Ettore Fieramosca (novel)

Ettore Fieramosca is an 1833 historical novel by the Italian writer Massimo D'Azeglio. It is based on the life of the condottiero Ettore Fieramosca (1476-1515). During the era of Italian unification, Fieramosca was revived as a national hero, a trend which the novel contributed to. D'Azeglio was influenced by the writings of the Scottish author Walter Scott. Along with other patriotic writers of the era, D'Azeglio tried to counter stereotypes of Italian cowardice by showing the courage of Fieramosca and others at the Challenge of Barletta in 1503.