| On the 16th day of August in this year, the kings of Arragon and of Navarre, the grand master of the order of St. James, their brother, the duke of Sessia, and his son , the count de Fondi, the prince of Tarentum, his son sir Christopher Garganeymè1 surnamed the Eagle, the viceroy of Sicily, and four hundred knights and esquires, were made prisoner before the town of Gaieta, and their army, of four thousand, defeated. They had been employed in besieging the town of Gaieta by sea and land, to the great displeasure of Philip Maria Visconti, duke of Milan2, who had prepared an army and stores, in Genoa, to raise the Siege and revictual the place. The commander of this army for the duke of Milan was the admiral of Genoa, who attempted to enter the port and throw in succours; but the besiegers marched to the shore to combat him, - and though they were far more numerous than he was, fortune favored him, and he completely routed the Arragonian and Neapolitan forces.The kings and princes before mentioned were carried by the admiral prisoners to Genoa, then under the protection of the duke of Milan, and were soon delivered up to him on certain terms agreed between him and the Genoese, and also on promising not to give them their liberty without their consent.. This promise he did not keep; for, after he had handsomely entertained them in his town of Milan he gave them their liberty without ransom, or insisting on any terms, and even made them, on their departure, many rich gifts. When this came to the knowledge of the Genoese, they were very indignant thereat, and not without reason, for they were inveterate enemies; and they now withdrew themselves from the protection of the duke of Milan3. |
| Notes: |
| 1: Garganeymè. Q. |
| 2: The death of Joan, queen of Naples, followed closely upon that of Louis of Anjou, king of Sicily, in 1434. The following year Alphonso passed over from Arragon and commenced the siege of Gaieta; and during that siege the battle was fought of which this account is given. The personalities here mentioned to have been taken prisoners, are the king Alphonso, his brothers James, king of Navarre, and don Henry, grand master of St. James; the prince of Tarento, John Anthony de Marzan, duke of Sessa, Christopher Gaetano, count of Fondi, &c. The name of Garganeymè, I conjecture to be a blunder for Gaetano; but it is a gross mistake to call him son to the prince of Tarento. |
| 3: "In the year 1435, the town of Gaieta, in the kingdom of Naples, offered to submit itself to the protection of the Genoese, to avoid falling into the hands of Alphonse king of Arragon. In consequence, Francisco Spinola and Ottolino Zoppo were sent with a good garrison to defend the place. Alphonso hastens to besiege it, - and Gaieta, ill provided with provisions, is reduced to great distress. "The Genoese, informed of the situation of the garrisonsend thither, on the 22nd of July, a fleet under the command of Luca Aseréto, a famous captain, to their relief. Alphonso, hearing of this, embarks on his own fleet, with all the nobility, and eleven thousand combatants. The fleets meet near to the island of Ponza on the 5th of August, and the battle lasts from sunrise to night, but victory is on the side of the Genoese. It could not be more complete; the king of Arragon, his two brothers, John king of Navarre, and the infant don Henry, with a quantity of nobles, are made prisoners; and of fourteen vessels only one captured. "The besieged, on learning this event, make a sally, drive the enemy from their lines, and deliver the place. The prisoners are carried from on board the fleet to Milan, where the duke entertains the king of Arragon magnificently, enters into a league with him, and gives him and his companions their liberty without ransom. This generosity causes the Genoese to loose the fruit of their victory, and enrages them against the duke of Milan. On the 12th of December, they rise in arms, kill the governor, drive away the Milanese, and shake off the yoke of the duke." Art de Verifier les Dates |
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