Battle of Casalecchio
Battle of Casalecchio | |||||||
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Part of the expansion of the Duchy of Milan | |||||||
Casalecchio di Reno | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Milan |
Bologna Florence | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Alberico da Barbiano | Muzio Attendolo | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
8,000 Milanese cavalry great number infantry |
5,000 Florentine cavalry several infantry brigades | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
unknown | unknown |
The Battle of Casalecchio took place on 26 June 1402 near the town of Casalecchio di Reno, near Bologna, in northern Italy.[1]
A Bolognese army under Giovanni Bentivoglio opposed Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan. The city of Bologna was aided by the Republic of Florence that supplied 5,000 cavalry(Rose Brigade) commanded by Bernardo della Serra.[1] The Lord of Padua sent cavalry and supplies along with two of his sons.[2]
Visconti was aided by the Malatesta of Rimini and the Gonzaga of Mantua.[1] With Facino Cane,[1] the condottiero Ludovico Gabriotto Cantelli (Ludovico da Parma) commanded the Milanese vanguard of 8,000 cavalry.
The Bolognese-Florentine army was lead by Muzio Attendolo, while the Milanese army was commanded by Alberico da Barbiano.[1]
Battle[]
Barbiano had encamped the Milanese forces and initiated skirmishes with the Bolognese-Florentine troops.[3] The Bolognese-Florentines appeared to have gained the advantage from this skirmish, so Bentivolgio ordered Bernardo's forces into the fray.[3] Bernardo's refused and Bentivolgio marched his forces out and encamped, well fortified, at Casalecchio.[3]
A few days later, after much discussion, the Milanese force marched in tight, orderly formation towards the Bolognese-Florentine camp.[3] Caught completely by surprise, the Bolognese-Florentine army retreated leaving their camp in the hands of the Milanese.[3] The Rose Brigade, which had withdrew to higher ground to evaluate the situation, fled along with 200 lancers.[3]
Giovanni Bentivoglio was captured and killed two days later.[4] Gian Galeazzo Visconti took Bologna and planned to assault the Republic of Florence and city of Florence next. However, he fell ill on 10 August 1402 and died on 3 September.[5]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e Morelli 2015, p. 199.
- ^ Morelli 2015, p. 199-200.
- ^ a b c d e f Morelli 2015, p. 200.
- ^ de Sismondi 2008, p. 179.
- ^ Black 2009, p. 72.
Sources[]
- Black, Jane (2009). Absolutism in Renaissance Milan: Plenitude of Power Under the Visconti and the Sforza 1329-1535. Oxford University Press.
- Morelli, Giovanni di Paolo (2015). "Memoirs". In Branca, Vittore (ed.). Merchant Writers: Florentine Memoirs from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. University of Toronto Press.
- de Sismondi, J. C. L. (2008). A History of the Italian Republics. Wildside Press.
Coordinates: 44°29′00″N 11°17′00″E / 44.4833°N 11.2833°E
- 1402 in Europe
- 1400s in the Holy Roman Empire
- Conflicts in 1402
- Battles involving the Duchy of Milan
- Battles involving the Republic of Florence
- History of Bologna
- Battles of the Middle Ages
- 15th century in the Republic of Florence
- Battle stubs
- Italian history stubs