial ministers. He died at
Paliano in 1528. ==Family==