In 1496
Maximilian I, the
Holy Roman Emperor, was at war with the
Republic of Florence. An Imperial army laid siege to Livorno to cut Florence access to the sea, while a fleet blockaded the port. Hundreds of peasants from the boroughs around town, tired of past destruction, volunteered to join the defense.
A legend says that a “villano” (peasant), Guerrino of Montenero, distinguished himself leading his men in the defense of the old fort. It seems that he even shot the Emperor himself, barely missing him and tearing one of his brocade sleeves. After three weeks some unexpected help came with a “libecciata” (gale force wind) that destroyed part of the imperial fleet and ravaged the camp of the assailants, leading the Emperor to end his siege.
Florence, grateful of the loyalty demonstrated in the field, gave to Livorno the right to fly a standard with the Latin word “Fides” (Faith), which still now shows up on our coat of arms. A first monument “al villano” (to the peasant) was erected at the bastion successfully defended by Guerrino and his men. Today we can only see the third version of the monument by Vitaliano De Angelis and Giulio Guiggi: it was erected in “Largo Fratelli Rosselli” in 1956 to replace an older work lost in the war.
As you can see the statue is not in good shape and a crowdfunding campaign was started to restore it:
External links:
Maximilian I -
Holy Roman Emperor -
Republic of Florence (Wikipedia)
