The First & Second Italian Wars, 1494–1504: Fearless Knights, Ruthless Princes & the Coming of Gunpowder Armies

Julian Romane examines the military operations and political events in Italy during the First and Second Italian Wars (1494–1504). The analysis begins with France's initial conquest of much of Italy, followed by the collapse of French control. A second French invasion secured Northern Italy, this time with an alliance involving Cesare Borgia, the Pope's son. Borgia's diplomatic maneuvering ultimately failed. France and Spain reached an agreement allowing France to retake Naples, but Spanish forces under Gonzalo de Cordoba defeated them at the Garigliano. These conflicts marked a departure from earlier medieval warfare. The French introduced new methods of artillery transport, the Spanish commander developed innovative military unit organization, and Borgia experimented with new systems for recruiting troops and establishing states. All powers involved spent unprecedented sums of money. These developments represented the emergence of the Military Revolution, with the wars set against the political context that would later inspire Machiavelli's writings.