Francesco Zurolo

Francesco Zurolo or Zurlo (first half of the 15th century - Otranto, 11 August 1480) was an Italian feudal lord, baron and italian leader.
He defended the city of Otrantina from the siege of the Ottoman Turks during the early stages of the war, he died heroically with his soldiers during the early stages of the siege.
==Biography==
Francesco Zurolo (or Zurlo) feudal lord and baron of Pietragalla, Casalaspro and Oppido Lucano, descended from one of the most important Neapolitan families from which he owned various lands/feuds in the Kingdom of Naples. The chronicle of the family has been recorded since the earliest times and has enjoyed, with varying fortunes, nobility in the Kingdom and in particular in Salento, Basilicata, Molise, etc.
==The Battle of Otranto==
In anticipation of the Turkish invasion of Puglia, he was appointed by Ferrante of Aragon as commander of the square (or of the garrison) of Otranto together with the other captain: Giovanni Antonio Delli Falconi with whom he led the heroic but desperate defense of the city ​​attacked by about 16000 Turks.
On the day of the last battle, when the Turks managed to open a breach in the walls, despite having been seriously wounded in the arm in an assault the previous day, Francesco rushed armed together with his son and other brave men in an attempt to repel the invaders.
===Various versions about his death and that of his son===
There are several versions of his death: in one, he was captured by the Turks and sawn in two; in the other, more accredited, he dies fighting in the defense of the walls probably mutilated, a fact that would have given rise to the first version. 
According to another version, in Otranto the commander of the city, Francesco Zurolo, instead of surrendering in the face of the overwhelming force of the Turks (18000 soldiers were against 6000 citizens), began to hang some of their emissaries, impale some of their prisoners and even to fire a bombard at Gedik himself, who had approached the port with a boat to parley. 
The retaliation was particularly bloody: 813 people were beheaded after 15 days of resistance: the commander Zurlo fell on the ramparts of the walls during the last assault by the enemy, while the elderly bishop died of a heart attack. 
Even on the fate of the son the sources disagree: according to some he fell heroically together with his father, according to others he was taken prisoner to Turkey, where they made him deny Christ.
===Posthumous sponsor===
He was founder, posthumously - after his death in 1480, who when he was still alive made a will and, among other things, issued a testamentary disposition, naming his daughter Caterina Zurolo (baroness of Oppido Lucano and lady of other lands), to execute after his death the construction work in Oppido Lucano, currently in Tolve, a hamlet of the town, of a religious complex, consisting of a convent (now known as Santa Maria del Gesù, then of Sant'Antonio) with the annexed church of Sant' Antonio to Oppido Lucano; the aforementioned works began in 1482 as denoted by the foundation stone: " MCCCCLXXXII | FRANCISCO ZVRVLO | FECIT".
===Burial===
In the church of Santa Caterina a Formiello in Naples there are two display cases containing some mortal remains-skulls of the heroic defenders of Otranto, including those of the two brave captains who were recovered and transferred (from Otranto to Naples) by will of Alfonso II d 'Aragon.
==Dedications==
* In the historic center of Otranto, near the Romanesque cathedral, the streets are almost all dedicated to the heroes of the Battle of Otranto. Among these there is also one dedicated to "Francesco Zurlo - captain 1480".
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Category:Italian people
Category:Barons
Category:Italian military leaders