The Battle of La Motta, also known as the Battle of Schio, Battle of Vicenza or Battle of Creazzo, took place at
Schio
Schio is a town and comune in the province of Vicenza (region of Veneto, northern Italy) situated north of Vicenza and east of the Lake Garda. It is surrounded by the Little Dolomites (Italian Prealps) and Mount Pasubio.
History
Its name comes fr ...
, in the Italian region of
Veneto
Veneto (, ; vec, Vèneto ) or Venetia is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about five million, ranking fourth in Italy. The region's capital is Venice while the biggest city is Verona.
Veneto was part of the Roman Empire unt ...
,
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...
, on 7 October 1513, between the forces of the
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...
and a combined force of
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
and the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...
, and was a significant battle of the
War of the League of Cambrai
The War of the League of Cambrai, sometimes known as the War of the Holy League and several other names, was fought from February 1508 to December 1516 as part of the Italian Wars of 1494–1559. The main participants of the war, who fough ...
.
A Venetian army under
Bartolomeo d'Alviano
Bartolomeo d'Alviano (c. 1455 – October 1515) was an Italian condottiero and captain who distinguished himself in the defence of the Venetian Republic against the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian.
Biography
Bartolomeo d'Alviano was born in 1455 ...
was decisively defeated by the Spanish/Imperial army commanded by
Ramón de Cardona
Ramon Folc de Cardona i Anglesola (Italian: ''Raimondo di Cardona'') (1467 – 10 March 1522) was a Catalan general and politician, who served as the viceroy of Naples during the Italian Wars and commanded the Spanish forces in Italy during the W ...
and
Fernando d'Ávalos
Fernando Francesco d'Ávalos, 5th Marquess of Pescara (or Ferrante Francesco d'Ávalos); Spanish: Francisco Fernando de Ávalos, (11 November 1489 – 3 December 1525), was an Italian condottiero of Aragonese (Spanish) origin. He was an importa ...
.
[Taylor. ''The Art of War in Italy (1494–1529)'']
Background
The Venetian commander,
Bartolomeo d'Alviano
Bartolomeo d'Alviano (c. 1455 – October 1515) was an Italian condottiero and captain who distinguished himself in the defence of the Venetian Republic against the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian.
Biography
Bartolomeo d'Alviano was born in 1455 ...
, unexpectedly left without
French support, retreated into the region of Veneto, pursued closely by the Spanish army under
Ramón de Cardona
Ramon Folc de Cardona i Anglesola (Italian: ''Raimondo di Cardona'') (1467 – 10 March 1522) was a Catalan general and politician, who served as the viceroy of Naples during the Italian Wars and commanded the Spanish forces in Italy during the W ...
.
[Norwich pp. 428–429] While the Spanish were unable to capture
Padua
Padua ( ; it, Padova ; vec, Pàdova) is a city and ''comune'' in Veneto, northern Italy. Padua is on the river Bacchiglione, west of Venice. It is the capital of the province of Padua. It is also the economic and communications hub of the ...
, they penetrated deep into
Venetian territory and in September were in sight of
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...
itself.
The Spanish
Viceroy of Naples
This is a list of viceroys of the Kingdom of Naples. Following the conquest of Naples by Louis XII of France in 1501, Naples was subject to the rule of the foreign rulers, the Kings of France, Aragon and Spain and the Habsburg Archdukes of Austria ...
, Ramón de Cardona, attempted a bombardment of the city that proved largely ineffective; then, having no ships with which to cross the lagoon, turned back for
Lombardy
Lombardy ( it, Lombardia, Lombard language, Lombard: ''Lombardia'' or ''Lumbardia' '') is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in the northern-central part of the country and has a population of about 10 ...
.
D'Alviano, having been reinforced by hundreds of soldiers and volunteers from the Venetian nobility, and cannons and other supplies, took the initiative and pursued Cardona's army, with the intention of not allowing the Spaniards out of the region of
Veneto
Veneto (, ; vec, Vèneto ) or Venetia is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about five million, ranking fourth in Italy. The region's capital is Venice while the biggest city is Verona.
Veneto was part of the Roman Empire unt ...
.
Battle
![Bellini, Giovanni - Giovanni Emo - NGA](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Bellini%2C_Giovanni_-_Giovanni_Emo_-_NGA.jpg)
The Venetian army commanded by Bartolomeo d'Alviano, finally confronted
Cardona's army outside
Vicenza
Vicenza ( , ; ) is a city in northeastern Italy. It is in the Veneto region at the northern base of the ''Monte Berico'', where it straddles the Bacchiglione River. Vicenza is approximately west of Venice and east of Milan.
Vicenza is a th ...
, a city in north-eastern
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
, on 7 October 1513. The Spanish and German infantry, composed of 7,000 men, led by
Fernando d'Ávalos
Fernando Francesco d'Ávalos, 5th Marquess of Pescara (or Ferrante Francesco d'Ávalos); Spanish: Francisco Fernando de Ávalos, (11 November 1489 – 3 December 1525), was an Italian condottiero of Aragonese (Spanish) origin. He was an importa ...
and
Georg von Frundsberg
Georg von Frundsberg (24 September 1473 – 20 August 1528) was a German military and Landsknecht leader in the service of the Holy Roman Empire and Imperial House of Habsburg. An early modern proponent of infantry tactics, he established ...
, well positioned and ready for battle, launched a strong charge against the Venetian army, causing thousands of dead and wounded (over 4,500 casualties) in the ranks of the Venetian army.
This was a severe blow, forcing the Venetians to flee, and scattering D'Alviano's entire army.
The forces of the two commanders continued to skirmish in the Italy's most North-Eastern region of
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
(man), it, Friulana (woman), it, Giuliano (man), it, Giuliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 =
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_t ...
for the rest of 1513 and through 1514.
Consequences
Although the Venetians were decisively defeated by the Spaniards, the Holy League failed to follow up on these victories.
The death of the King of France,
Louis XII
Louis XII (27 June 14621 January 1515), was King of France from 1498 to 1515 and King of Naples from 1501 to 1504. The son of Charles, Duke of Orléans, and Maria of Cleves, he succeeded his 2nd cousin once removed and brother in law at the tim ...
, on 1 January 1515, brought
Francis I Francis I or Francis the First may refer to:
* Francesco I Gonzaga (1366–1407)
* Francis I, Duke of Brittany (1414–1450), reigned 1442–1450
* Francis I of France (1494–1547), King of France, reigned 1515–1547
* Francis I, Duke of Saxe-Lau ...
to the throne. Having assumed the title of
Duke of Milan
The following is a list of rulers of Milan from the 13th century to 1814, after which it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia by the Congress of Vienna.
Before elevation to duchy
Until 1259, Milan was a free commune that elect ...
at his coronation, Francis immediately moved to reclaim his holdings in
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
. A combined Swiss and Papal force moved north from
Milan
Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...
to block the Alpine passes against him, but Francis avoided the main passes and marched instead through the valley of the
Stura
Stura was a department of the French Consulate and of the First French Empire in present-day Italy. It was named after the river Stura di Demonte. It was formed in 1802, when the Subalpine Republic (formerly the mainland portion of the Kingd ...
. The French vanguard surprised the Milanese cavalry at
Villafranca
Villafranca (Basque: ''Alesbes'') is a town and municipality located in the province and the autonomous community (Comunidad Foral) of Navarre, northern Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo ...
, capturing
Prospero Colonna
Prospero Colonna (1452–1523), sometimes referred to as Prosper Colonna, was an Italian condottiero in the service of the Papal States, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Kingdom of Spain during the Italian Wars.
Biography
A member of the ancient ...
.
Meanwhile, Francis and the main body of the French confronted the Swiss at the
Battle of Marignano
The Battle of Marignano was the last major engagement of the War of the League of Cambrai and took place on 13–14 September 1515, near the town now called Melegnano, 16 km southeast of Milan. It pitted the French army, composed of the be ...
on 13 September.
[Norwich p. 431]
See also
*
War of the League of Cambrai
The War of the League of Cambrai, sometimes known as the War of the Holy League and several other names, was fought from February 1508 to December 1516 as part of the Italian Wars of 1494–1559. The main participants of the war, who fough ...
*
Battle of Marignano
The Battle of Marignano was the last major engagement of the War of the League of Cambrai and took place on 13–14 September 1515, near the town now called Melegnano, 16 km southeast of Milan. It pitted the French army, composed of the be ...
*
Italian Wars
The Italian Wars, also known as the Habsburg–Valois Wars, were a series of conflicts covering the period 1494 to 1559, fought mostly in the Italian peninsula, but later expanding into Flanders, the Rhineland and the Mediterranean Sea. The pr ...
*
List of battles of the Italian Wars
Italian War of 1494–98
* ? 1494: Neapolitan occupation of Bari
* 5–8 September 1494: Battle of Rapallo
* 17 October 1494: skirmishes near Sant'Agata sul Santerno
* 19–21 October 1494:
* 26–29 October 1494: Siege of Fivizzano
* 8 ...
Notes
Sources
*Norwich, John Julius. ''A History of Venice''. New York: Vintage Books (1989) .
*Kamen, Henry. ''Empire: How Spain Became a World Power 1492–1763''. New York: HarperCollins (2003) .
*Taylor, Frederick Lewis. ''The Art of War in Italy 1494–1529''. Cambridge University Press, 1921. Westport: Greenwood Press (1973) .
*Montgomery, Bernard Law. ''A History of Warfare''. New York: World Publishing Company (1968) .
*
Guicciardini, Francesco. ''The History of Italy''. Translated by Sydney Alexander. Princeton: Princeton University Press (1984) .
*Mallet, Michael and Shaw, Christine. ''The Italian Wars 1494–1559''. Harlow: Pearson Educated Limited (2012) .
*Baumann, Reinhard. ''Georg von Frundsberg''. München: Süddeutscher Verlag (1984) .
{{DEFAULTSORT:La Motta, Battle of
Conflicts in 1513
1513 in the Republic of Venice
Battles of the War of the League of Cambrai
Battles involving Spain
Battles involving the Republic of Venice