Predonzani, Massimo The Battle of Pavia 1525

From the Chronicles and Tapestries of The Capodimonte Museum

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 important battles in military history. This conflict marked the climax of the so-called Italian Wars, which ravaged the Italian peninsula for over 30 years as the European powers fought for supremacy on the peninsula. In Pavia, the superiority of the heavy cavalry on the battlefield finally had to yield to the disciplined strength of the professional infantry. The Landsknechte 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, skilfully led by the Marchese di Pescara. The deadly volleys of their firearms decimated the elite French gendarmerie and led to the capture of French King Francis I. "The Battle of Pavia 1525" is Massimo Predonzani's second work dedicated to this historic event. It is not a simple revision, but an extension of his earlier research with a detailed account of the siege of the city, based on the testimony of chroniclers who witnessed the events first-hand. For the battle itself, Predonzani's analysis of the Capodimonte tapestries proves indispensable, as they provide the most accurate visual depictions 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.