Italians at Sigismund's Court Characters

Text

The presence of Italians played an enormous role at the court of the Luxembourg dynasty, both under Wenceslas and Sigismund. They brought news concerning papal politics, and significantly influenced the election of the Holy Roman Emperor. While Wenceslas IV was supported by members of the Visconti family of Milan, Sigismund was backed by the wealthiest Florentines.

Important positions in Sigismund’s royal court were administered by, among others, Pippo Spano, known in Czech as Pipa Vlach. In a short and politically unstable period, he proved to be not only a capable merchant but also a military tactician. He was the first to organise a defensive system in the Hungarian towns against attacks from the Ottoman Empire, for which Sigismund made him the chief commander of the Hungarian army.

In 1403, Pippo saved the king from death during an attack by Hungarian barons. He later commanded soldiers in a campaign against Venice and the Hussites, and was inducted into one of the most prestigious knightly orders of the time, the so-called “Order of the Dragon”.

Artwork