The background

The war between Francis I and Charles V.

In 1524, Francis I of Valois, King of France, makes a decision that will prove fatal: to descend into Italy, where a battle destined to change the course of history awaits him. Francis, thirty years old at the time, governs one of the most powerful and rich states in Europe, which extends from the Alps to the Pyrenees, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. His reign begins with a great victory at Marignano, where he crushes the Swiss and reconquers Milan and Lombardy, but his path will not be all roses and flowers. When Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg dies in 1519, Francis hopes to be his successor, but the crown ends up in the hands of Charles, nephew of Maximilian, already King of Spain. A heavy blow for Francis, worried that Charles V, now Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, could conquer Lombardy and threaten his Italian territories. In 1521, war with the Habsburgs is now inevitable. Milan immediately falls into the hands of the imperial troops and, despite French attempts to reconquer it, the situation seems hopeless. At that point Francis I, who has no intention of giving up without a fight, decides to descend into Italy.

The Descent into Italy of Francis I

In the autumn of 1524, Francis marched towards Lombardy, accompanied by one of the most imposing armies the region had ever seen: over 30,000 foot soldiers, including German and Swiss lansquenets, Italian and French infantry. There were also 2,500 heavy and 5,700 light cavalry, with about sixty cannons. When the numerically inferior imperial army saw the French approach, it quickly retreated beyond the Adda, abandoning Milan but leaving garrisons in several cities, including Pavia. It was right under the walls of this city that, on 28 October 1524, Francis I decided to camp instead of pursuing the retreating enemy, determined to defeat the imperial forces once and for all. But the city of Pavia, which had already changed masters several times in the previous years, was preparing for a new resistance.

Photo: Francis I, King of France (1494-1547). Starting in 1519, with the election of Charles of Habsburg to the imperial throne, Francis I began a series of wars for the control of the Italian peninsula that would last until the mid-sixteenth century. (Atelier of Jean Clouet, Pavia, Civic Museums of Pavia)

Photo: Emperor Charles V, grandson on his father’s side of Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg and Mary of Burgundy and on his mother’s side of the Catholic kings Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. He was elected Holy Roman Emperor in 1519, with the name of Charles V, beginning the long struggle with Francis I for supremacy in Italy and Europe.

The city of Pavia

Pavia, in 1524, is a city rich in history and with a troubled past, home to about ten thousand inhabitants. After being the “gem” of the Duchy of Milan for centuries, it passed under the control of France, then of the Sforza, and finally, in 1521, it opened its gates without a fight to the Spanish army led by Prospero Colonna. Its strategic position and its history make it a target of fundamental importance. The city, surrounded by medieval walls, is dominated to the north by the imposing Visconti castle, whose splendidly frescoed rooms once housed the treasures of the lords of Milan. To the south, the Roman stone bridge, rebuilt in the Visconti era, connects Pavia to the Borgo di Sant’Antonio on the opposite bank of the Ticino. A few kilometers north of Pavia is the Certosa and, between this wonderful monument and the city, there is a magnificent park enclosed by a brick wall along its entire perimeter: the Visconti Park. Pleasure garden and hunting reserve of the Dukes of Milan. Inside, a few kilometers from the city, is the Mirabello Castle, a hunting lodge built in the second half of the 14th century, which hosted Francis I and his entourage during the siege.

The Siege of Pavia

Francis I decides to lay siege to the city of Pavia, distributing his forces around the walls and demanding surrender, only to receive a defiant silence in response. Attempts to attack Pavia, conducted in November and December, fail miserably. The winter, the biting cold and the snow transform the siege into a real squeeze that puts the French forces to the test. Pavia does not give in easily. The city is defended by about six thousand elite soldiers, including a large contingent of German lansquenets commanded by Antonio de Leyva, a veteran of many battles in the service of Charles V. By mobilizing the local population, de Leyva manages to maintain and strengthen the defenses; with the help of the people of Pavia he repairs the walls, digs trenches, and collects money to pay the mercenaries under his command. Food resources, although expensive, are still sufficient to withstand the siege. The chronicles tell that, despite the difficulties, the nobleman from Pavia Matteo Beccaria offers a sumptuous banquet to the commanders of the garrison, a sign of resistance even in the most critical moments.

The Imperial Counteroffensive

While Pavia resists, beyond the Adda the imperial commanders do not remain idle. In early February 1525, the imperial army sent as support camps east of Pavia, ready for the offensive. It is led by Charles de Lannoy, viceroy of Naples, by Charles III of Bourbon and by the Marquis of Pescara, Ferdinand d’Avalos. Despite the harsh climate and logistical difficulties, the imperial generals do not let themselves be intimidated and prepare to strike. The idea is to wear down the French army, hoping that Francis I, tired of waiting, finally decides to come out into the open to face them in the open field. The plan, however, does not foresee that the king of France prefers to remain behind his fortifications, counting on the fact that the cold, hunger and desperation will bend the imperial forces. The tension grows and the fate of Pavia and Francis I now hangs by a thread: on 24 February 1525 the battle that will decide the fate of the conflict explodes with all its force.

In photo: Antonio de Leyva (1480-1536). Originally from Spanish Navarre, commander of the Pavia plaza during the siege of 1524-1525, he received great rewards from Charles V for the skill and valor he demonstrated on this occasion.