Siege of Mirandola (1355)
The siege of Mirandola in 1355 happened during a long fight between the Este family and the Visconti of Milan. Mirandola was ruled by Francesco II Pico. In early December 1355, Bernabò Visconti attacked with about 1,500 knights and many foot soldiers, raiding nearby lands. Unable to defend against such a large force, Francesco II Pico surrendered to keep his family’s grip on Mirandola and the nearby Quarantoli. The Visconti entered the castle in a friendly way, and Pico was later made the podestà (governor) of Bologna by Bernabò Visconti. Pico fought alongside the Visconti against their opponents and even took the castles of Marano sul Panaro and Campiglio (Vignola). A peace was signed in 1358; Pico returned the two castles to the Este family and went to Modena to negotiate with Aldobrandino III d’Este. The Pico family would remain divided and conflicts continued in the years that followed.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 09:42 (CET).