CORGNA, ASCANIO DELLA

CORGNA, ASCANIO della. — He was a valiant captain and military architect, in command of the papal troops under Julius III. Favourable to the imperial party and an opponent of Cardinal Carlo Carafa, during the war with the Duke of Alba under Paul IV he was entrusted with the defence of Velletri: accused of intelligence with the duke, he was summoned to Rome to clear himself on 23 June 1556. Warned by his brother the cardinal that he would be imprisoned, he fled to Nettuno, which he delivered to the Colonna, and then to Naples. His goods were confiscated and were never restored to him even after the peace of 1557; he returned to Rome only after the death of Paul IV. He won fame in the defence 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.