Famous Italian Military Leaders

Italian general, patriot, and republican Giuseppe Garibaldi is remembered for the role he played in the Italian unification and the creation of the Kingdom of Italy. He is considered one of Italy's "fathers of the fatherland." A highly proficient military general, he also led the Expedition of the Thousand on behalf of Victor Emmanuel II. He died in 1882.

Georg von Trapp, or Captain von Trapp, was an Austrian naval officer who led the Trapp Family Singers, the family that inspired the play and the film The Sound of Music. An able military man, he had also been part of World War II and was knighted by the Austrian government.

Roman general Flavius Aëtius, also known as the Last of the Romans, was a Roman general during the final years of the Western Roman Empire. He had a huge influence over Emperor Valentinian III. He resisted Attila’s invasion in the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains. He was eventually assassinated by Valentinian.

The 5th governor or prefect of the Roman province Judaea, under Roman Emperor Tiberius, Pontius Pilatus is remembered as the one who officiated the trial of Jesus Christ and ordered his crucifixion. He apparently persecuted Jews and eventually killed himself on the orders of the new emperor Caligula.

A 1st century BC Celtic slave, Gannicus led a slave rebellion during the Third Servile War. Known for his valiant fights as a gladiator, he took away a large chunk of slaves when he broke off from Thracian gladiator and fellow slave leader Spartacus. He was eventually defeated in the Battle of Cantenna.

Initially an artillery officer, Pietro Badoglio served as a general during the two World Wars. He eventually signed an armistice with the Allies to withdraw Italian forces from World War II. He eventually served as the prime minister of Italy and was also the 1st Duke of Addis Abeba.

Roman general Publius Quinctilius Varus had also been made the governor of Africa. Working under Roman emperor Augustus, he lost three Roman legions to the Germanic tribes of Arminius in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest and eventually committed suicide by falling upon his sword.

Italian military officer Rodolfo Graziani commanded Italy’s Regio Esercito, or Royal Army. He was a fascist figure who held significant political posts under the monarchy of Victor Emmanuel III and then under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. Known for his campaigns in Africa during World War II, he escaped imprisonment for his war crimes.

Prince Henry of Battenberg was a morganatic descendant of the Grand Ducal House of Hesse. He was the son of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by the Rhine, and his wife, Countess Julia von Hauke. He married Queen Victoria's youngest child, Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, and became a member of the British Royal Family. 

French nobleman and military commander Eugène de Beauharnai is known for service at the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He had also been appointed the Viceroy of Italy under Napoleon I, who was also his stepfather though her mother Joséphine de Beauharnais’s second marriage.

A 15th-century Byzantine soldier, Giovanni Giustiniani, who belonged to one of the most powerful families of the Republic of Genoa, is remembered for his valiant campaign to defend Constantinople against the Turkish army of Sultan Mehmed II. He was eventually wounded and died, while the Ottomans took control of Constantinople.

Matilda of Tuscany, who was the countess of Tuscany and belonged to the House of Canossa. She is mostly remembered for her role in the clash between the Holy Roman Emperor and the papacy. She later became a mythical figure in Italy, with appearances in literary works, music, and art.

Italian military general Luigi Cadorna served as the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army during World War I, though he is remembered for his inefficiency and bad decisions. He was later moved to the Allied military council at Versailles, and in spite of his failure, was eventually named a Field Marshal.

Italian fascist politician Italo Balbo commanded the country’s air force under the dictatorial rule of Benito Mussolini. He was previously a leader of the Blackshirt militia. However, his pro-British sentiments made Mussolini move him away from Italy to make him the Governor-General of Italian Libya. He was killed by accidental friendly fire.

A 15th-century Italian captain, Francesco I Sforza reigned as the duke of Milan. He was one of the 7 illegitimate sons of Sforza dynasty founder, Muzio Attendolo Sforza. He later backed a Milan–Florence alliance, which led to the Peace of Lodi. He was also known as a patron of art and architecture.

Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma was an Italian condottiero and noble. He is best remembered for his service as a general in the Spanish army. From 1578 to 1592, Alexander Farnese served as the Governor of the Spanish Netherlands. He was also the Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 15 September 1586 to 3 December 1592.

A 5th-century Roman general, Ricimer is remembered as a kingmaker of the Western Roman Empire. While he initially supported Emperor Majorian, he later deposed him in favor of Libius Severus. He later clashed with Emperor Anthemius and promoted Olybrius to the throne. He never ruled directly but showcased his influence through puppet rulers.

A member of the Italian House of Savoy, Prince Aimone, the Duke of Aosta, also served as a Royal Italian Navy officer. He was later made the king of Croatia by Italian king Emmanuel III but refused to accept his kingship as a mark of protest against the Italian occupation of the Dalmatia region.

Roman statesman and general Quintus Sertorius not only went against the Roman Senate, leading a rebellion, but also ruled most of Spain independently for 8 years. He was part of major campaigns, such as the Cimbric War, the Social War, and the Sertorian War. He was eventually stabbed by Perperna and his co-conspirators.

Narses was one of the most powerful Byzantine generals who served Emperor Justinian I. He is remembered for his occupation of the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy. A eunuch, he initially led imperial bodyguard of eunuchs and later saved Justinian’s throne by his efficient military action.

Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta was an Italian prince who served as Italian East Africa's Viceroy during the Second World War. The time that he spent in Italian Cyrenaica was portrayed in the 1981 epic historical war film, Lion of the Desert. Prince Amedeo was the third Duke of Aosta. 

Prince Xavier of Bourbon-Parma was the Head of the House of Bourbon-Parma from 1974 until his death in 1977. He was also a Carlist claimant to the Spanish throne. He joined the Belgian army during World War I and fought with distinction. He also played important roles in the Spanish Civil War and World War II during his military career.

A 16th-century Duke of Savoy, Emmanuel Philibert, also known as Testa di ferro, was the only child of Charles III, Duke of Savoy. An able soldier, he is remembered for recovering most of the territories his father had lost to Spain and France. He also stressed on Italian as the official language.

The penultimate Ostrogoth king, Totila is remembered for his exploits in the Gothic War. He recovered almost all of the territories of central and southern Italy that had been occupied by the Eastern Roman Empire since 540. He eventually died in the Battle of Taginae, which the Goths lost.

Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies was nephew of Francis II, the last King of the Two Sicilies. Carlos was given the title of Infante of Spain before his marriage to Mercedes, Princess of Asturias, daughter of the late King Alfonso XII of Spain. Carlos served the Spanish Army during the Spanish–American War and was later promoted as Inspector General.  

Italian nobleman Ugolino della Gherardesca, the Count of Donoratico, was a naval commander. Elected the mayor of Pisa, he was supposed to seal a peace treaty with Florence but ended up being accused of treason and imprisoned in a tower with his family, where they died of starvation. His story appears in Dante’s Inferno.

The son of Spanish king Amadeus, Prince Luigi Amedeo, also known as the Duke of the Abruzzia, was a passionate mountaineer and explorer, who scripted history by becoming the first to climb Mount St. Elias in Alaska. He also conquered the world’s second-highest peak, K2, and even explored parts of Africa.

Armando Diaz was an Italian general who played an important role during World War I, serving as Chief of Staff of the Royal Italian Army. He is credited with leading the Italian forces to victories in important battles, including the Battle of Vittorio Veneto. Counted among the greatest generals of World War I, Diaz was honored with many prestigious awards.

Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus was a Roman general and consul of the Roman Republic. He is best remembered for conquering Macedon, thereby ending the Antigonid dynasty. Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus was elected consul for the second time in 168 BC after the advent of the Third Macedonian War in 171. As consul, he was expected to deal with the war.

Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte II was a French-American military officer who belonged to the American branch of the House of Bonaparte. He served in the US Army as well as in the French Army. Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte II is best remembered for serving in the army of Emperor Napoleon III, fighting in major wars, including the Crimean War and Franco-Prussian War. 

Francesco Morosini served as the Doge of Venice between 1688 and 1694, when the Great Turkish War was at its peak. He also played an important role in the Morean War, during which he captured the Morea, Lefkada, and Athens. Francesco Morosini was responsible for destroying the Parthenon and looting sculptures from Athens, including the Piraeus Lion. 

Bartolomeo Colleoni was an Italian condottiero who served as the captain-general of the Venetian Republic. Colleoni went on to become the leading disciplinarian and tactician of the 15th century. Bartolomeo Colleoni is also credited with revamping the Roman baths in a town called Trescore Balneario.

Italian military commander Thomas Francis, who was also the Prince of Carignano, is remembered as the founder of the House of Savoy’s Savoy-Carignano branch. He initially supported Spain against the French during the Piedmontese Civil War, but soon changed sides and began fighting for France against the Spanish forces.

Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta was an Italian nobleman and condottiero. He was regarded as one of the most dangerous and daring military leaders of his time. He is credited with commanding the Venetian forces against the Ottoman Empire in the 1465 campaign. Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta's life and career inspired Edward Hutton's 1906 historical novel, Sigismondo Malatesta.

Andrea Gritti was the Doge of the Republic of Venice from 20 May 1523 until his death on 28 December 1538. Prior to his service as a Doge, Gritti had a distinguished military and diplomatic career. Andrea Gritti played an important role in the War of the League of Cambrai, where he led the Venetian military troops. 

Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Castro was the Head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies from 13 January 1973 until his death on 20 March 2008, although his reign was disputed throughout. He also served in the French Armed Forces, becoming the first member from the Two Sicilian royal family to do so.

Farinata degli Uberti was an Italian aristocrat who also served as the military leader in Florence, where he led the Ghibelline faction that supported the Holy Roman Emperor. During his lifetime, Farinata degli Uberti may have come across as being a heretic to his contemporaries, including Dante Alighieri.

A 12th-century prince of Antioch and Taranto, Bohemond II was the son of Bohemond of Taranto and Antioch and Constance of France. He married the daughter of Baldwin II, who served as the regent of Antioch, and joined him in a campaign in Damascus, eventually getting killed by Muslim forces in the process.

Ambrogio Spinola, 1st Marquess of Los Balbases was an Italian nobleman and condottiero. He is best remembered for his service as a Spanish general, leading his army and winning many important battles during his lifetime. Nicknamed Ambrosio, Ambrogio Spinola, 1st Marquess of Los Balbases is widely regarded as one of the greatest military leaders of his generation.

Oreste Baratieri was an Italian general who served as the governor of Italian Eritrea from 1892 to 1896. During his lifetime, Baratieri was part of many significant battles, such as the Battle of the Volturnus, the Battle of Custoza, and the Battle of Kassala. Oreste Baratieri also played an important role in the First Italo–Ethiopian War.

Giorgio Basta was an Italian diplomat, general, and writer. He was ordered to command Habsburg forces by Rudolf II in the Long War of 1591–1606. Basta is also remembered for his missionary work in Transylvania, where he was sent to restore Catholicism as the main religion. Giorgio Basta also authored several books on military leadership. 

One of the most prominent Roman politicians of the 3rd century, Gaius Flaminius had been made a consul twice. One of the first to challenge senatorial aristocracy, he is also remembered for introducing the land reform Lex Flaminia and built the Circus Flaminius. He was killed by the army of Carthaginian general Hannibal.

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius was a Roman general and politician. He is best remembered for serving as the leader of the Optimates, the conservative faction. He played an important role during the civil wars between 88 and 80 BC, where he sided with Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius is an important character in several historical novels.

Alfonso Ferrero La Marmora was an Italian statesman and general. He is remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Italy from September 1864 to June 1866. He also served as the Prime Minister of Sardinia from July 1859 to January 1860. Alfonso Ferrero La Marmora played important roles in several wars, including the First Italian War of Independence. 

Neapolitan admiral Ruggiero di Lauria, who served the fleets of Aragon and Sicily, is best known for his exploits in the War of the Sicilian Vespers. The son of Italian nobleman Richard of Lauria, he was one of the most successful naval commanders of his time.

Alessandro Pirzio Biroli was an Italian army General and professional fencer. He is best remembered for winning a silver medal at the 1908 Olympic Games. As an army man, he played a prominent role in the First World War, where he fought in the Macedonian Front. Alessandro Pirzio Biroli is also remembered for his role in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War.    

Castruccio Castracani was an Italian condottiero and aristocrat. He played important roles in several battles, including the Battle of Montecatini, where he led his men to victory against the Guelph League. His life and career inspired Niccolò Machiavelli's famous work, Life of Castruccio Castracani.

Ottavio Piccolomini was an Italian nobleman and military leader. He served as a Spanish general before assuming the role of a field marshal in the Holy Roman Empire. As an army-man, Ottavio Piccolomini played important roles in the Thirty Years' War and the Battle of White Mountain. He was also part of many other battles like the Battle of Wolfenbüttel.