BARTOLEMEO COLLEONI

1. Typical Colleoni infantry.2.MALPAGA in the province of Bergamo where Colleoni retired and became a top Agriculturalist
2. 

3.The shield of Colleoni





MODEL SOLDIERS FROM FIXED BAYONET Unpainted £5 each plus free painted model. Non-Dinpinti / 7 Euro + soldatino gratis con ogni ordine. This applies only to the FIXED BAYONET SOLDIERS which are of our unique manufacture or made for us.SEE list of what is available .All other soldiers listed here are just those we like and want to feature.We do not sell anything thats not on our list.

COLLEONI
IF YOU FEEL SO INCLINED AFTER ARRIVING AT BERGAMO TRAIN STATION AND THEN WALKING TO THJE MOUNTAIN RAILWAYS THE LITTLE COMPARTMENT WILL PULL YOU UP TO THE HIGH TOWN TO PAY YOUR RESPECTS TO THE MOST FAMOUS SOLDIER OF FORTUNE OF THEM ALL. So famous that you can still get Coffee cups there with his name.(the photo in black and white is Malpaga today)
It was the time when the psycho or the tough man made history; those who believed in law fell by the waste side.
(A typical Condotierri was Guidoricci shown in the Delprado figure made by
Frontline) . The family of Colleoni were those that took what they wanted when they wanted.bartolomeo was born in 1400 at a place called Solza near Bergamo.The son of Riccardo and Riccadonna dei Valvassori di Medolago. In 1372 the Father had taken over by force or by intrigue a castle owned by the duke of Milan.This was his downfall as he was then killed in 1404 by the duke who won back the castle and imprisoned Riccadonna .she finished her days like this. Bartolomeo led a child's life of misery at Solza until he found service as a page at the Piacenza court of the noble Arcelli.(the period costume photo is Malpaga)
He was still a kid when he decided to go South and join Braccio di Montone (in top right hand image) and his wars.he was given a horse and had his baptism of fire at the siege of Acerra.

From here he went continuously upwards as regards a military career.His greatest moment was wheen he did the impossible .Took the Venetian fleet overland to fight the Milanese on Lake Garda.
He felt let down by the Venetians afthet took back castles offered to him so he fought for the Milanese.It was another finest moment when he decimated the cavalry of Dresnay at Bosco Marengo in 1447. He then drifted back to the Venetians and on his death bed he gave them the sum of millions to save the Republic from total bankruptcy. There is much more to Bartolomeo than our little taste gives here but we will keep on coming back to this thread when and if we have anything worth adding so keep your eye out.
5.Above the glum looking guy is Braccio Di Montone
6.Film Poster is of one with Terence Hill and Biud Spencer called SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE
7.Venice watercolour. Nothing much changede since the days of Colleoni.
Below are various images and souvenirs of Colleoni and his men.
The statue is in Venice by Verducchio
The small castle below is Solza in the province of Bergamo where Colleoni was born.