1503 - Political Events

Political Events

The Battle of Cerignola April 26 pits a 6,000-man Spanish army against a 10,000-man French army of cavalry and pikemen led by the duc de Nemours. Armed with arquebusiers and commanded by Ferdinand II of Aragon's general Hernández Gonzalvo de Córdoba, 49, the Spaniards provoke the French, fire at them from ditches and behind palisades, and rout them, killing Nemours and forcing the French to abandon Naples (see 1504).

Cesare Borgia's power crumbles following the death of his father, Pope Alexander VI August 18. The people of Urbino drive out Borgia's soldiers and welcome back Guidobaldo da Montefeltro and his faithful wife, Elizabetta, who surround themselves with the leading poets, painters, musicians, and writers of Italy, conducting endless discussions about life, ethics, manners, poetry, and love. The duke's soldiers include Count Baldassare Castiglione, 25, who adores Elizabetta and will soon serve the court as resident intellectual and ambassador. Guidobaldo will adopt his nephew Francesco Maria della Rovere as his heir, and when Guidobaldo dies the della Rovere family will succeed the Montefeltros as rulers of Urbino (see 1516).

Giovan Paolo Baglioni and his cousin Gentile retake Perugia after a short, bloody battle (see 1500). But the newly elected pope Julius II makes up his mind to control Perugia himself (see 1506).

Corsicans revolt against Genoese rule. Soldier of fortune Andrea Doria, 36, helps his uncle Domenico suppress the uprising, which will end in 1506.

The Battle of Garigliano November 3 ends in victory for a 15,000-man Spanish army under the command of Hernández Gonzalvo de Córdoba over a 23,000-man Franco-Italian army commanded by Giovan Gonzaga, marquis of Mantua. France's Louis XII has come to the south of Italy with former Florentine ruler Piero de' Medici but abandons claims to Naples following the breakup of his alliance with Ferdinand II of Aragon and defeat of French forces, who suffer 4,000 casualties, including those killed, wounded, and taken prisoner (see 1504).

Former Florentine ruler Piero de' Medici drowns at age 31 December 28 while trying to cross the Garigliano River and is buried in the cloister of Monte Cassino.

Moldavia's Stefan the Great concludes a treaty with the Ottoman sultan Bayazid II, who agrees to preserve Moldavian independence in return for an annual tribute.

Portuguese soldier Afonso de Albuquerque, 50, and his cousin Francisco reach Cochin on the southwestern coast of India to protect the ruler of that Hindu dependency; they build the first Portuguese fortress in Asia, and man it with a garrison. They will return to Lisbon in July of next year (see Almeida, 1505).