Filippo Buondelmonti degli Scolari, better known as Pippo Spano (Tizzano, 1369 - Lipova, 1426), was an Italian condottiere and merchant.
Born in Tizzano, near Florence, he worked at the Archbishop Demetrius of Strigonio (Esztergom) until 1387, when he passed to the service of King Sigismund of Luxembourg. In 1407 he was appointed spano of Temesvár, his nickname is due in fact to the translation with "spano" of the Hungarian administrative title of "Ispán". Among his many missions he conquered Bosnia and Serbia and defeated the Turks in various battles (1411-1412); he also won against Venice, who had to surrender him to Aquileia and Udine.
He was also sent to Italy and his important mission was to have the antipope John XXIII participate in the Council of Constance. With his political skills he managed to become governor of Hungary, married Barbara di Ozora and died, aged fifty-seven, in unclear circumstances (according to some he was tortured and killed for failing a mission).
His remains were buried at Székesfehérvár (Royal Alba), next to the Hungarian king's tombs. The emperor Sigismondo himself took part in his funeral.
In 1517 Lorenzo Buondelmonti had Pippo Spano's works, painted by Jacopo di Michele known as Jacone, on the façade of a building facing Santa Trinita in Florence. Pippo Spano also has a portrait of Andrea del Castagno, in the series of illustrious Florentines.
He was also an art lover and most likely he was the one to call Masolino da Panicale in Hungary who was working on the frescoes of the Brancacci Chapel, thus allowing his student Masaccio to continue the work, which was later finished by Filippino Lippi. It also appears in the Novella del Grasso legnaiuolo, and in its continuation the protagonist, excellent cabinetmaker, takes refuge in Hungary where he becomes rich.