Valperga Volume 1 (of 3)

In the early fourteenth century Italy is a patchwork of city‑states locked in a fierce struggle between the Guelphs, champions of papal liberty, and the Ghibellines, loyal to the emperor. Into this volatile world is born Castruccio Antelminelli, whose family is forced into exile from Lucca when he is just eleven. Raised among the remnants of a proud line that once served the emperor Manfred, he absorbs the twin legacies of chivalric ambition and bitter factional hatred. His early years are marked by restless travel—first to Florence, then to the courts of England and France—where he learns the art of war under foreign commanders and begins to forge the reputation that will later make him a legend.

As the conflicts intensify, Castruccio returns to Italy, aligning himself with the Ghibelline leader Uguccione and rapidly gaining control of Lucca, Pistoia, and surrounding towns. His charisma draws both allies and rivals, while a tender bond with the enigmatic Euthanasia of the Adimari family offers a glimpse of personal longing amid the chaos. The narrative follows his daring exploits, the construction of the castle at Valperga, and the early steps of a man who seems destined to reshape the politics of his age.