Wars in Lombardy
The Wars in Lombardy were a series of five wars between Florence, Milan, Venice, Naples, Aragon, and France. The wars were ultimately settled by the Peace of Lodi.
Contents
History
The first war began in 1423 as a territorial conflict between Florence and Milan. Florentine forces (mostly condottieri, mercenaries) were quickly defeated, so they invited Aragon and Venice to join on the war with promises of territorial gains. Note that Alfonso V had already begun pressing into Naples at this time.
In 1433, for his part in the failures of the third war, Cosimo de Medici was exiled from Florence. He returned a year later and consolidating his power became a priority.
The fourth war was largely fought by mercenaries: Francesco Sforza for the Venetians and Niccolò Piccinino for the Milanese. A peace that restored the status quo antebellum was negotiated by Sforza, who subsequently entered Milanese employment and married the daughter of Filippo Maria. In 1447 Filippo died without a legitimate heir and Sforza seized power.
The fifth and final war began with the Venetian invasion of Milanese territories in Lombardy. Medici and Sforza joined together, but the combined forces of Venice and Aragon were overwhelming. René I, duke of Anjou and recently deposed king of Naples, joined the war in late 1453. Early the next year, the Peace of Lodi was agreed and the Italic League was established.