See also: Colonna

Sciarra Colonna (? - 1329), brother of Jacopo Colonna, is a Roman senator pertaining to the powerful family of the Colonna which played a big role in the history of Rome of XIIe in XVIe century. Colonna were the hereditary enemies of the Orsini and the Caetani which, made them-also the rain and the good weather in Rome of the end of the Moyen-Âge. Like all Colonna, Sciarra was a Gibelin, therefore a partisan of the Germanic emperor in his fight to be able it in Italy.

In 1294, Benoît Caetani is elected pope and takes the name of Boniface VIII. Colonna do not cease plotting against him, particularly Sciarra and his/her Etienne brother, which must finally flee its ire and take refuge in France. At the beginning of the summer 1303, it returns in Italy and takes the head of an armed insurrection which makes movement towards Anagni, residence of summer of the pope. It is with the doors of the city that it meets Guillaume de Nogaret, where they were probably given go. Sciarra wanted to benefit from the mission of Nogaret to finish of them good once for all with Boniface. The troop enters in force Anagni and seizes the person of the pope who is hustled. A tough legend states that Sciarra would have slapped Boniface. This one is finally delivered by the inhabitants of Anagni but dies one month later.

Sciarra Colonna and Guillaume de Nogaret are excommunicated by its successor, Benoît XI, but Philippe IV of France makes pressure on the following pope, Clément V, to obtain their forgiveness. They receive their discharge by the pontifical Bulle Rex gloriae of the April 27th 1311.

Remained senator, Sciarra Colonna remakes speech of him in 1328 by supporting the emperor Louis IV of Bavaria, excommunicated by the pope Jean XXII, which enters to Italy, makes elect the Antipape Nicolas V and is made crown in Rome by him. A little later the former accomplice of Nogaret is condemned to the exile. He dies the following year.

See too

• Attack of Anagni
• Guillaume de Nogaret