Around 1585, Caravaggio’s contemporary Giulio Mancini reported “some extravagances from time to time that can be explained by a hot tempered and passionate temperament”. In his youth, writings indicate that he prepared plaster for painters who painted frescos and also practised painting himself. After four or five years during which he painted portraits, being of a tormented mind he had problems with the law because of certain quarrels and had to flee Milan (Bellori).
Between 1590 and 1595 – Disagreement between Caravaggio and the Cavalier d’Arpino but the duel never took place as Caravaggio was not a knight.
In 1599 – Fight between Onorio Longhi and the painter Marco Tullo; Caravaggio separated the rivals and as he was still convalescing, he had to have his sword carried by a young boy, “but he was incapable of using it. Caravaggio could hardly stand up, he could therefore not remove his sword from its scabbard”.
19 November 1600, Rome – Caravaggio allegedly started an argument with Girolamo Spampa di Monte Poliziano. At three in the morning, while knocking on the door of a hardware shop to buy some candles, Girolamo Spampa was hit with a series of blows from a stick. He defended himself shouting; some butchers arrived with candles and Michelangelo drew his sword and engaged in a duel with Girolamo, who fought back with his own sword from which Caravaggio suffered lacerations “as one has been able to observe”, Caravaggio took flight and was therefore recognised. Orazio Bianchi confirmed his testimony, but a verdict was never reached.
7 February 1601 – Michelangelo da Caravaggio obtained a pardon from the sergeant of the Castel Sant’Angelo prison, Flavio Canonico, whom he had hit with his sword, and the trial that had already started was cancelled. Canonico was the companion of Caravaggio in the affair against the architect Onorio Longo.
28 August 1603 – Fight between the painter Baglione and Onorio Longhi, Michelangelo da Caravaggio, Orzio Gentilesco and the Roman painter Filippo Trisegni, about “the famous nickname”. Gian Baglione was nicknamed Gioan Bagaglia or Gian Coglione.
The witness of Salini accused Caravaggio and Onorio Longhi of having written a pamphlet against Baglione. On 13 September 1603 in his deposition, Caravaggio mentioned the fact “of having been arrested the day before on Navona Square without knowing the motive”. In addition he said: “Sir I am not guilty of composing vulgar or Latin verses.” On 25 September 1603, after the intercession of the Ambassador of France, the Governor freed Caravaggio and summoned him to appear in court a month later, ordering him in the meantime not to offend the plaintiff, to consider his house as a prison and not to leave it without written authorisation from the Governor.
26 April 1604 – Quarrel between Michelangelo da Caravaggio and Pietro de Fosaccia, waiter in the Moro inn. Caravaggio threw a plate of artichokes at the waiter’s face, injuring his cheek. Caravaggio was close to drawing the sword of one of his companions, but the waiter moved away and was advised not to quarrel with Caravaggio. According to the testimony of Pietro Antonio de Madii, copyist, Caravaggio had asked if the artichokes were in oil or butter. The waiter had responded that he did not know, and took one to smell it, a gesture that displeased Caravaggio greatly, who then got up in anger and said: “It seems to me that you, poor idiot, think that you are serving a rabble!” and he took the plate of artichokes and threw it in the face of the waiter.
20 October 1604 – One night, Caravaggio was surprised by some men at four in the morning in the street of the Trinity leading to the Popolo who asked “Why did you throw a stone?” and Michelangelo responded: “Go and search for the person who threw the stone, rather than insulting me with your abusive words.”
18 November 1604 – It has been reported that, at five in the morning at the Bufalo canal lock, Michelangelo da Caravaggio was arrested by my men while carrying and brandishing a sword. When I asked him if he was authorised to carry a weapon, he responded in the affirmative and held the authorisation out to me. When I gave it back to him, I said to him that he could go and wished him ‘Goodnight, Sir’. He responded in a loud tone saying “Back off ...” and it was then that I told him he was being arrested if he would not take back what he had said. I had him put to the ground while he was handcuffed and he repeated “Go to hell”. This is why I imprisoned him in the Torre di Nona. (Archive of the State of Rome, police report, Vol. VIII, 1604-1606, sheet 38).