| Battle of Rapallo | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the First Italian War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
France
Milan
Genoa |
Kingdom of Naples | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Louis d'Orleans |
Giulio Orsini (
POW) | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
3,000 Swiss mercenaries Genoese-Milanese infantry | 4,000 Neapolitan | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
Giulio Orsini(Captured) Fregosino Campofregoso(Captured) | |||||||
The Battle of Rapallo, was fought between Swiss mercenaries on French pay and their Genoese-Milanese allies led by Louis d'Orleans against Neapolitan forces led by Giulio Orsini on 5 September 1494 near Rapallo. [2]
Rapallo was occupied by 4,000 Neapolitan troops on 3 September 1494 with Giulio Orsini, Obietto Fieschi, and Fregosino Campofregoso in command, their plan being to force a rebellion in Genoa. Later the Neapolitan fleet was forced away by bad weather. [2] On 5 September, [3] Louis d'Orleans landed with 1,000 Swiss mercenary infantry which was later reinforced overland by 2,000 more Swiss mercenaries and a contingent of Genoese-Milanese infantry. [2]
A skirmish broke out between the Swiss mercenaries and Neapolitan forces, though the terrain did not allow for the Swiss to form up their pike squares. [2] However, the battle was mainly fought between the Genoese-Milanese and Neapolitan infantry. [2] Following concentrated artillery fire from the French fleet, the Neapolitans were routed. [2] The Swiss massacred Neapolitans trying to surrender, [3] although Orsini and Campofregoso were captured in the retreat. [2]
After the battle the Swiss mercenaries killed the enemy wounded and sacked the town of Rapallo. [2] Though a small battle, it was seen as a significant victory which halted Neapolitan attempts to incite a rebellion in Genoa against the French. [2]
References
- ^ Leathes 1903, p. 112.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mallett & Shaw 2012, p. 19.
- ^ a b Nicolle 2004, p. 89.
Sources
- Leathes, Stanley (1903). "Italy and Her Invaders". In Acton, Baron John Emerich Edward Dalberg (ed.). The Cambridge Modern History. Vol. 1. The Macmillan Company.
- Mallett, Michael; Shaw, Christine (2012). The Italian Wars. Pearson Educational Limited.
- Nicolle, David (2004). Fornovo 1495: France's Bloody Fighting Retreat. Osprey.