Volume 33 of the series From Retinue to Regiment 1453-1618. Five centuries have passed since the famous Battle of Pavia one of the most significant battles in military history. This conflict marked the climax of the so-called Italian Wars, which had ravaged the Italian peninsula for over 30 years as European powers fought for supremacy on the peninsula. At Pavia, the superiority of heavy cavalry on the battlefield finally had to bow to the disciplined strength of professional infantry. The lansquenets with their pikes destroyed their Swiss rivals and annihilated the German mercenaries of the Black Band in the service of France. However, the real credit for the victory goes to the Spanish arquebusiers, who were skilfully led by the Marchese di Pescara. The deadly volleys from their firearms decimated the French elite gendarmerie and led to the capture of the French king, Francis I. The Battle of Pavia 1525 is Massimo Predonzani's second work dedicated to this historical event. It is not a simple reworking, but an extension of his earlier research with a detailed account of the siege of the city based on the testimonies of chroniclers who witnessed the events first-hand. For the battle itself, Predonzani's analysis of the Capodimonte tapestries proves indispensable, as they offer the most accurate visual representations of the conflict. He compares their depictions with accounts from contemporary Italian, Spanish, German and French sources, as well as with reports from participants in both the siege and the battle. Through this careful comparison, Predonzani identifies the individuals depicted on the tapestries and their heraldic insignia. The text is richly supplemented by well-researched colour plates, illustrations, photographs and campaign maps.
