Azzo da Correggio

Azzo da Correggio (1303–c. 1362) was an Italian condottiero born in Parma, son of Giberto III da Correggio, the Defender. Meant for the church, he turned to politics instead and set out to break the Rossi family's hold on Parma. In 1335, backed by the Della Scala of Verona, he succeeded and left them the lordship.

The next year they sent him to Avignon to plead their cause against the Rossi, and there he befriended Petrarch. In 1341 he took Parma from Mastino della Scala himself, with Petrarch at his side, and ruled it until 1344, when he ceded it to Obizzo III d'Este.

Petrarch stayed with him several times and dedicated several works to him. Azzo allied with the Visconti in 1347, hoping to regain Parma, and died at Milan in 1362 as Bernabò Visconti's guest.