Background
Leonardo"s father died while he was still an infant, and for the next few years, his mother acted as regent for both her sons.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Leonardo Tocco
Edit ProfileCareer
Little is known of him otherwise until ca. 1404–1406, when he took part in Carlo"s attacks on the Epirote mainland around Arta. Leonardo"s and Carlo"s exploits over the next decades are the main subject of the Chronicle of the Tocco.
In 1407, Leonardo attacked the new Prince of Achaea, Centurione II Zaccaria, who had seized his fiefs in the Morea in 1404, and conquered Glarentza, the principality"s main town.
In the next year, however, he was defeated by the Albanians at Kranea near Mesopotamon. In 1413, warfare between the Tocchi and Centurione Zaccaria resumed, and this time the latter prevailed.
Leonardo campaigned against Zaccaria in 1413, but in summer 1414, he was sent by Carlo to Corinth, where the Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologos supervised repairs to the Hexamilion wall. The emperor awarded Leonardo with the high court dignity of megas konostaulos, but enjoined both brothers to seek peace with Zaccaria.
The brothers appealed to Venice, and with her mediation concluded three-year truce was agreed which left Glarentza once again under Achaean control.
On 4 October 1416, Leonardo conquered the town of Rogoi. In 1418, he fought against the attacks of the Ottoman Turks, and visited King Ladislaus of Naples. He died soon after at Zakynthos.
The name and identity of Leonardo"s wife is unknown, but he had several children:
Maddalena Tocco, who in 1429 married the Despot of the Morea (and future last Byzantine emperor), Constantine XI Palaiologos
Angelica Tocco, who married Giacomo de Ariano
Creusa Tocco, who married Centurione II Zaccaria.
