Italian War of 1535
Encyclopedia
The Italian War of 1536-1538 between Charles V
and Francis I of France
began with the death of Francesco Maria Sforza, the duke of Milan. When Charles' son Philip
inherited the duchy, Francis invaded Italy, capturing Turin
, but failed to take Milan
. In response, Charles invaded Provence
, advancing to Aix-en-Provence
, but withdrew to Spain rather than attacking the heavily fortified Avignon
. There is also a story that French troops deliberately left over-ripe fruit on the trees in an attempt to give Charles's troops dysentery.
France had secured an alliance
with the Ottoman Empire
in 1536 through the diplomatic efforts of Jean de La Forêt
. A Franco-Turkish fleet was stationned in Marseilles by the end of 1536, threatening Genoa
. In 1537 Barbarossa raided the Italian coast and laid a siege at Corfu
, although this provided only limited assistance to the French.
With Charles V unsuccessful in battle and squeezed between the French invasion and the Ottomans, kings Francis I
and Charles V
ultimately made peace with the Truce of Nice on 18 June 1538. The Truce of Nice ended the war, leaving Turin in French hands but effecting no significant change in the map of Italy. The Truce of Nice was notable because Charles and Francis refused to sit in the same room together, such was their hatred. The negotiations were carried out by Pope Paul III
going from room to room, trying to reach an agreement.
Charles V would turn his efforts against the Ottomans, only to lose the Battle of Preveza
on 28 September 1538.
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
and Francis I of France
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
began with the death of Francesco Maria Sforza, the duke of Milan. When Charles' son Philip
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
inherited the duchy, Francis invaded Italy, capturing Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, but failed to take Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. In response, Charles invaded Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, advancing to Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
, but withdrew to Spain rather than attacking the heavily fortified Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
. There is also a story that French troops deliberately left over-ripe fruit on the trees in an attempt to give Charles's troops dysentery.
France had secured an alliance
Franco-Ottoman alliance
The Franco-Ottoman alliance, also Franco-Turkish alliance, was an alliance established in 1536 between the king of France Francis I and the Turkish ruler of the Ottoman Empire Suleiman the Magnificent. The alliance has been called "the first non-ideological diplomatic alliance of its kind between a...
with the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in 1536 through the diplomatic efforts of Jean de La Forêt
Jean de La Forêt
Jean de La Forêt, also Jean de La Forest or Jehan de la Forest was the first official French Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, serving from 1534 to 1537. Antonio Rincon had preceded him as an envoy to the Ottoman Empire from 1530 to 1533...
. A Franco-Turkish fleet was stationned in Marseilles by the end of 1536, threatening Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
. In 1537 Barbarossa raided the Italian coast and laid a siege at Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
, although this provided only limited assistance to the French.
With Charles V unsuccessful in battle and squeezed between the French invasion and the Ottomans, kings Francis I
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
and Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
ultimately made peace with the Truce of Nice on 18 June 1538. The Truce of Nice ended the war, leaving Turin in French hands but effecting no significant change in the map of Italy. The Truce of Nice was notable because Charles and Francis refused to sit in the same room together, such was their hatred. The negotiations were carried out by Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III , born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1534 to his death in 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era following the sack of Rome in 1527 and rife with uncertainties in the Catholic Church following the Protestant Reformation...
going from room to room, trying to reach an agreement.
Charles V would turn his efforts against the Ottomans, only to lose the Battle of Preveza
Battle of Preveza
The naval Battle of Preveza took place on 28 September 1538 near Preveza in northwestern Greece between an Ottoman fleet and that of a Christian alliance assembled by Pope Paul III.-Background:...
on 28 September 1538.