BRAGADINO, MARCANTONIO

BRAGADINO, MARCANTONIO. - Born in 1523 into a well-known Venetian patrician family. He is found in Cyprus in 1570 as military captain, when war broke out between Venice and the Turks, who attacked the island of Cyprus. After Nicosia fell on 9 Sept., following a strenuous defence, B. concentrated the defence at Famagusta, assisted by Astorre Baglioni, Nestore Martinengo, and other captains in the pay of Venice. The resistance lasted from May until 30 July 1571, when, reduced to the utmost extremity, B. had to surrender. The Turkish captain Mustafā, however, failed to observe the terms of the agreement; he took the commanders prisoner, some of whom succeeded in escaping, while he killed the others. He vainly attempted to induce B. to apostatize; in August he had him flayed alive and displayed his stuffed skin as a trophy. The glorious remains were subsequently recovered and deposited in the church of S. Paolo in Venice.