I am currently working on a paperback edition of ‘The Art of War in Italy, 1494-1529’, F.L. Taylor’s classic study of the Italian Wars. Written in the shadow of World War I, it looked back on another period of rapid military innovation, one in which Italy was the laboratory for European armies.
Nice, congratulations on a new release! Does the book go over the dynamics of the different armies of all the city states, mercenary companies etc or is it technology focused?
Thanks Lan! It focuses more on the organization and tactics of the Spanish, French, and Imperial armies fighting in Italy at the time—technology is only emphasized insofar as it influenced those.
For a long time, the Italian City or Nation States would often skirmish more often than actually commit to full-scale war. Many times, Condottiere would be hired to engage in war with other Condottiere mercenaries by the extremely wealthy Italian states, however, the mercenaries were keen to disengage in the fighting as to keep the demand for their employment high. So for a long period of time there were low level engagements of war where there were little cost of life and resources. This of course changed over time as the rise of professional national soldiers took the role of the Condottiere, thus ending the cycle of employment, fight, retreat, negotiate, and so on.
Nice, congratulations on a new release! Does the book go over the dynamics of the different armies of all the city states, mercenary companies etc or is it technology focused?
Thanks Lan! It focuses more on the organization and tactics of the Spanish, French, and Imperial armies fighting in Italy at the time—technology is only emphasized insofar as it influenced those.
Ah the Italian Wars. Nothing greater than skirmishes and then serious engagements over taking military innovations.
How do you mean?
Of course my original reply should say taking over instead of over taking.
For a long time, the Italian City or Nation States would often skirmish more often than actually commit to full-scale war. Many times, Condottiere would be hired to engage in war with other Condottiere mercenaries by the extremely wealthy Italian states, however, the mercenaries were keen to disengage in the fighting as to keep the demand for their employment high. So for a long period of time there were low level engagements of war where there were little cost of life and resources. This of course changed over time as the rise of professional national soldiers took the role of the Condottiere, thus ending the cycle of employment, fight, retreat, negotiate, and so on.
Ah I see what you meant, yes the Wars marked a huge change in the nature of Italian warfare.