Bembo Tells of War Against Trivulzio For Milan: early 1497

If there was any question, it was military exploits that outnumbered by far any others as chronicled by Pietro Bembo for the winter of 1497 . Indeed, any of those concerning domestic issues, natural disasters, religious festivals or, rhetorical contests remain absent. Skirmishes in Lombardy are detailed instead, with several castles and towns taken and recovered, along with the progress, and then, withdrawal of Giangiacomo Trivulzio, who, during the war had come under the protection of and then began acting for the interests of Charles of France. A sea battle including cannons follows with an exciting tale of boarding at sea by flying grappling hooks amidst flaming crossbows hurling pitch across open water. And all this outside Livorno to deliver winter rations for starving Pisans. There was also the sad story of the inabilities of the young Lord of Faenza, Astorte Manfredi [iii,61]. Other sad stories of his family are found here and here.

Without getting mired in details, Giangiacomo Trivulzio born of a famed family in Milan, broke ranks with Ludovico Sforza, the acting Duke there since the war and had gone over to help the French. When news over winter had come in to Venice that Trivulzio was marshalling troops again across the Alps, Bembo says, the League members got together and asked for help in mounting a counterforce. This anecdote involving so many actors and places and missives and diplomats is also helpful in showing who were the allies and who these were allied against in this point of the war, just before the ceasefire struck with the French by February 25, 1497. The papal forces hired from Rome aren't mentioned by Bembo in this season.

It is Bembo's claim that King Charles promised Giuliano della Rovere control of both Genoa and Savona, and for Trivulzio both Alessandria and Tortona, if they could just return over the Alps and take them. The legates of the allies swiftly called up 3000 stradiots in response. In addition, a Genoese dissident Gianluigi Fieschi was called on and paid to not cause trouble there. Immediately, 300 heavy cavalry and 300 light horsemen were sent to Ludovico in Milan to aid him. These were sent with Vincenzo Valier, as chosen by the Senate to oversee matters and act as proveditor and paymarshall.

Bembo also tells us that Trivulzio's army included 'those he led from France, calling those from Saluzzo and Helvetica'.  From nearby Asti, Cardinal Giuliano led 6000 to Savona to be ready [iii,62].

Venice ordered ships to bring grain for Pisa, sent others toward Savona, and called troops up from Pisa. These were sent to support the rest of the league allies outside Savona, and engaged with Cardinal Giuliano's forces there and drove them back [iii,63]. Another Orsini was called up by the Senate as well as Bernardino Fortebraccio da Montane in order to lead the fight and be set to join Francesco Gonzaga. Two more were selected as well to act as proveditors, Niccolo Foscarini and Andrea Zancani. When these men arrived in Milan, Ludovico Sforza had a proclamation announced publicly declaring whatever these men ordered should be obeyed by the people. This is the history after all that Venice would like to remember.

Trivulzio tried to take Castellazzo with bombardments but was repulsed by Venetian light cavalry and fell back. Withdrawing further he abandoned 'a number of Ludovico's fortresses' previously taken, but then took Bergamasco and massacred everyone in it. On the other hand, three miles from Novara, the town of Montalto Pavese was taken by Venetian and Milanese forces and plundered and burned [iii,64].

The grain convoy headed to the mouth of the Arno was met by Florentine ships and a great sea battle ensued. The Venetian captain,

"... turned toward the Florentine ships, and driving on his oarsmen with great spirit he rammed the prow of his ship into the side of the enemy warship. Both vessels shuddered with the impact as they crashed against one another, while the enemey cast a grappling hook onto the captain's ship and held it fast. Hand-to-hand fighting ensued, extremely fierce on both sides and with weapons of every sort, but the enemy soldiers could launch their missiles at the Venetians from higher up and so found them easy to injure. Then they began to throw balls of burning pitch onto the galley, something which was a great setback for the captain when a large number of thwarts and the mainsail itself caught fire." [iii, 66]

This battle raged for four hours. But the grain supply got through to Pisa. [iii,67]

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from Pietro Bembo: History of Venice; edited and translated by Robert W Ulery, Jr.; in english and latin, for The I Tatti Renaissance Library; by The President and Fellows of Harvard College, USA 2007