Ávalos, Ferdinando Francesco d', Marquis of Pescara

ÁVALOS, FERDINANDO FRANCESCO d', marchese di PESCARA. - Born in 1490 and died at Milan, as a result of a war wound, in 1525. As a vassal of Spain, he served first that king and then that emperor with great success; indeed, he became one of the most active generals in the Italian military campaign. He was present at the battle of Ravenna and was taken prisoner by Gastone di Foix. He fought against Venice (1513–14) and, in the great struggle of Carlo V against Francesco I of France for European primacy, which was fought largely in Italy, he led Carlo V’s armies to the victory of Pavia, in which the French monarch was taken prisoner. When Gerolamo Morone, the skilful agent of the Sforza, attempted to form an Italian league against Spain—a league favoured by Giberti and by Clemente VII—Ávalos, known to be ambitious and dissatisfied with Carlo V (Guicciardini, XVI, chap. 3), was invited to take part, with the promise of the crown of Naples. And it seemed that he assented with genuine intentions; but, warned of the dangers and aware of the irreparable discord among the Italian princes, he revealed the conspiracy and had Milan occupied, thus securing Spanish rule over II. He was the husband of Vittoria Colonna, who bitterly mourned his untimely death; but perhaps, in life and in love, she was not requited.