BRAGADINO, Marcantonio. — Born in 1523 into a well-known Venetian patrician family. In 1570 he is found in Cyprus as a military captain when, with the outbreak of war between Venice and the Turks, the latter attacked the island of Cyprus. After the fall of Nicosia on 9 September following a valiant defense, Bragadino concentrated the defense at Famagusta, assisted by Astorre Baglioni, Nestore Martinengo, and other Venetian commanders. The resistance lasted from May until 30 July 1571, when, reduced to the utmost extremity, Bragadino had to surrender. The Turkish captain Mustafa, however, failed to honor the terms, took the commanders prisoner—some of whom managed to escape, while the others were killed—and tried in vain to induce Bragadino to apostatize. In August he had Bragadino flayed alive and carried his skin as a trophy. The glorious remains were later recovered and deposited in the church of S. Paolo in Venice.
BRAGADINO, MARCANTONIO
BIBL.: E. Cicogna, Delle iscrizioni veneziane, I, Venezia, 1824, pp. 263 ff.; N. Morosini, La perdita di Famagosta e la gloria di M. A. B., ibid. 1833; P. Balan, Storia d'Italia, VII, 2nd ed., Modena 1866, pp. 52, 63 ff.