Italian Wars, 1494 to 1527

The Italian Wars are a series of wars that had little to do with the Italian perspective or self-interest. With the lack of a nation-state development, the Peace of Lodi failed to gain any real stability. Milan and Florence seemed natural allies against the Papal States and Venice. But, with the growing economic and political influence of Medici Florence, the Sforza ruler of Milan made a fatal mistake in 1494. He invited the French monarchy to invade Florence and quash the Medici power. Unfortunately, this led to a French invasion of both MILAN and Florence. France was attempting to expand its sphere of influence over the Italian States.

With that increase of influence, the Spanish King/Holy Roman Emperor Charles of the HABSBURG dynasty worked to regain his power in Italy. He already dominated Southern Itay (Sicily and Naples) but now felt threatened by an aggressive France. Quickly, Charles ordered his troops to the Italian Peninsula and invade the north from Naples. A series of Italian Wars (also called the Valois-Habsburg Wars)occurred leaving Renaissance Italy in ruins.

In the midst of the Italian Wars, the Pope decided to support the French King Francis I of the Valois Dynasty as Holy Roman Emperor, in hopes of reducing the Habsburg domination. This led to the infamous Sack of Rome (1527) where Charles V of the HRE sent his troops and destroyed Rome, leaving little to recover from. Religiously, Charles was identified as the Anti-Christ of the Bible, where people believed that a religious event was about to happen.

The effects of this sack were far reaching:
1. The Italian Renaissance ended, beginning an era known as the Late Renaissance (or Mannerism) The idea of the greatness of man became dwarfed with the fear of the future.

2. The economic leadership shifted from Italy to Northern Europe. This would begin the Trans-Atlantic rivalry between the states of France, Spain, and Britain. This would lead to so many different wars.

3. The Papacy was successfully challenged by a political leader, which ultimately led to the Catholic Reform (1530's to 1560's).

4. This established Modern Warfare, where NATION-STATES warred over land that was within their nation. (Think Age of Exploration).


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