Melchior was the son of Georg von Frundsberg and his wife Katharina von Schrofenstein. In 1523 Melchior was Wittenberg together with the later biographer of the Frundsberg family Adam Reißner. In the years 1524 and 1525 he was called the domherr of Augsburg, but apparently resigned shortly afterwards, since he already appeared on 2 November 1526 in the wake of his father Georg as captain in Tyrol. He fought there against the papal-French league.Together with his older brother Kaspar von Frundsberg, Melchior marched into Rome in the wake of the revolt of the Landsknechte over outstanding payments and took part in the Sacco di Roma. On 6 May 1527 he held the position between the Porta San Pancrazio and the Porta Settimiana. The aim was to prevent the failure of the papal troops from Trastevere. He survived the plundering of Rome itself and the following months, but then fell victim to the plague and died on 13 January 1528. Although he had participated in the sacking of the church of Santa Maria dell'Anima, he found his last rest in the church with an epitaph in front of the altar of the cross.His epitaph was probably converted in 1774 or as early as 1750 from the altar of the cross into the wall to the left of the southern side portal. The three-part monument is created as light marble. The socket contains an inscription with seven lines. The four coats of arms in the upper areas show from left to right the coats of arms Rechberg, Frundsberg, Frundsberg and Schroffenstein."For Melchior von Frundsberg, the son of George, the highly famous knight and leader of the imperial German foot people in the Italian war, who had led the army divisions in the most honorable way until he was taken away in Rome at the Ides of January 1528 (13 January) by an overly early death in his 21st year of life. Kaspar Schwegler, the chief payer of the army, has set this (monument) to the well-deserved." |