Battle of La Motta (1513)

The Battle of La Motta, also known as the Battle of Schio, Battle of Vicenza or Battle of Creazzo, took place at Schio, in the Italian region of Veneto, Republic of Venice, on 7 October 1513, between the forces of the Republic of Venice and a combined force of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire, and was a significant battle of the War of the League of Cambrai.[1] A Venetian army under Bartolomeo d'Alviano was decisively defeated by the Spanish/Imperial army commanded by Ramón de Cardona[1] and Fernando d'Ávalos.[2]

Battle of La Motta
Part of the War of the League of Cambrai
Date7 October 1513
Location
Schio, Veneto, Republic of Venice
(present-day Italy)
Result Spanish and Imperial victory[1]
Belligerents
Republic of Venice Spain
 Holy Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Bartolomeo d'Alviano
Strength
  • 10,000 infantry
  • 3,000 cavalry
  • 24 guns
  • 4,000 Spanish infantry
  • 3,500 Imperial landsknechts
  • 1,000 Spanish cavalry
  • 32 guns
Casualties and losses
Over 4,500 casualties Unknown, but minor

Background

The Venetian commander, Bartolomeo d'Alviano, unexpectedly left without French support, retreated into the region of Veneto, pursued closely by the Spanish army under Ramón de Cardona.[3] While the Spanish were unable to capture Padua, they penetrated deep into Venetian territory and in September were in sight of Venice itself.[3] The Spanish Viceroy of Naples, Ramón de Cardona, attempted a bombardment of the city that proved largely ineffective; then, having no ships with which to cross the lagoon, turned back for Lombardy.[3] D'Alviano, having been reinforced by hundreds of soldiers and volunteers from the Venetian nobility, and cannons and other supplies, took the initiative and pursued Cardona's army, with the intention of not allowing the Spaniards out of the region of Veneto.[1]

Fernando d'Ávalos, Marquis of Pescara, was the commander of the Spanish infantry at the Battle of La Motta

Battle
Presumed portrait of Bartolomeo d'Alviano by Giovanni Bellini

The Venetian army commanded by Bartolomeo d'Alviano, finally confronted Cardona's army outside Vicenza, a city in north-eastern Italy, on 7 October 1513. The Spanish and German infantry, composed of 7,000 men, led by Fernando d'Ávalos and Georg von Frundsberg, well positioned and ready for battle, launched a strong charge against the Venetian army, causing thousands of dead and wounded (over 4,500 casualties) in the ranks of the Venetian army.[1][2] This was a severe blow, forcing the Venetians to flee, and scattering D'Alviano's entire army.[3]

The forces of the two commanders continued to skirmish in the Italy's most North-Eastern region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia for the rest of 1513 and through 1514.[1]

Consequences

Although the Venetians were decisively defeated by the Spaniards, the Holy League failed to follow up on these victories.[1] The death of the King of France, Louis XII, on 1 January 1515, brought Francis I to the throne. Having assumed the title of Duke of Milan at his coronation, Francis immediately moved to reclaim his holdings in Italy. A combined Swiss and Papal force moved north from Milan to block the Alpine passes against him, but Francis avoided the main passes and marched instead through the valley of the Stura.[4] The French vanguard surprised the Milanese cavalry at Villafranca, capturing Prospero Colonna.[2] Meanwhile, Francis and the main body of the French confronted the Swiss at the Battle of Marignano on 13 September.[5]

See also

Notes
  1. Norwich p. 429
  2. Taylor. The Art of War in Italy (1494–1529)
  3. Norwich pp. 428–429
  4. Norwich p. 430
  5. Norwich p. 431

Sources
  • Norwich, John Julius. A History of Venice. New York: Vintage Books (1989) ISBN 0-679-72197-5.
  • Kamen, Henry. Empire: How Spain Became a World Power 1492–1763. New York: HarperCollins (2003) ISBN 0-06-019476-6.
  • Taylor, Frederick Lewis. The Art of War in Italy 1494–1529. Cambridge University Press, 1921. Westport: Greenwood Press (1973) ISBN 0-8371-5025-6.
  • Montgomery, Bernard Law. A History of Warfare. New York: World Publishing Company (1968) ISBN 0-688-01645-6.
  • Guicciardini, Francesco. The History of Italy. Translated by Sydney Alexander. Princeton: Princeton University Press (1984) ISBN 0-691-00800-0.
  • Mallet, Michael and Shaw, Christine. The Italian Wars 1494–1559. Harlow: Pearson Educated Limited (2012) ISBN 978-0-582-05758-6.
  • Baumann, Reinhard. Georg von Frundsberg. München: Süddeutscher Verlag (1984) ISBN 3-7991-6236-4.

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