HSTEU401

Dwarfing of Italy, 1494-1530 political context for Machiavelli

French invasions of Italy: Valois dynasty
successive Kings launch inaugural invasions
1494 Charles VIII of France: first invasion of Italy
           called in by Ludovico il Moro (Sforza)
Duke of Milan, claims to Naples
           precipitates Medici exile from Florence
           Charles “took Italy with chalk” (Machiavelli)
1499 Louis XII (see Machiavelli’s Prince, Ch.3)
called in by Venice against Milan
1515 Francis I
victory at Marignano, occupation of Milan
               later defeated at Pavia 1525 by Charles V

HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE (HRE)
1519 Imperial election:  candidates are
Charles I  of  Spain  (Hapsburgs of Austria, dynastic marriages)
         Francis I of France (Valois)
Elector Frederick the Wise of Saxony (Luther’s protector)

Charles Hapsburg of Spain elected to become Emperor Charles V

Hapsburg - Valois Wars (Empire versus France in Italy)

1522-4 struggle for Milan between France & Empire

1525  BATTLE OF PAVIA: Imperial victory for Charles V
Francis taken prisoner, agrees to
1526  TREATY OF MADRID:
Francis renounces claim to Burgundy, Netherlands,
and Italy, also marries Charles sister
but once released, Francis joins
1526  LEAGUE OF COGNAC:
broad alliance against Charles V by
France, Papacy, Italians (Milan, Florence, Venice)
1526 Battle of Mohacs in Hungary
troops of Charles V hold off Ottoman Turks
unpaid Imperial troops march on Italy, Rome

1527  SACK OF ROME under second Medici Pope
by Imperial troops German (Lutherans) & Spanish
 Clement VII prisoner in Castel Sant' Angelo

1530  Charles V crowned Holy Roman Emperor
by Pope Clement VII
ceremony in Bologna (part of Papal States)