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Fornovo July 6, 1495
Strategic Context
In February 1495, Charles VIII of France conquers 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.
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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

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

3. Europe c. 1500

4. French League of Venice
The battlefield consists of the valley containing the Taro River, which is subject to sudden rises in the waterline. The waterbed is stony and uneven, its banks steep and marshy. There are four suitable fording sites across the river, indicated by transparent light green paths. Directly beside the river are flat grassy plains and steep foothills beyond those to make up the valley. There are various small hamlets throughout the battlefield (not shown), mostly near fording sites, as well as the village of Fornovo just south off-map.
French
(Charles)
Taro River
League of Venice
(Gonzaga)

5. French League of Venice
The French vanguard infantry (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 on the west bank but does not cross; De Gié prefers to regain contact with the French center first. 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 is almost killed before more men-at-arms arrive. On the League side, Ridolfo Gonzaga is killed, leaving Montefeltro’s force without orders. 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.
The compact and aggressive French ranks prove superior to the League tactics of successive, ineffectual charges, weakened by the slow crossing of follow-on forces. Eventually, the French left routs the League right, 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 back across the fords. Montefeltro advances to secure the fords while the League artillery in the hills open fire to discourage any French pursuit. The French men-at-arms pursue as far as the Taro but go no further; Charles is content to bombard the League camp.
Gonzaga deploys his army in many parts including 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 fix 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 following a charge by French men-at-arms. Meanwhile, the League right crosses the Taro to engage the rest of the French vanguard. 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.
French
(Charles)
De Gié/ Trivulzio
Duodo
Symbol guide
Odet
French League of Venice
Infantry Infantry
Men-at-arms Men-at-arms
Light cavalry Light cavalry
Artillery Artillery
Baggage train Baggage train
Camp
Caiazzo
De Foix/ Charles
Melita/ Savorgnan
De Foix/ Charles
De la Trémoille/ D’Armagnac
De la Trémoille/ D’Armagnac
Gonzaga
Colleonni/ Taddeo
De Foix/ Charles
French
(Charles VIII)
5,150 men-at-arms
650 light cavalry
4,400 infantry
1,000 artillerymen
League of Venice
(Francesca II Gonzaga)
9,500 men-at-arms
2,300 light cavalry
11,000 infantry
1,000 artillerymen
De la Trémoille/ D’Armagnac
Garlino
Gonzaga/ Fortebraccio
Gonzaga/ Fortebraccio
Fortebraccio
Montefeltro
League of Venice
(Gonzaga)
Montefeltro

6. Fornovo, 1495 Casualties & Aftermath
League of Venice:
French:
2,000 or 8%
1,200 or
10%
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.
By Jonathan Webb, 2012

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