Odet de Foix, Count of Lautrec

Odet de Foix (1485-1528), the Count of Lautrec and Comminges, of Foix, of Rethel and of Beaufort, was a valiant and bloodthirtsy military leader, a marshal of France from 1511. His career was greatly helped by his sister, the Countess of Châteaubriand and lover of King Francis I (1494-1547). He became a commander of the French army in Italy. In 1515 he was the great victor, as the military leader of the French and Venetian military alliance in the battle of Marignano (13-14 september), which was decisive for the conquest of the Duchy of Milan. His troops left Milan in November 1521, giving rise to the government of Francis II Sforza (1495-1535), the last independent duke of Milan. In the war between Charles V (1500-1558) and Francis I for domination in Italy and in Europe, Lautrec was greatly responsible for a bloody campaign in the Kingdom of Naples. Among the cities which were besieged were Catanzaro (which resisted), Melfi (which was destroyed with the massacre of over 3,000 people) and Naples, in whose siege Lautrec died of the plague.