Osprey Campaign 43 : Fornovo 1495 : France's Bloody Fighting Retreat

In the year 1495, Charles VIII was the youthful King of France, the most powerful state in medieval Europe. A dreamer who saw himself as the saviour of Christian Europe, he believed he could roll back the ever-spreading tide of Ottoman Turkish conquest. As a base for his crusade he was determined to seize southern Italy. In a lightning campaign he used France's modern army to sweep through Italy, his mobile field artillery train smashing into dust the tall towers of Italy's medieval castles. The Italian states rallied and at Fornovo their alliance, the League of Venice, fought Charles' army to a standstill. This campaign marked the coming of age of gunpowder weaponry, and the beginning of 30 years of bloody conflict - the Italian Wars. David Nicolle details the French campaign leading up to Fornovo, the battle itself, and the aftermath. The leaders of both armies are examined as are their armies and plans, and this background information all greatly helps when the author finally comes to his close-up investigation of Fornovo. The different moves in the battle are looked at, as are significant events during it: notably Charles's near capture by a group of Milanese men-at-arms. The final section deals with the end of the campaign: and France's withdrawal. David Nicolle's attention to detail, such as, for example his mention of the capture of King Charles' book of pornographic pictures by the Italians at Fornovo, combined with his ability to see the broader picture of the Italian campaign itself, makes this an interesting and comprehensive book.

Contents

• Origins of the Campaign
• Opposing Leaders
• Opposing Armies
• Opposing Plans
• The Campaign
• The Battle of Fornovo
• Aftermath
• The Battlefield Today
• Chronology
• Wargaming Fornovo
• Further Reading