Welcome to the world of Renaissance Italy. Amongst the artistic and intellectual triumphs is a world of cloak-and-dagger politics and epic early-modern battles.
The text below is a fragment of the first chapter of some of these stories. Chapter 1 tells the story of two famous Condottieri, the name given to the noble-born mercenary captains seeking their fame and fortune on the battlefield, fighting for one great power or another, whoever is willing to pay them best.
While the first of these Condottieri, Bartolomeo d'Alviano, is able to win an impressive battle at the beginning of the chapter, he ultimately gets himsel captured and his army destroyed due to disagreements and a failure of understanding with his co-commander and distant cousin.
This is but one story in an ongoing saga that is part of the infinitely fascinating Italian Wars. I hope you enjoy the text below and come back for more true stories of the Renaissance Condottieri.
Cadore, Republic of Venice ~ February 1508
It's a cold winter's day, the wind is howling through the Alpine valley, blowing the snow like daggers against the Venetian mercenaries, who keep warm as best they can. It has been a tough march north for them, and orders have come down from their commander, the famed mercenary captain Bartolomeo d'Alviano, forbidding retreat or desertion on pain of death. Rewards have been offered to anyone who kills a deserter. Furthermore, Alviano has offered rich rewards for those who fight bravely in the upcoming battles.
Huddled by themselves not far away are a group of Stratioti, the Balkan horsemen that make up a large portion of Alviano's army. Alviano has appealed to their penchant for decapitating their foes, and offered to pay them a golden ducat for each enemy head they lay at his feet.
The snows have barely cleared before the order comes to march again. Their destination is Pieve di Cadore, a small castle perched atop of a rocky fist, with access on only one side via a winding path towards the front gate.
Nearby, the Imperials lie in wait. The Landsknecht are germanic infantry from the Holy Roman Empire, theoretically loyal to their Emperor, Maximilian Habsburg, although most of them will happily fight for the highest bidder. The Landsknecht are famed for their battlefield bravery almost as much as for their eccentric personalities and colourful clothing. Wielding mostly pikes, halberds, and the gigantic two-handed zweihander greatswords, they also include a number of arquebusiers in their ranks.
The first encounter comes when some Venetian stratioti attack a group of Imperial landsknecht, and Alviano is drawn into a confrontation, resulting in a battle on the banks of the Rio Secco. In the midst of the carnage, the Imperial commander comes face to face with one of his Venetian counterparts. The two leaders engage in a duel, with the Imperial captain wounding his opponent before taking a pike to his neck and being thrown from his saddle. The moment marks an inflection point in the battle, as the Imperials lose heart at the sight of their fallen leader. Some die fighting, some surrender, and some manage to escape and head back towards the castle, although most of the latter are run down by stratioti as they try to flee.
The next morning, Alviano's army stands looking up at the fortress of Pieve di Cadore. Alviano is eager to resolve matters quickly, as he doesn't have the supplies for a prolonged engagement. A messenger is sent up to the castle, offering safety in exchange for surrender. The Imperials respond that they will have to consider the matter and will give their response on the morrow. Alviano sees this response as nothing but an attempt to stall in the hope of future reinforcements, so he orders an immediate assault on the castle. The cannons are brought forth and before long the venetian barrage breaks through the castle walls. The remaining landsknecht ask for surrender as the Venetian mercenaries flood into the castle, ravenous for plunder. A fortune of gold and jewels is discovered and presented to Alviano. Open-handed as always, Alviano orders that the treasure be distributed amongst his men. They take the gold and jewels but the fame belongs to him.
The Imperial survivors who manage to escape the battle by the river make their way to the Castle of Pieve di Cadore, their last stronghold in the region. Amidst the swirling snow, Alviano's forces gather round the castle and prepare for the assault. Alviano, lacking sufficient supplies for a prolonged stay and therefore eager to resolve matters quickly, offers the Germans safety in exchange for surrender. However, the Landsknecht say they will need to discuss it, and they delay their response in the hope of imminent reinforcements. When Alviano sees this attempt to stall he orders a big assault on the castle rather than continuing to wait for their reply. A few volleys of cannonfire follow and eventually the doors are blown open and the remaining Germans surrender.
The Venetian forces flood into the castle, ravenous for plunder. The gold that they find is taken to Alviano, but he orders it distributed amongst his men. They take the gold and jewels but the fame belongs to him.
Innsbruck, Holy Roman Empire ~ June 1508
Maximilian Habsburg is in a sour mood despite the pleasant weather. He has just added his seal and signature to harsh and humiliating terms offered by the Venetians. The Republic's mercenary troops had not only soundly defeated his own army, but managed to occupy Imperial lands, including those of the Emperor himself. It is while brewing in the chagrin of this costly peace agreement that the Emperor receives a messenger. He is not the only powerful monarch with enmity for the Most Serene Republic. The Kings of both France and Spain are in agreement that Venetian power has waxed too strong, while the Pope of Rome is of a similar disposition, with all three having claims to territory currently controlled by Venice. Neither Emperor nor King nor Pope can rival Venice's mercenary army alone, but together they can humble the Republic and divide her lands amongst themselves.
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More of my work on this topic can be found at https://www.royalroad.com/profile/417629/fictions
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Meet the Condottieri
Non-FictionSet in Renaissance Italy, these are some of the true tales of Condottieri, mercenary soldiers that took part in the conflicts known as the Italian Wars. This tale focuses on some of the characters, conflicts, and politics during the years 1509 - 151...
