To affirm his political regime, Pandolfo Petrucci (1452-1512) took advantage of the potentialities given by the Camera del Comune. It had been the arsenal of the city of Siena for a long time, but Pandolfo changed its organization and widened its assignments. The maintenance and production of weapons was still the principal purpose of this institution of the city. Under Pandolfo the production of artilleries, ammunitions and the fortification activity was increased, thanks to specialists like Francesco di Giorgio, Giacomo Cozzarelli and Vannoccio Biringucci, personalities who deeply influenced the technical and military culture of all Europe. The Camera del Comune also managed the military intelligence, useful tool to the dissembling politics of the Petrucci, and to the management of the army. The Army of Siena was composed by a Condotta in Aspetto, which Pandolfo used to create alliances. But the most important troops were the Provvisionati di Piazza, a professional infantry faithful to the political regime and depending, both economically and for the supply of weapons, on the Chamber of the town and the leadership of Pandolfo. The military politics of Pandolfo Petrucci brought Siena among the greatest European powers of that time but its purposes, mainly finalized to the maintenance of his own personal power, obstructed a true modernization of the war apparatus of Siena, which in the following years had been inferior than its adversaries.
Marco Merlo