Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Reasons for victory in Italian Wars (Military (Spain's armies were…
Reasons for victory in Italian Wars
Diplomacy
Ferdinand's assiduous diplomacy ensured that Spain always had allies drawn upon in Italy
The Papacy, Venice and Tuscany all favoured Spain, and Naples was a Spanish client state (and later directly ruled by Ferdinand as King)
Holy League formed twice between 1495 and 1509- involved Spain, the Pope, Venice, England, Milan and the Holy Roman Emperor
Military
Spain's armies were well organised, trained, equipped and led
The Granada war had forced Spain to develop new technologies and tactics
Spain's artillery was superior to any other army in Europe, troops were battle hardened and well organised
Italian wars saw emergence of new formation- The Tercio- combined great blocks of pikes with support from fire arm troops and hand to hand fighters with swords, infantry grouped into larger units before and each group was supported by cavalry and artillery
Armies well led by Gonzalo de Cordoba- made his name 'El Gran Capitan' in Granada war- defeated french repeatedly in Italian wars- learned from experience
Problems at first dealing with the elite French heavy cavalry- Cordoba reformed Spain's cavalry and developed Tercio formation which led to Spain's victory at Cerignola and Garignola in 1503- resulted in French withdrawal from Naples and addition of Naples to Aragon's possessions
Money and Resources
Warfare was expensive- taxation rose significantly due to paying for these campaigns
All of this organisation demanded the expansion of administrative capacity of the state- one reason why Ferdinand and Isabella developed a more sophisticated government structure, staffed by Letrados during their reign
Some resentment from Cortes that Castilian revenues were financing an Aragonese foreign policy venture, in truth one measure if the greater unity of the empire was the collaboration, in terms of leadership, money, men and expertise, to serve shared common foreign policy goals
As Aragonese resources had helped Castile defeated Granada, so too Castilian resources now assisted Aragon in her fight against France
Ferdinand and Isabella's dealing
Failures
1495- French occupy Naples ruled by Ferdinand's illegitimate cousin King Ferrante
1515- Louie XII of France died and New King of France Francis I defeated League of Cambrai at Marignano
1512- Defeat of Spanish army at Ravenna
Successes
1495- Ferdinand joined a Holy League with HRE, the papacy and a number of Italian states against the French
1503- Victories over French at Cerignola and Garigliano
1504- France recognised Spanish control over Naples in Treaty of Lyron and it became part of crown of Aragon
Charles' dealing
Successes
1522- Battle of Biccoca- Charles forces took Milan consolidating position in Northern Italy
1525- Battle of Pavia- Charles victory and defeat of French outside Milan- captured Francis I who was held hostage eventually agreeing to Treaty of Madrid promising to cede Burgundy to Charles and renounced claims in Italy and Netherlands
1529- Charles defeated France at Landriano- helped by defection of pope to Charles side and Genoese fleet
Failures
1524- France retook Milan and new pope Clement VII abandoned Charles' side and formed an alliance with France
1527- Francis I broke treaty and formed League of Cognac against Spain- allied with England, pope and Italian princes
1553- Habsburg forces driven out of Germany and towns of Metz, Toul and Verdun fallen to France