A project of OSG Europe. Designer: Nicola Contardi (director of OSG Europe) Development, Editor: Kevin Zucker. This game will be added to the pre-order list once certain website issues are addressed. A series of wars (chiefly between France and Spain) for control of the small small and militarily weak independent states of Italy. The game should go into production in the autumn; we will use this time to peruse the rules, playtesting and produce the map. We have got a playtest map but must still find an artist for it. Box and counters are at a good point (view them at the OSG Europe site http://www.geocities.com/italian_wars/ The Renaissance began in Italy in the 14th century, and reached its height in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries... Machiavelli was the political thinker of the age. The Protestant Reformation (1517) began as a reform movement within the Catholic Church, but ended as a revolution which brought religious pluralism to Europe. Both commercial interests and intellectual curiosity led to the great voyages of discovery, which in turn led to a fierce competition among European nations to establish colonies in farflung lands. Both religious strife and political rivalries were important causes of the wars of this period. The warfare of this period was affected by developing technologies: gunpowder (introduced to Europe in the mid 13th century) artillery (chiefly bombards used as siege weapons) muskets (a heavy, smoothbore gun fired from the shoulder intro 15th century) rifles (guns having a rifled bore, invented in 1520) In military terms, the period is perhaps best described as pike and shot, describing the principal arms of the foot soldiers of the time. Tactics developed from the medieval mass to linear deployments, due partly to the influence of Greek and Roman texts rediscovered and translated during the period. The inability of the shot of the time to repel cavalry led to interesting battlefield tactics. This era also covers the rise and fall of the popularity of the pike block. The following summary of the wars is taken from http://www.theminiaturespage.com/ref/history/reninfo.html#italian Charles of France Invades Italy Charles VIII allies with Milan and invades Italy (1494), taking Naples (1495). He is opposed by a coalition (the Pope, Holy Roman Emperor, Spain, Venice, and -- changing sides -- Milan). Ferrandino of Naples retakes the city following the Battle of Fornovo. Charles' fleet is captured at Rapallo, his army surrenders at Novaro, and he flees to France. In 1498, Charles VIII dies while preparing a new invasion force. He is succeeded by his cousin, who rules as Louis XII. Louis of France Invades Italy Louis XII allies with Venice, invades Italy (1499), and accepts the surrender of his former ally, Milan. Ludovico of Milan attempts to liberate his city, but is defeated at the Battle of Novara (1500) and imprisoned. Ferdinand of Spain aids Louis, who conquers the Kingdom of Naples (1501). Rome is occupied, and the Pope acknowledges Louis as King of Naples. German king Maximilian signs the Peace of Trent, recognizing French conquests. In 1502, Ferdinand of Spain sends a fleet to seize Taranto, supporting Louis. France and Spain Split Italy The alliance between Ferdinand and Louis is broken (1503). Ferdinand's general Gonzalvo de Cordoba defeats the French, and Louis gives up all claims to Naples. The French army surrenders at Gaeta (1504). The Treaty of Lyons (1504) divides Italy between France (north) and Spain (south). Louis and Maximilian sign the Treaty of Blois (1504), which gives France control of Milan. Germans Spar With The Venetians Maximilian sets out for Rome, but the Venetians refuse to let him pass. The Germans attack (1508), but the fighting is called off when Maximilian receives protests. The Pope's League Against Venice Pope Julius II forms the Holy League of Cambrai (1508), uniting with France and Spain to regain papal territory on the Adriatic lost to Venice. He excommunicates Venice (1509), and the French defeat the Venetians at the Battle of Agnadello (1509). Maximilian joins the League, but fails in his siege of Padua. The Pope Turns On France The Pope forms a new Holy League (1510) with England, Spain, and the Swiss to expel the French from Italy. In 1511, the French gain Bologna, but lose Modena and Mirandola. Venice, no longer excommunicate, allies with the Pope. In the Battle of Ravenna (1512) the French are triumphant, as is their commander Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard, at Brescia. However, Swiss, papal, and imperial forces drive the French and their mercenaries out of Milan. As compensation for their aid, the Swiss take Locarno, Lugano and Ossola. In an hour-long battle, the Swiss rout a combined French and Venetian army at the Battle of Novara (1513). The English and Germans defeat the French at Guinegate, also known as the Battle of the Spurs (1513) because of the manner in which the French depart the field of battle. Thus ends Louis' Italian adventures. In 1513 Pope Julius II dies, and the Holy League is disbanded. In 1515, Louis XII dies and is succeeded by Frances I (Francois I). Frances of France Invades Italy The Battle of Marignano (1515) is a French triumph versus the Swiss and Venetians. The Pope and the Swiss make peace with Frances. France conquer Milan. War With the Empire In 1519, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I dies. His successor is Charles V, who by virtue of his inheritances now unites a vast Hapsburg empire (including Spain, Austria, Naples, Sicily, the Low Countries, and Spanish America). In 1520, a league of Spanish cities (the communeros) rebels against Charles and receive French support. Charles puts down the uprising. In 1522, Charles and his allies (the Pope, Mantua, and Florence) expel France from Milan. The French retake Milan in 1524, but at the Battle of Pavia (1525) the king's horse is shot out from under him and he is captured. Francois I lost Italy forever and was temporarily imprisoned in the fortress of Pizzighettone, where he wrote to his mother, Louise de Savoie, claiming "son malheur", his doom, with the famous: "de toutes choses, ne m'est demeur que l'honneur et la vie qui est sauve" ("All is lost save honour"). While a prisoner, Frances signs the Treaty of Madrid (1526), renouncing his claims in Italy (and elsewhere). France Forms A League Once freed, Frances claims that the treaty was extorted from him. He forms an alliance (the League of Cognac) with the Pope, England, Venice and Florence. In retaliation, Charles V sacks Rome (1527) and takes the Pope prisoner. The French lay siege to Naples (1528), but a severe typhus epidemic forces the besiegers to retreat. The wars ends with the Peace of Cambrai (1529), in which Frances once again gives up all claims to Italy. Frances' Third Italian War Francesco of Milan dies (1535), ending the Sforza dynasty. Frances again claims Milan, allying with Suleiman the Magnificent (ruler of the Ottoman Empire). The French take Turin (1536), aided by Turkish fleets ravaging the Italian coast. The allies besiege Corfu (1537), which is successfully defended by the Venetians. The war ends inconclusively with the Truce of Nice (1538), followed by the Treaty of Toledo (1539). The Sacking of Nice In 1543, Frances sacks the imperial city of Nice with the aid of a Berber pirate, Kheir ad-Din Barbarossa. After two years of war, the Treaty of Crespy-en-Valois (1544) is signed in which Frances gives up claims to Italian territory. This is followed by the Peace of Andres (1546). Frances dies in 1547. Henry of France Invades Italy Henry II's army attacks Florence, but is defeated at the Battle of Marciano (1553). The French besiege Siena, but are forced to surrender by an imperial army (1555). The Spanish are victorious at the Battle of St. Quentin, driving the French from Italy. The war ends with the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis (1559). While celebrating the treaty at a tournament, Henry II receives a mortal head wound (as foretold by Nostradamus). Consequences of the Wars Italy loses its independence, and is dominated by Spain for nearly two centuries. Back to OSG News May 2003 Table of Contents Back to OSG News List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2003 by Operational Studies Group This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com