Fornovo July 6, 1495 Strategic Context In February 1495, Charles VIII of France is able to conquer Naples with the help of Milan, following a long march south through Italy. The startling French success alarms the rest of southern Europe, provoking an anti-French alliance. The newly formed League of Venice includes Venice, the Papal States, Spain, and former French ally, Milan. Now surrounded by enemies, Charles marches north out of Naples in May, seeking to simply make it back to France. The League army under Francesco II Gonzaga gets a chance to disrupt Charles’ plans as the French army marches along the Taro River in July, opposite the League army. The League commanders debate allowing the powerful French army to pass but Gonzaga stiffens their resolve with an attack plan to destroy the French army. Stakes + A League victory would disorder the French army, putting Charles in grave danger. + A French victory would permit the French army to continue its march and return to France. By Jonathan Webb, 2012 ©

 League of Venice  Well  9,500 men-at-arms  Francesca II Gonzaga  2,300 light cavalry  French  Well  Charles VIII  1,000 artillerymen  5,150 men-at-arms  650 light cavalry  4,400 infantry By Jonathan Webb, 2012 © Fornovo, 1495 Strength  11,000 infantry  1,000 artillerymen

League of Venice (Gonzaga) French (Charles) Fortebraccio De la Trémoille/ D’Armagnac De Gié/ Trivulzio De Foix/ Charles Odet Duodo Gonzaga Garlino Colleonni/ Taddeo Caiazzo Montefeltro Melita/ Savorgnan Gonzaga deploys his army into many parts, divided amongst the main line, support line, flanking force and camp guard. The flanking force under Duodo is to harass the French vanguard while the League right under Caiazzo, supported by Calleonni/Taddeo, pins it down with an attack. The League center under Gonzaga, supported by Garlino, is to launch the main attack against the French center, shattering the French army. The League left under Fortebraccio is to pin down the French rearguard. Ridolfo Gonzaga, Gonzaga’s uncle, orders Montelfeltro to not cross the Taro unless he personally instructs him. Charles deploys his army in march formation but expects an attack against his powerful vanguard, not the center where he commands. Odet, leading the French baggage train, can hardly control its troops; wagons are thus strung out the length of the French line of march. The battle opens with a brief artillery duel between the French vanguard and League right, which the French guns win outright. Duodo’s light cavalry fail to harass the French vanguard and retreat to the hills in light of a charge by French men-at-arms. Meanwhile, the League right crosses the Taro to engage. At the League center, Gonzaga discovers the effects of the previous night’s rain, a significantly deeper and treacherous river, and thus leads his men-at-arms left to cross intermingled with Fortebraccio’s at a narrow ford. The French vanguard is too small to take advantage however. Gonzaga/ Fortebraccio The French vanguard infantry, in fact Swiss pikemen easily dismiss two disheartened attacks by the League right and then support force under Colleonni/Taddeo. These broken League units reform on the east bank or flee to camp. The French vanguard forms up at the edge of the west bank but does not cross; De Gié prefers to regain contact with the French center before acting. Meanwhile, Duodo’s light cavalry descend on the French baggage train, killing its commander. Charles leads his center to meet the main League attack were he comes perilously close to being surrounded and killed before more men-at-arms arrive. On the League side, Ridolfo Gonzaga is killed, meaning there is no one to order Montefeltro’s men-at-arms across the Taro. Garlino’s force is crossing the Taro in support but his light cavalry surge ahead of the infantry, ignoring the French lines to loot the French baggage train. French infantry move to defend what remains of it. De la Trémoille/ D’Armagnac De Foix/ Charles The compact and aggressive French ranks prove superior to the League tactics of successive, ineffectual charges, weakened further by the slow crossing of follow-on forces. Eventually, the French left routs the League right in this sector, forcing a League retreat. Duodo’s light cavalry flee to the hills; Garlino’s belated infantry retreat across the Taro; Gonzaga/Fortebraccio’s men-at-arms flee across the initial ford and another further south. Montefeltro advances to secure the fords while the League artillery in the hills open fire to discourage any further French pursuit. The French men-at-arms pursue as far as the Taro but go no further; Charles appears content to merely bombard the League camp. Gonzaga/ Fortebraccio De la Trémoille/ D’Armagnac De Foix/ Charles Montefeltro League of Venice (Francesca II Gonzaga) 9,500 men-at-arms 2,300 light cavalry 11,000 infantry 1,000 artillerymen French (Charles VIII) 5,150 men-at-arms 650 light cavalry 4,400 infantry 1,000 artillerymen

Fornovo, 1495 Casualties & Aftermath League of Venice:French: 2,000 or 8% 1,200 or 10% By Jonathan Webb, 2012 © Charles and his commanders decided not to use their tired army to attack the League army, much of which had not yet engaged in the battle. The French continued their march, shadowed by the League army, reaching France in October. Charles’ successor, Louis XII, invaded Naples again in 1499, resulting in a renewed war with Spain. Gonzalo de Cordoba, leading the Spanish army, defeated France at the Garigliano in 1503 and eventually forced Louis to renounce his claims to the Neapolitan throne in 1505.

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps By Jonathan Webb, 2012 ©