Release date is 2026-04-08

Barbara Magni and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense - Milano)

"La figlia d'un ghibellino, vol. 1/2" by Giovanni Campiglio is a historical novel written in the early 19th century. Set around Milan at the dawn of the 15th century, it blends Guelph–Ghibelline strife with personal drama and adventure, centering on the young noble Arrigo Bianchi and a feared outlaw called the Guerrier Nero amid castles, bandit strongholds, and political upheaval.

The opening of the novel frames its aim to entertain and instruct, then situates the story in the Brianza/Martesana around Erba, sketching local history and introducing Antonio Bianchi, whose private losses lead to seclusion before turmoil returns under Duke Giovanni Maria; outlaws settle in the Buco del Piombo, and Antonio dies, leaving the Castello del Monte to his nephew Arrigo. A tavern scene follows: the falconer Giorgio Tanaglia boasts of Ghibelline feats and toasts, the black‑armored Guerrier Nero appears to extort gold with an unfamiliar firearm, and a shaky pursuit soon collapses. Next, Arrigo hunts with companions Azzo Trivulzio, Antonio Carcano, and a Bohemian captain; Carcano hints at Arrigo’s secret infatuation glimpsed near Beatrice Tenda, and the party encounters the wounded Guerrier Nero. Recognizing Arrigo, the outlaw reveals he is a former court favorite driven to bandit leadership by the duke’s crimes, recounts the Monza seizure and the duchess‑mother’s suspected poisoning and Pusterla’s fate, vows revenge, and ushers Arrigo into his fortified cave under a pledge of secrecy. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: Milano: Gaspare Truffi, 1830