Domenico Millelire, pseudonym of Domenico Leoni, (1761 in

La Maddalena La Maddalena (Gallurese: ''Madalena'' or ''La Madalena'', sc, Sa Madalena) is a town and ''comune'' located on the islands of the Maddalena archipelago in the province of Sassari, northern Sardinia, Italy. The main town of the same name is locat ...

– August 14, 1827 in La Maddalena) was an

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

patriot, and officer of '' Regia Marina Sarda'' (Sardinian Royal Navy). He is recognised to have gained the first

Gold Medal of Military Valor The Gold Medal of Military Valour ( it, Medaglia d'oro al valor militare) is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia for deeds of outstanding gallantry in war by junior officers and soldiers. The fac ...

in the Italian history. Millelire gave the first defeat to

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

Biography

He was son of Pietro Leoni and Maria Ornano, his three brothers were Navy's officers too. On February 23, 1793, Domenico Millelire, in command of the Sardinian fleet, defeated near the

Maddalena archipelago The Maddalena Archipelago is a group of islands in the Strait of Bonifacio between Corsica (France) and Sardinia (Italy). The whole archipelago makes the territory of the ''La Maddalena'' comune in Sardinia. Geography The archipelago consists ...

the fleets of the French Republic which included, with the rank of lieutenant, the young and future Emperor of France

. He was subsequently decorated as recompense with the gold medal of the Reign of Sardinia and a life annuity of 300 Lire.http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/battles/1793/c_maddalena.html La Maddalena, 22/25 February 1793 The baptism of fire of a young Lieutenant Colonel, a certain Napoleone Di Buonaparte from Ajaccio.

Bibliography

* Domenico Millelire e la difesa della Sardegna nel febbraio 1793 - 11 di Collana dei quaderni azzurri - Giorgio Bardanzellu - 1954

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Millelire, Domenico Italian sailors Italian military personnel Italian military personnel of the Napoleonic Wars People from the Province of Sassari People from the Kingdom of Sardinia 1761 births 1827 deaths