These wars have always been difficult for me to tie together and remember, but, since the uniforms and personalities are so colorful, here is a short guide. During the 15th century, Italian mercenary captains had led knights and foot in skirmishes glossed over as battles. But in 1494 Charles VIII of France invaded with the first large artillery train. He brushed aside the Italians, earning the enmity of Spain who sent the great captain, Cordoba. Charles split his army and he won at Fomovo against the Italians. His other force won at Seminara against the Spanish. After Seminara, Cordoba reorganized his army. He had pikes backed by sword and buckler men and exchanged arquebus for crossbow. In 1503 he entrenched behind a ditch and palisade at Cerignola. The French knights, Swiss pike, and infantry were stopped and then routed by cavalry. The new French king was Louis XII He invaded and was shot to pieces early at Ravenna by artillery, but won a draw in the battle. The Swiss switched to the anti-French coalition when Maximilian of Austria declared against France. They routed the French at Novara using their old tactics. Francis I became French king and invaded Italy for the third time in 1515. At Marignano the Swiss fought as a non-mercenary national army for the last time, and were checked but not routed. From this time on the Swiss tended to fight as French mercenaries. At LaBicocca, the Swiss were shot up by Spanish arqubusiers and they never again attacked in their huge pike columns. The Spanish then stopped the use of sword and bucklers. The French besieged Pavia. Imperialists attacked by surprise and used their muskets to shoot up the French who were routed. Francis was captured saying, "All that is left to me is my honor and my life." A treaty ended the wars in 1529, but the Hapsburgs and Valois were undying enemies. The Armies Troops include Swiss and landsknect pike, arqubus men, sword and buckler troops, some crossbows and halbard types. Knights, javelin throwing light horse, and assorted riff raff and peasants can be mixed in. Essex, Museum, Minifigs, and others can provide the 15mm troops. Trenches are needed. Remember, the Swiss take no prisoners; So fight to win! Back to MWAN #104 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2000 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com