Fornovo
July 6, 1495
Strategic Context
In February 1495, Charles VIII of France is able to conquer Naples with the help of Milan, following a
long march south through Italy. The startling French success alarms the rest of southern Europe,
provoking an anti-French alliance. The newly formed League of Venice includes Venice, the Papal
States, Spain, and former French ally, Milan. Now surrounded by enemies, Charles marches north out
of Naples in May, seeking to simply make it back to France. The League army under Francesco II
Gonzaga gets a chance to disrupt Charles’ plans as the French army marches along the Taro River in
July, opposite the League army. The League commanders debate allowing the powerful French army
to pass but Gonzaga stiffens their resolve with an attack plan to destroy the French army.
Stakes
+ A League victory would disorder the
French army, putting Charles in grave
danger.
+ A French victory would permit the
French army to continue its march and
return to France.
By Jonathan Webb, 2012 ©
Fornovo, 1495
Strength
League of Venice
French
Francesca II Gonzaga
Charles VIII
9,500 men-at-arms
2,300 light cavalry
11,000 infantry
1,000 artillerymen
5,150 men-at-arms
650 light cavalry
4,400 infantry
1,000 artillerymen
Well
Well
By Jonathan Webb, 2012 ©
Gonzaga
deploys
armyainto
many
parts,
divided
amongst
the
main
line,
support
line,
flanking
force
The
flanking
under
Duodo
is light
to
thereform
French
The
battle
opens
with
artillery
duel
between
the
French
vanguard
and
right,
which
theguard.
French
guns
winforce
outright.
Duodo’s
cavalry
fail to
The
vanguard
infantry,
inbrief
fact
Swiss
pikemen
easily
dismissto
two
disheartened
attacksofby
theLeague
League right
andand
thencamp
support
force
under
Colleonni/Taddeo.
These
broken
League
units
on
The French
compact
and his
aggressive
French
ranks
prove
superior
the
League
tactics
successive,
ineffectual
charges,
weakened
further
by the
slow
crossing
ofharass
follow-on
forces.
vanguard
while
thetoLeague
right
under
Caiazzo,
supported
Calleonni/Taddeo,
pins
it down
with De
an
attack.
The
League
center
under
Gonzaga,
supported
by Garlino,
is to
launch
the east bank
or flee
camp.
The
French
vanguard
at the
ofof
the
bankby
but
does
not
cross;
Gié
prefers
toflee
regain
contact
with
theright
French
center
before
acting.
Duodo’s
harass
the
French
vanguard
and
retreat
toforms
the
hills
inbyedge
light
a west
charge
French
men-at-arms.
Meanwhile,
the
League
crosses
the Taro
toMeanwhile,
engage.
At
the
Eventually,
the
French
left routs
the
League
right
inup
this
sector,
forcing
a League
retreat.
Duodo’s
light
cavalry
to the
hills;
Garlino’s
belated
infantry
retreat
across
the
Taro;
light
cavalry
descend
on thethe
French
baggage
train,
killing
commander.
Charles
leads
his center
to meet
the main advances
League
attack
were the
hethe
comes
perilously
close
to being
surrounded
and
killed
before
the
main
attack
against
French
center,
shattering
the
army.
The
League
under
Fortebraccio
is to
pin
down
French
rearguard.
Ridolfo
Gonzaga,
Gonzaga’s
uncle,
Gonzaga/Fortebraccio’s
men-at-arms
flee
across
theits
initial
ford
and
another
further
south.
Montefeltro
totreacherous
secure
fords
while
League
artillery
in the
hills
open
fire
League
center,
Gonzaga
discovers
the
effects
of
theFrench
previous
night’s
rain,left
a significantly
deeper
and
river,
andthe
thus
leads
his
men-at-arms
left
to
more men-at-arms
arrive.
On the
League
side,
Ridolfo
Gonzaga
is killed,
meaninghim.
thereCharles
is no onedeploys
to order his
Montefeltro’s
men-at-arms
across
the
Taro. Garlino’s
forceagainst
is crossing
the
Taro in vanguard,
support butnot
his
orders
Montelfeltro
to
not
cross
the
Taro
unless
he
personally
instructs
army
in
march
formation
but
expects
an
attack
his
powerful
to
discourage
any further
French
pursuit. The
French
men-at-arms
pursue
asvanguard
far as the Taro
but
go notofurther;
Charles appears
content to merely bombard the League camp.
cross
intermingled
with
Fortebraccio’s
at
a
narrow
ford.
The
French
is
too
small
take
advantage
however.
light
cavalrywhere
surge ahead
of the infantry,
ignoring
thethe
French
linesbaggage
to loot the
French
baggage
French
infantrywagons
move to defend
what
remains
it. length of the French line of march.
the center
he commands.
Odet,
leading
French
train,
can
hardly train.
control
its troops;
are thus
strung
out of
the
French
(Charles)
De Gié/
Trivulzio
Duodo
N
Odet
De Foix/
Charles
League of Venice
(Francesca II Gonzaga)
9,500 men-at-arms
2,300 light cavalry
Caiazzo
11,000 infantry
Melita/
1,000 artillerymen Savorgnan
De Foix/
Charles
De la Trémoille/
D’Armagnac
De la Trémoille/
D’Armagnac
Gonzaga
Colleonni/
Taddeo
De Foix/
Charles
French
(Charles VIII)
5,150 men-at-arms
Gonzaga/
Fortebraccio
650 light cavalry
4,400 infantry
Fortebraccio
1,000 artillerymen
De la Trémoille/
D’Armagnac
Garlino
Gonzaga/
Fortebraccio
Montefeltro
Montefeltro
League of Venice
(Gonzaga)
Fornovo, 1495
Casualties & Aftermath
League of Venice:
French:
2,000
1,200
or
or
8%
10%
Charles and his commanders decided not to use their tired army to attack the League
army, much of which had not yet engaged in the battle. The French continued their
march, shadowed by the League army, reaching France in October. Charles’ successor,
Louis XII, invaded Naples again in 1499, resulting in a renewed war with Spain. Gonzalo
de Cordoba, leading the Spanish army, defeated France at the Garigliano in 1503 and
eventually forced Louis to renounce his claims to the Neapolitan throne in 1505.
By Jonathan Webb, 2012 ©
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By Jonathan Webb, 2012 ©