Pedro Navarro, Count of Oliveto
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Don Pedro Navarro, Count of Oliveto (es: Pedro Navarro, conde de Oliveto) (Garde, Navarre, c.1460 — Castel Nuovo, Naples, 1528)
Spanish engineer, later General who participated in the War of the League of Cambrai. At the Battle of Ravenna in 1512 he commanded the Spanish and Papal infantry, but was captured by the French. Later in French service he would supervise the French crossing of the Alps before the Battle of Novara.
Probably born at Garde in the Navarrese valley of Roncal. Little is known of his early life. Begins his military career under the service of Cardinal Juan de Aragon prior to 1485. Fought against the Barbary pirates in Italy as a Condottiere. Enlisted by Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (1499) took part in the capture and siege of Cephalonia (1500); his skilful employment of mines allowed for the breaching of the walls of the Turkish fortress. Continued in the service of Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba and went on to Naples, and defended Canosa (1502) and Taranto (1503) against the French; supervised the construction of the field fortifications at the Battle of Cerignola, that enabled Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba to win his battle with Louis d'Armagnac, Duke of Nemours (April 28); played a major role in the Spanish victory at the Garigliano River (December 29); made count of Oliveto for his services. After returning to Spain (1507) he takes part in Jimenez's expeditions to North Africa. Navarro aids in the capture of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera (1508) by employing a floating battery of his own design during the battle. He went on to fight at the capture of Mazalquivir (Mers-el-Kébir) and Oran (1509). Personally led Spanish forces during the conquest of Bougie (Béjaïa), Algiers, Tunis, Tlemcen, and Tripoli (1510). He enlists in the service of Ramon de Cardona viceroy of Naples and returns to Italy upon hearing of a new war against France (1511). He constructs a number of light carts mounted with light artillery pieces designed to break up enemy formations (1512). Despite his efforts the Spanish Papal army is defeated and he is captured by the French under command of Gaston de Foix at Ravenna (April 11, 1512). Ferdinand II of Aragon refuses to ransom him, and he eventually entered the service of Francis I of France. Goes on to accompany the French armies in their campaign against Milan (1515-1516); fought alongside King Francis against the Swiss at the battle of Marignano (September 13-14, 1515); continuing in French service, he fought at the Battle of Bicocca (April 27, 1522) and was taken prisoner when the Spanish captured Genoa early the following year (1523); released after the Treaty of Madrid (January 14, 1526), he returned to French service; again being taken prisoner while serving the French expedition in Italy (1527), he died in the Neapolitan prison of Castel Nuovo (1528). Navarro was possibly the finest military engineer of his time.
Principal wars: Turco-Venetian War (1499-1503); Neopolitan War (1501-1503); North African expeditions (1508-1511); War of the Holy League (1511-1514); First (1521-1526) and Second (1527-1530) Hapsburg-Valois Wars.
Principal battles and sieges: Cephalonia (Kefallinía) (1500); Canosa (Canosa di Puglia) (1502); Taranto, Cerignola, the Garigliano (central Italy) (1503); Veléz de la Gomera(1508); Oran (1509); Tripoli (1510); Ravenna (1512); Marignano (Melegnano) (1515); La Bicocca (near Milan) (1522).
[edit] References
- Taylor, Frederick Lewis (1973). The Art of War in Italy, 1494-1529. Westport: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-8371-5025-6.
- Dupuy, Trevor N. (1916). The Harper encyclopedia of military biography/ Trevor N. Dupuy, Curt Johnson, and David L. Bongard. -1st ed. pp. 539-540. New York: Castle Books. ISBN 0-7858-0437-4.
