The Battle of Novara (June 6th, 1513) was one of the last victories won by the famous Swiss infantry
The Battle of Novara (June 6th, 1513) was one of the last victories won by the famous Swiss infantry, and saw them overwhelm a French army that had temporarily occupied most of the Duchy of Milan. The French had ruled Milan since 1499, when they had expelled Ludovico Sforza (Second Italian War). They had defeated him again in 1500 and held the duchy for the next decade. They also managed to repel Swiss attacks early in the War of the Holy League, but in 1512 the duchy fell to the Swiss, who installed Massimiliano Sforza as duke. Power was split between the Duke, the Swiss and representatives of the Emperor Maximilian I. Maximilian also had an Imperial army in northern Italy commanded by Ramon de Cardona, while the French were allied by the Swiss, whose commander Bartolomeo d'Alviano had just been released after being captured at the battle of Agnadello (May 14th,1509). In 1513 Louis XII made a concerted effort to recapture Milan. French forces occupied Genoa, while Alviano advance...