The siege of Vicovaro, 1557

IL VERO · RITTRATO · DI · VICOVARO / OCCVPATO · DA · GL'IMPERIALI · ET / DALLO · ESSERCITO · DI · S · CHIESA / RICOVRATO · A · DI · XIIII · FEBRARO / ¥ · D · LVII

A high oblique view of the siege of Spanish-held Vicovaro by the forces of Pope Paul IV during February 1557, resulting in the surrender of the town on 14 February 1557. Oriented with north to top.

Printed from a worn and scratched, and possibly re-used, plate.

Tivoli (41°57ʹ28ʺN 12°48ʹ11ʺE), about 11.5 km (as the crow flies) to the south-west is bottom left; Civitella (42°04ʹ52ʺN 12°53ʹ42ʺE), is about 8 km to the north, while the small town of Sambuci (41°59ʹ10ʺN 12°56ʹ17ʺE) is about 4.5 km to the south-east. The partly walled, besieged town of Vicovaro, set beside the river Aniene (also called the river Teverone), is surrounded by cavalry and infantry regiments; some are arranged in the typical square with pikemen in the centre surrounded by soldiers with muskets. Several large cannon, probably the culverin and smaller cannon (falconets) can be seen.

The events of February 1557 at Vicovaro are recounted by Sir Edward Carne in his letters to Queen Mary:

'6 Feb 1557. (573) The Spaniards have evacuated Tivoli; the Pope's troops had privily cut off their way of escape, hoping to have inclosed them therein, but they contrived to get off in time. On the morrow after Candlemas-day, the Pope's army, esteemed to amount to 6,000 or 7,000 men, were mustered here, and yesterday they marched to Vicovaro to endeavour to recover it. 

13 Feb. Rome. (574) The Pope's troops are at Vicovaro, in which are 500 Germans and Spaniards, who are said daily to skirmish with them. On the 9th five great cannons, a large culverin, and many muskets and falconets were sent thither. The Duke of Paliano is at Tivoli, a good way out of the gunshot. Hears that the Neapolitan troops come with the Count de Populo to the rescue of Vicovaro.

20 Feb. Rome. (575) The Pope's army has taken Vicovaro; on the 13th and 14th it was strongly battered, and some great breaches were made in the walls. During the battering, a person attempting to enter the town was seized and brought to the Duke of Paliano and Strozzi, and on his person was found a letter to the Captain of the town desiring him to endeavour to keep it for five days, when it should be rescued. On the 14th the town was taken, after a desperate resistance, at the second assault, 400 of the assailants being killed and wounded. Mostly all in the town were put to the sword. 300 Spaniards there were all slain, with the exception of about 40, who, vainly attempting to escape, surrendered and were spared. The two captains of the town were brought here prisoners; four of the Pope's captains were killed in the assault, so the victory was dearly bought. There was no ordnance in the town, but six or seven small muskets; if they had had great pieces to shoot hail, they would have destroyed the most of the Pope's army, which consisted of not above 5,000 men. They have left four bands of soldiers to keep the town, and the rest have returned here, where they shall rest without attempting any other enterprise till more provision be made for shot, for they had not in all with them at Vicovaro but 700 shot, of which they spent there 500.'