Annibale Maffei

Mirandola, 10 December 1666 – Turin, 15 August 1735

Patrizio di Modena, Nobile di Mirandola, Nobile Romano, Nobile di Verona

Son of Count Giovanni and Margarita Baglioni, was sent to the court of Turin in
1681 as a page of Duke Vittorio Amedeo II and he followed him five years later in
the war against the Waldenses. For his courage in the battle of Staffarda (18August
1690), he gained the confidence of the Duke. When the French tried to surprise
Avigliana, Vittorio Amedeo II asked him to travel to Turin to put troops on the move.
He was present at the defence of Cuneo, at the siege of Carmagnola, and he
distinguished himself among the most courageous in the retreat from the valley of
Susa. As a reward the duke friezed him of the Order of SS Maurice and Lazarus. He
also took part in the campaign of 1692 in the Dauphine and the year after he
accompanied the duke to the field of Buriasco, at the assault of the fort of Santa
Brigida and at the battle of Orbassano.
In 1694, in consideration of services rendered, he was appointed Squire and
Adjutant by Letters Patent dated 9 June 1694. In 1695 he was sent, as a gentleman, at
the court of Parma. Shortly after he went to the siege of Casale, where, by order of
the duke, came several times into the city to deal with the Marquis of Crenau. In July
1695 he was in Flanders at the famous siege of Namur. In 1696 he accompanied the
Duke to the siege of Valenza. On 10 November of the same year he married in Turin
Maria Giovanna Maddalena Caterina Castelli, widow (since 1693) of Count Palatine
Charles Alexander Vignati, Lord of the Cassa and San Gillio. From 1699 to 1701 he
was ambassador at the court of England as Envoy to the Duke of Savoy in London by
Letters Patent dated 6 November 1703 (confirmed by Letters Patent of 28 December
1709 and 1711). Then he had also the rank of lieutenant colonel of cavalry. He
returned to Piedmont in October 1703, where he was appointed colonel of a regiment
of infantry of the new draft, which was distinguished by his name, but then he
returned ambassador to London. In the year following he was sent to the Anglo-
imperial army to fight with Prince Eugene and the Duke of Marlborough. First squire
of the Duke of Savoy from 1708, in 1709 he was appointed general of battle and as a
minister plenipotentiary he intervened at the Congress in Utrecht in 1712. Annibale
Maffei, having been created Grand Master of the Artillery in the 28 December 1713
he was sent as viceroy to Sicily from 1713 to 1718. Lieutenant Marshal in 1720, was
awarded the title of Knight of the Supreme Order of Santissima Annunziata patented
the 15 April 1729. Later he was Ambassador of the King of Sardinia in France by
Letters Patent dated 20 September 1725. He retired from diplomatic service in 1732.