# Francesco Busone da Carmagnola — Bellarion the Fortunate character guide

> Francesco Busone da Carmagnola in Bellarion the Fortunate by Rafael Sabatini.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Carmagnola, Francesco Busone, Messer Carmagnola, this knight Carmagnola, my Lord of Carmagnola

**First appearance:** 0019-iv-the-champion

## Who they are

A boastful and ambitious condottiero, a rival and later ally to Bellarion.

## In the story

### [V: The Commune of Milan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/v-the-commune-of-milan)

Facino's lieutenant commanding his condotta of a thousand mercenaries.

### [Manoeuvres](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/vii-manoeuvres)

Facino's lieutenant, leads the vanguard; mocks Bellarion's strategic advice but later receives orders to fall back and cross the river.

### [VIII: The Battle of Travo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/viii-the-battle-of-travo)

Assumes command after the battle, reports the victory and booty to Facino.

### [X: The Knight Bellarion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/x-the-knight-bellarion)

Challenges Bellarion to a joust, which Bellarion plans to avoid.

### [XI: The Siege of Alessandria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/xi-the-siege-of-alessandria)

Facino's lieutenant; mocks Bellarion's caution and is responsible for maintaining the cordon.

### [XII: Visconti Faith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/xii-visconti-faith)

Present as the one who ushered Beatrice and Pusterla into Facino's chamber.

### [XIII: The Victuallers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/xiii-the-victuallers)

Argues for an immediate assault, clashes with Bellarion's cautious approach.

### [XV: The Camisade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/xv-the-camisade)

Leads the disguised camisaders into Alessandria; recognized by the garrison as the gates are seized; accepts Bellarion's offer of the honor of leading the assault.

### [Severance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/xvi-severance)

Mentions the arrival of Ghibelline refugees from Milan at supper.

### [Book III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/book-iii)

A fellow condottiero and rival, whose ambitions clash with Bellarion's in the shifting alliances of the era.

### [I: The Lord Bellarion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/i-the-lord-bellarion)

Cordial but patronizing toward Bellarion, he is one of the captains in the council.

### [III: Facino's Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/iii-facino-s-return)

Sent by Facino to escort the Countess of Biandrate from Casale to Alessandria.

### [IV: The Count of Pavia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/iv-the-count-of-pavia)

Mentioned as a handsome soldier who has been attentive to Valeria, and who she defends as an honest gentleman against Bellarion.

### [V: Justice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/v-justice)

Commands at Bergamo but is ordered to surrender authority to Bellarion.

### [VI: The Inheritance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/vi-the-inheritance)

Captain under Facino; ceremoniously surrenders his sword to Beatrice at the assembly.

### [VII: Prince of Valsassina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/vii-prince-of-valsassina)

Commands troops in the siege of Milan, surprisingly supports Bellarion in the council, and is later asked by Bellarion to summon Princess Valeria.

### [VIII: Carmagnola's Bridges](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/viii-carmagnola-s-bridges)

Advocates building bridges, resents Bellarion's authority, and seeks to impress Valeria with his military tales.

### [IX: Vercelli](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/ix-vercelli)

Insists on assaulting Vercelli; plans a feint attack; leads the storming party despite Bellarion's reservations.

### [X: The Arrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/x-the-arrest)

Accuses Bellarion, leads the arrest, blames him for the failed attack.

### [XI: The Pledge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/xi-the-pledge)

Leads the push for Bellarion's execution, dismisses doubts, and secures Valeria's pledge of marriage.

### [XII: Carmagnola's Duty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/xii-carmagnola-s-duty)

Struggles to write a letter; defends his judgment against Barbaresco; devastated by Valeria's loss of trust.

### [XIII: The Occupation of Casale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/xiii-the-occupation-of-casale)

Commanded the siege of Vercelli from which Theodore broke out.

### [XIV: The Vanquished](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/xiv-the-vanquished)

Routed by Theodore's initial sally but rallies his troops and reoccupies Vercelli, subjecting it to a sack; writes to Duke Filippo Maria reporting the victory.

### [XV: The Last Fight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/chapters/xv-the-last-fight)

Mentioned as having called Bellarion a coward, which Valeria once believed.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/characters/carmagnola
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bellarion_the_fortunate_se/characters