Battle of Fornovo: Difference between revisions

The League army took position on the right side of the Taro river and the French decided to keep to the left bank. Charles organized his army in battle groups. The first battlesection consisted of about 2,500 men and was led by Marshal Gie and [[Gian Giacomo Trivulzio]].{{sfn|Nicolle|2005|p=52}} The second, theand largest section, was led by CharlesEnglebert himselfof Cleves and Antoine de Bessey, consisted of 3000 infantry, 300 dismounted archers and 200 crossbowman.{{sfn|Nicolle|2005|p=52}} The final battlesection, about 1,400750 men, was led by [[FrancescoJean Secco]]de Foix. There was in addition a large infantry force of spearmen. The French artillery was arranged in front of the first line, as well as on the side of the Taro, protecting the second line.{{sfn|Oman|1987|p=111}} The League's right wing was commanded by Count Caiazzo with 400 Milanes men-at-arms and 2000 infantry, with 180 Bolognese men-at-arms in reserve.{{sfn|Nicolle|2005|p=56-57}} The central division consisted of 492 men-at-arms and 600 mounted crossbowmen under the command of Francesco Gonzaga, while keeping a large contingent of cavalry in reserve.{{sfn|Nicolle|2005|p=57}} The left wing, commanded by Fortebraccio di Montone, had 352 Venetian men-at-arms supported by cavalry.{{sfn|Nicolle|2005|p=57}} Also in the center were 4,000 Venetian foot and 1,00 Mantuan infantry, with a contingent of 600 [[Stradioti]] on the French left flank.{{sfn|Nicolle|2005|p=57}}

The French opened with an artillery bombardment, intending to kill as many of their opponents as possible.{{sfn|Nolan|2006|p=303-304}} Then they charged with their heavy cavalry, destroying and scattering the disordered Italian ranks in just minutes.{{sfn|Nolan|2006|p=304}} The fight was perhaps more memorable for the ineffectiveness of artillery on either side, other than the psychological effect achieved by the French guns.{{efn|The French guns stopped firing due to the rain making the powder wet.{{sfn|Santosuosso|1994|p=236}}}} Of the French and Italian casualties,{{efn|[[Paolo Giovio]] states 4,000 casualties for the League and 1,000 for the French, which Santosuosso believes is more accurate.{{sfn|Santosuosso|1994|p=246}}}} one eyewitness estimated that fewer than 10 men were killed by cannon fire.{{sfn|Nolan|2006|p=304}}

After the battle, Charles then marched on into Lombardy and returned to France.{{sfn|Tucker|2010|p=361}}

Both parties strove to present themselves as the victors in the battle.{{sfn|Mallett|Shaw|2012|p=31}} The battle was reported in Venice as a victory, and was recorded and celebrated as such, which included the capture of Mathieu de Bourbon.{{sfn|Santosuosso|1994|p=248-249}} Regardless of the self-proclamations of victory by League commanders, Malipiero recognized that the League failed to stop the French from reaching Asti.{{sfn|Luzio|Renier|1890|p=219}} Despite Gonzaga's claim of victory and the ordering of the ''[[Madonna della Vittoria]]'' portrait,{{sfn|Kuiper|2009|p=114}} the Italian historian [[Francesco Guicciardini]]'s judgement was to award the palm of victory to the French.{{efn|If officially Italians celebrated the Battle of Fornovo as a victory – to the surprise of the French – privately,

*{{cite book |last=Nicolle |first=David |series=Praeger illustrated military history series |title=Fornovo 1495: France's Bloody Fighting Retreat |year=2005 |publisher=PraegerOsprey |location=Westport Connecticut |isbn=978-0-275-98850-0}}