Fornovo 1495: France's Bloody Fighting Retreat (Praeger Illustrated Military History) - Hardcover

Nicolle, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0275988503 ISBN 13: 9780275988500

Publisher: Praeger Pub Text, 2005

Synopsis

In the year 1495, Charles VIII was the youthful King of France, the most powerful state in medieval Europe. A dreamer who saw himself as the saviour of Christian Europe, he believed he could roll back the ever-spreading tide of Ottoman Turkish conquest. As a base for his crusade he was determined to seize southern Italy. In a lightning campaign he used France's modern army to sweep through Italy, his mobile field artillery train smashing into dust the tall towers of Italy's medieval castles. The Italian states rallied and at Fornovo their alliance, the League of Venice, fought Charles' army to a standstill.

In the year 1495, Charles VIII was the youthful King of France, the most powerful state in medieval Europe. A dreamer who saw himself as the saviour of Christian Europe, he believed he could roll back the ever-spreading tide of Ottoman Turkish conquest. As a base for his crusade he was determined to seize southern Italy. In a lightning campaign he used France's modern army to sweep through Italy, his mobile field artillery train smashing into dust the tall towers of Italy's medieval castles. The Italian states rallied and at Fornovo their alliance, the League of Venice, fought Charles' army to a standstill. This campaign marked the coming of age of gunpowder weaponry, and the beginning of 30 years of bloody conflict - the Italian Wars. In this remarkable book David Nicolle details the French campaign leading up to Fornovo, the battle itself, and the aftermath. The leaders of both armies are examined as are their armies and plans, and this background information all greatly helps when the author finally comes to his close-up investigation of Fornovo. The different moves in the battle are looked at, as are significant events during it: notably Charles's near capture by a group of Milanese men-at-arms. The final section of the book deals with the end of the campaign, and France's withdrawal. David Nicolle's attention to detail, such as his mention of the capture of King Charles' book of pornographic pictures by the Italians at Fornovo, combined with his ability to see the broader picture of the Italian campaign itself, makes this an interesting and comprehensive volume.

About this title

From the Publisher:

Highly visual guides to history's greatest conflicts, detailing the command strategies, tactics, and experiences of the opposing forces throughout each campaign, and concluding with a guide to the battlefields today.

About the Author:

NICOLLE DAVID worked in the BBC's Arabic service for a number of years before gaining an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and a doctorate from Edinburgh University. He has written numerous books and articles on medieval and Islamic warfare, and has been a prolific author of Osprey titles for many years.

About this edition

• Publisher: Praeger Pub Text
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0275988503
• ISBN 13: 9780275988500
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 96