Castracani, a celebrated Italian general, was born (no body knows of whom) at Lucca in Tuscany in 1284, and left in a vineyard covered with leaves, where he was found by Diana, a widow lady, the sister of Antonio, a canon of St Michael in Lucca, who was descended from the illustrious family of the Castracani. The lady having no children, she resolved to bring him up, and educated him as carefully as he had been her own. She intended him for a priest; but he was scarcely 14 years old when he began to devote himself to military sports, and those violent exercises which suited his great strength of body. The factions named the Guelfs and Gibelines then shared all Italy between them; divided the popes and the emperors; and engaged in their different interests not only the members of the same town, but even those of the same family. Francisco, a considerable person on the side of the Gibelines, observing Castruccio's uncommon spirit and great qualities, prevailed with Antonio to let him turn soldier; on which Castruccio soon became acquainted with everything belonging to that profession, and was made lieutenant of a company of foot by Francisco Guinigi. In his first campaign he gave such proofs of his courage and conduct as spread his fame all over Lombardy; and Guinigi, dying soon after, committed to him the care of his son and the management of his estate. Still distinguishing himself by his exploits, he filled his commander in chief with such jealousy and envy, that he was imprisoned by stratagem in order to be put to death. But the people of Lucca soon released him, and afterwards chose him for their sovereign prince.—The Gibelines considered him as the chief of their party; Castruccio, party; and those who had been banished from their country fled to him for protection, and unanimously promised, that if he could restore them to their estates, they would serve him so effectually that the sovereignty of their country should be his reward. Flattered by these promises, he entered into a league with the prince of Milan. He kept his army constantly on foot, employing it as best suited his own designs. For services he had done the pope, he was made senator of Rome with more than ordinary ceremony; but while there, received news which obliged him to hasten back to Lucca. The Florentines entered into a war with him, but Castruccio fought his way through them; and the supreme authority of Tuscany was ready to fall into his hands, when a period was put to his life.

In May 1328, he gained a complete victory over his enemies, who amounted to 30,000 foot and 10,000 horse; in which 22,000 of them were slain, with the loss of not quite 1600 of his own men; but as he was returning from the field of battle, tired with the action, and covered with sweat, he halted a little, in order to thank and care for his soldiers as they passed; when, the north wind blowing upon him, he was immediately seized with an ague, which he at first neglected, but it carried him off in a few days, in the 44th year of his age.

Machiavel, who has written the life of Castruccio, says, that he was not only an extraordinary man in his own age, but would have been so in any other. He was of a noble aspect, and of the most winning address. He had all the qualities that make a man great; was grateful to his friends, just to his subjects, terrible to his enemies. No man was more forward to encounter dangers; no man more careful to escape them. He had an uncommon presence of mind, and often made repartees with great smartness. Some of them are recorded, which discover a singular turn of humour; and, for a specimen, we shall mention three or four of them.—Passing one day through a street where there was a house of bad fame, he surprised a young man, who was just coming out, and, who, upon seeing him, was all over blushes and confusion: “Friend, you should not be ashamed when you come out, but when you go in.”—One asking a favour of him with a thousand impertinent and superfluous words: “Hark you, friend; when you would have anything with me for the future, send another man to ask it.”—Another great talker having tired him with a tedious discourse, excused himself at last, by saying, he was afraid he had been troublesome. “No indeed,” (replied he), “for I did not mind one word you said.”—He was forced to put a citizen of Lucca to death, who had formerly been a great instrument of his advancement; and being reproached by somebody for having dealt so severely with an old friend, replied, “No, you are mistaken, it was with a new foe.”—One of his courtiers, dextrous to regale him, made a ball and invited him to it. Castruccio came, entertained himself among the ladies, danced, and did other things which did not seem to comport with the dignity of his rank. One of his friends intimating that such freedoms might diminish the reverence that ought to be paid him; “I thank you for your caution; but he who is reckoned wise all the day, will never be reckoned a fool at night.”

CASTRUM doloris, in middle age writers, denotes a catafalque, or a lofty tomb of state, erected in honour of some person of eminence, usually in the church where his body is interred; and decorated with arms, emblems, lights, and the like.

Ecclesiastical writers speak of a ceremony of consecrating a castrum doloris; the edifice was to be made to represent the body of the deceased, and the priest and deacon were to take their posts, and say the prayers after the same manner as if the corpse were actually present.