Acquaviva, Andrea Matteo
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Acquaviva, Andrea Matteo: (b. 1456, 1458, or 1460 in Naples; d. 1528 or 1529). 8th Duke of Atri. Scholar and patron of letters. In 1486, he was one of the leaders of a conspiracy of Neapolitan barons against the Aragonese dynasty. When the plot collapsed, he received a pardon and later became Grand Seneschal of the Kingdom of Naples. During the war between France and Spain for control of Naples, he changed sides several times before finally becoming a partisan of the French. For this, he was taken prisoner by the Spanish captain Gonsalvo da Cordova. Transported to Spain, he was soon freed thanks to the efforts of his younger brother Belisario. Allowed to retain his fortune, he now devoted himself to literary pursuits. Although he produced at least one book of his own (a commentary on the Latin translation of Plutarch’s Morals), he was better known as a patron to other writers.