The Italian Wars 1494-1559: War, State and Society in Early Modern Europe

Modern Wars in Perspective

by Christine Shaw

The Italian Wars 1494-1559 outlines the major impact that these wars had, not just on the history of Italy, but on the history of Europe as a whole. It provides the first detailed account of the entire course of the wars, covering all the campaigns and placing the military conflicts in their political, diplomatic, social and economic contexts.

Throughout the book, new developments in military tactics, the composition of armies, the balance between infantry and cavalry, and the use of firearms are described and analysed. How Italians of all sectors of society reacted to the wars and the inevitable political and social change that they brought about is also examined, offering a view of the wars from a variety of perspectives.

Fully updated and containing a range of maps as well as a brand-new chapter on propaganda and images of war, this second edition of The Italian Wars 1494-1559 is essential reading for all students of Renaissance and military history.

Genres: History, Italy, Renaissance, European History, Nonfiction, War, Military History

408 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2012

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Italian Wars (1494-1559) changed the political landscape of the Italian Peninsula in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The Italian states, including Milan, Florence, Venice, Rome, and Naples, that had dominated Renaissance Italy were invaded and controlled by the foreign leaders and armies of France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire during a series of eight wars. These conflicts began with a French invasion of Italy in 1494 and ended with Spanish dominance in Italy in 1559. During this sixty-five year period the Italian Wars brought major shifts in the balance of power in Italy and Europe, military organization, and diplomatic practice. Despite the importance of these conflicts, the Italian Wars have surprisingly lacked a comprehensive study in the English language that examines these political, diplomatic and military issues.

Dr Michael Mallett, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Warwick and a distinguished historian of fifteenth and sixteenth century Italy, began this much needed study of the Italian Wars in the outstanding Modern Wars in Perspective series. He is the author of The Borgias: The Rise and Fall of a Renaissance Dynasty (1969), Mercenaries and Their Masters: Warfare in Renaissance Italy (1974), and co-author (along with John R. Hale) of The Military Organization of a Renaissance State: Venice, c.1400 to 1617 (1984). Unfortunately, Mallett became ill and died before he could turn his extensive research on the Italian Wars into a complete study. After his death, Dr Christine Shaw, a Research Fellow at Swansea University, used Mallett’s notes, along with her own research to complete the work. Shaw is known for her work that includes Julius II: The Warrior Pope (1993) and (as editor) Italy and the European Powers: The Impact of War, 1500-1530 (2006).

This study depicts the politics, diplomacy, and conduct of war during the Italian Wars. It is well-written and organized. The book is based on primary and secondary works. Mallett and Shaw depict Italian politics and combinations of alliances of the numerous Italian states in the complex series of Italian wars involving the great powers of France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire, along with involvement by England, Scotland, and even the Ottoman Empire. The authors explore the Italian conflicts from the opening dispute between Charles VIII of France and Ferdinand of Aragon over hereditary control of the Duchy of Milan and Kingdom of Naples in the late fifteenth century; to the creation of various alliances between the great powers and Italian states to prevent one power’s domination over the Italian Peninsula; to the various wars between Francis I of France and the Emperor Charles V, including the dramatic battle of Pavia (1525) and sack of Rome (1527); to the various temporary peace settlements, and finally Philip II of Spain’s defeat of France and control of most of Italy, including Milan and Naples, in the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis in 1559.

Mallett wrote the two chapters that might interest students and scholars of military history the most. In “The Transformation of War” the author discusses military weapons and the balance of arms, the impact of gunpowder weapons, fortifications and siegecraft, the rise of professional standing armies, military training and skills, tactics and strategy, leadership, the war at sea, and the experience of war. In this chapter he stresses the rising value of infantry over cavalry in the Italian Wars, noting the effectiveness of Swiss and German pike infantry as well as massed Spanish arquebusiers. He points out the creation of small, professional standing armies that were supplemented by militias and mercenary forces. The author describes infantry tactics and weapons, along with the employment of artillery. Contrary to what many believe, Mallett argues that “the French artillery did not make a great contribution to Charles VIII’s successful march through Italy in 1494-95” (p.182). He goes further to say that: “In the last resort, guns [artillery] contributed more to a shift towards defence than to one towards blitzkrieg. The majority of guns manufactured and employed by the European powers were sited in defensive works, on the walls of towns and castles, guarding routes, all encouraging the development of bastions and earthwork emplacements” (p.183). He stresses that the construction of the new style of fortifications, the so-called trace italienne, were being built before the French invasion in 1494. In the second chapter, “The Resources of War,” Mallett explores the resources and logistics of the armies involved in the Italian Wars. He discusses the recruitment and mobilization of infantry and cavalry units, military ordinances involving the muster and control of armies, billeting and supply of the armies, pay, naval resources, and the cost of war.

The Italian Wars consist of a complex, at times confusing, puzzle of political issues, alliances, and military actions by numerous actors and states. Shaw expertly handles these issues. However, a novice to the Italian Wars may find it difficult to follow her narrative at times. She frequently fails to cite dates (the year) of particular events, which if included, would make it easier for readers to follow her narrative and arguments. A chronology of major events would have been extremely beneficial.

The Italian Wars, 1494-1559 is highly recommended to students and scholars interested in the politics, diplomacy, and warfare of Early Modern Europe. The study fills a void for a comprehensive study of the Italian Wars in the historiography of warfare, and will be an important study for years to come. For those individuals interested in reading more about the Italian Wars, there are many scholarly journal articles, essays, and monographs on different aspects of the politics and diplomacy of the era. But, there are few military studies. These studies include the influential Frederick L. Taylor, The Art of War in Italy, 1494-1529 (1921), Charles Oman, A History of the Art of War in the Sixteenth Century (1937), Simon Pepper and Nicholas Adams, Firearms and Fortifications: Military Architecture and Siege Warfare in Sixteenth-Century Sienna (1986), David Abulafia (editor), The French Descent into Renaissance Italy, 1494-1495 (1995), David Nicolle, Fornovo, 1495: France’s Bloody Fighting Retreat (1996), Angus Konstam, Pavia, 1525: The Climax of the Italian Wars (1996), as well as Maurizio Arfaioli, The Black Bands of Giovanni: Infantry and Diplomacy during the Italian Wars (1526-1528) (2005).

[Alexandru · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Italian Wars 1494-1559 is a book summarising the great series of conflicts that led to the domination of Italy by Spain.

There is a huge amount of place names, princes, generals, diplomats, kings and so on. Anyone that isn't already familiar with the Italian Wars will find it quite difficult to follow. Sadly, there are very few maps which is a big weakness. The big battles such as Fornovo, Garigliano, Novara, Pavia, Seminara and so on would have benefited from some maps.

The sad thing is that Edward Mallett died during the writing of the book and as such another author was brought in to finish the book. The difference can be felt as the last part of the book is quite a lot weaker than the first part.

Overall, this book is probably the best resource in English about the Italian Wars. It would work well being read alongside The First and Second Italian Wars 1494-1504: Fearless Knights, Ruthless Princes and the Coming of Gunpowder Armies

[Anton Tomsinov · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a major contribution to our knowledge of the Early Modern warfare and diplomacy. It is the first true narrative of the Italian wars, the one we wanted for so long. Although some parts of the book are hard to read due to the chaotic maelstrom of small events, it will be an invaluable reference book for many years to come. The book has successfully changed some of my perceptions of the sixteenth century warfare despite tons of previous literature. I was equally amused to read about the web of diplomacy where all allegiances are temporary, suspicions are everywhere and ambitions are eternal. At the end the wars itself ultimately made sense to me, which is a move forward past the usual talks about dynastic ambitions and considerations of prestige. Last but not least, it was fascinating to read about the history of the very places I loved to visit, like the remaining walls and ramparts of Lucca - there is a loveliest walk path on top of them - or magnificent walls of the Castle St.Angelo and places in Rome where victorious landsknechts left their mark.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice intermediate overview of a complex subject. You do want to come in knowing something about the era, personalities (so many personalities), politics, and geography of Italy. Being a survey book, it does not dive into in much detail - people pop onto stage for a brief moment, disappear, and (perhaps) show up later. The changing loyalties of the people and the various states are super confusing, which makes it interesting but also somewhat frustrating for a novice.

Still in all, the author does a good job of placing the conflicts into a broader context and especially dissects how the wars changed early modern combat and the politics of Italy. The final "summation" chapters are well-done.

[Liz Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dry but full of information if you can handle that.

[Norman Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The politics in "Game of Thrones" is much complex than the history of Italy during these 65 years (though there were no dragons in Italy). There must have been 30 states, inside and outside Italy, each with at least two factions, and often four, who jockeyed for success during these years. It was bewildering array of combinations. The authors have done a great job of keeping things in perspective, but I wished after a while that someone in Europe had had the guts to say, "Enough!" That's basically what happened with the treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis, fortunately.

The writing is a bit dry at times, but it is always well-organized and clear. I found that the part of the book at the end, after the wars were over, in which the authors summarized the effects on Italy to be especially interesting.

[Lorenz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but the writing is very dry. Also, since there were many historical personalities and places involved, having more maps and a list of historical personalities complete with short summaries of who they are, would have been very useful.

[RaisinBomber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors created a great balance between giving enough attention to influences from the outside and the wars and battles themselves. Thoroughly enjoyable read

[Rodrigo Mera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó bastante. Se me hizo algo bola despúes del saqueo de Roma, pero en general muy recomendable si te interesa. Café para muy cafeteros quizá.

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think my favorite part was when Milan got invaded for the 17th time

3.5

[Shrike58 · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the previous review of this book here ["here" being Library Thing ca. 2019] is absolutely correct that this is more of a straight-forward narrative history of events in Italy for the time in question than the subtitle might suggest, I don't see that as a disappointment. I found it very useful to have a concise examination of how alliances and loyalties shifted over time, once Charles VIII decided that the time had come to assert what he saw as his rights in Italy, only for the ultimate end being for the French crown to mostly give up on seeking predominance in Italy, for the Italian city-states to be drawn into a larger international system where they were marginalized, and for the Austrian and Spanish monarchs to discover that, even if they did have predominance, they had to tread carefully when it came to Italian politics.

Actually, another thing that the authors do well is to explain how the art of war changed tactically from battles between noble men-at-arms on horseback that medieval military men would have understood to the system where infantry predominated (these were the glory days of the Swiss pikeman and German Landsknecht).

Originally written: June 6, 2019.

P.S.: One thing I didn't grasp at the time was how much the "secondary" author of this book, Christine Shaw, brought the ship into port as Mallett physically declined. The follow-on edition is regarded as her book (June 5, 2025).

[Jeff Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as I can determine this is THE definitive work on this turbulent period and theatre of Italian / European history. Incredibly well researched and lucidly organized, clearly written and copiously detailed, this book will likely remain the reference for history students of both the university and arm-chair varieties. The only quibble -- and it is a stylistic one so counts for less than a content critique -- is that the writing is so matter of fact as to become colourless. That could well be intentional as it would be perfect as a text book. If not though, history is not colourless and I would suggest neither necessarily should its writing be so. See Goldsworthy, Sumption, Rabinowitch, Kagan and Pakenham, among many others. Nonetheless, this in no great measure detracts from the overall superior nature of this work and remains highly recommended.

[Lehiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry but informative. The long descriptions of the changing alliances, campaigns and movements made my head spin slightly, but this is a good introduction to the subject.