Sampiero Corso

Sampiero Corso, born Sampiero da Bastelica in 1498, was a Corsican condottiero who left his native island young and made his fortune in the Italian Wars. From 1535 he served the French Valois, becoming colonel of the Corsican mercenary troops in 1547.

Backed by Catherine de' Medici, he invaded Corsica against Genoa in 1564, but lost French support. Ambushed by rival Corsicans in January 1567, he was killed and beheaded. Marshal of France Alphonse d'Ornano was his son.