Ambrogio Spinola, 1st Marquis of the Balbases

Ambrogio Spinola, 1st Marquess of Los Balbases and 1st Duke of Sesto (1569 – 25 September 1630) was a Genoese nobleman and military leader in the service of the Spanish Empire. He distinguished himself in several key engagements during the Eighty Years' War and the Thirty Years' War, and is regarded as one of the greatest military commanders of his time and in the history of the Spanish army.

Born into a prominent family in the Republic of Genoa, Spinola entered Spanish service in 1602, raised 9,000 men at his own expense and conducted a successful siege at Ostend. His early victories led to his appointment as commander-in-chief in Flanders by King Philip II. Demonstrating his mastery of siege warfare, he led a one-year campaign that resulted in the capture of a string of cities along the Rhine from Maurice of Nassau, but also brought about his own financial ruin.

Early in the Thirty Years' War, Spinola conducted the Palatinate campaign. Following the end of the Twelve Years' Truce in the Low Countries, Spinola achieved the most famous victory of his career by capturing Breda in 1624. Political intrigues, in particular his rivalry with the royal favourite Olivares, hindered his military efforts, and he left Flanders in 1628. Spinola died in 1630 while conducting the siege of Casale during the War of the Mantuan Succession.

Early life

Heir to a prominent branch of his family, Ambrogio Spinola was born in Genoa, the eldest son of Filippo Spinola, Marquis of Sesto and Venafro, one of the wealthiest members of the Genoese nobility , and his wife Polissena Grimaldi, daughter of Nicolò prince of Salerno. The family of Spinola was of great antiquity, wealth and power in Genoa. Don Ambrogio's sister Donna Lelia was married to Don Giulio Cesare Squarciafico, 2nd Marquess of Galatone, from whom descend the Princes of Belmonte.

In the 16th century, the Italian Republic of Genoa was in practical terms a protected state of the Spanish Empire; the Genoese were the bankers of the Spanish monarchy and had control of its finances. Several of the younger brothers of Ambrogio Spinola sought their fortune in Spain, and one of them, Federico, distinguished himself greatly as a soldier in the Army of Flanders.

As the eldest brother, Ambrogio remained at home to marry and continue the family. In 1592 he was married to Giovanna Bacciadonne, daughter of the count of Galerata.

Spanish service

The houses of Spinola and Doria were rivals for authority within the republic. Ambrogio Spinola continued the rivalry with Giovanni Andrea Doria, count of Tursi, then the chief of the Dorias. He was not successful, and having lost a lawsuit into which he had entered to enforce a right of pre-emption of an important palace built by his grandfather Niccolò Grimaldi, prince of Salerno, which the Doria wished to purchase, he decided to withdraw from the city and advance the fortunes of his house by serving the Spanish monarchy in Flanders.

In 1602 he and his brother Federico entered into a contract with the Spanish government—a condotta on the old Italian model. It was a speculation on which Spinola risked the whole of the great fortune of his house. Ambrogio Spinola undertook to raise 9,000 Lombard mercenaries for land service, and Federico to form a squadron of galley ships for service on the coast.

The taking of Breda was the culmination of Spinola's career. Utter want of money paralysed the Spanish government, and the new favourite, Olivares, was jealous of the general. Spinola could not prevent Ernest Casimir of Nassau from taking Oldenzaal in 1626, or Frederick Henry of Nassau from taking Groenlo (or Grol) in 1627.

In January 1628 Spinola left for Spain, resolved not to resume the command in Flanders unless security was given to him for the support of his army. At Madrid he had to endure much insolence from Olivares, who endeavoured to make him responsible for the loss of Groenlo. Spinola resolved not to return to Flanders.

Family Spinola and Giovanna Bacciadonne had three children: Filippo (15948 August 1659), 2nd Marquess of Balbases and his successor. Polissena (died 1639), married Diego Felipe de Guzmán, 1st Marquess of Leganés, Governor of Flanders. Agustin (159712 February 1649), Bishop of Tortosa 1625, Archbishop of Granada 1627, Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela 1630, Archbishop of Sevilla 1645.