CORGNA, ASCANIO DELLA

CORGNA, ASCANIO della. – He was a valiant captain and military architect, at the head of the papal troops under Giulio III. Favorable to the imperial party and an opponent of Cardinal Carlo Carafa, during the war with the Duke of Alba under Paolo IV he was entrusted with the defense of Velletri: accused of having dealings with the duke, he was summoned to Rome to clear himself on 23 June 1556. Warned by his cardinal brother that he would be imprisoned, he fled to Nettuno, which he handed over to the Colonna, and then to Naples. His property was confiscated and not returned to him even after the peace of 1557; he returned to Rome only after the death of Paolo IV. He acquired renown in the defense of Malta (1565), and gave valuable military advice on the occasion of the battle of Lepanto. He devised various projects for military fortifications. He died in December 1571.