Read Online The Serpent and the Moon: Two Rivals for the Love of a Renaissance King by HRH Princess Michael of Kent - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: HRH Princess Michael of Kent
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Throughout his extraordinary life, Italy was never far from François’ thoughts. Even at the solemn moment of his coronation he had insisted that “Duke of Milan” be included among his many titles.
After a series of elderly kings, the French nation rejoiced in the youthful
joie de vivre
of François I, and his nobles yearned to prove themselves and gain the spoils of victory. The members of François’ court were young, enthusiastic, and daring, and they goaded their young king into reaching for glory by going to war over Milan especially as François had a mighty army and the best captains in memory. While the Spanish army and the pope’s forces were engaged in fighting the Venetians, the republic of Genoa asked France for military assistance. The French king knew that Henry VIII of England would not move against him without allies. The time was ripe for François I to strike against the emperor.
Although it was customary for a king of France to appoint his wife as his regent during his absence abroad, Queen Claude felt lost at courtand was somewhat frail during her first pregnancy. François installed his undoubtedly more able mother as his regent, and on July 15, 1515, a few months after his coronation, he left for Lyons to assemble his forces there.
Louise de Savoie, mother of François I and regent of France during his imprisonment in Spain.
Gathering his friends about him, François I rode out at the head of an army of 30,000 men and 370 pieces of artillery—a huge force at the time. While on the march, the king received the news that on August 19, Queen Claude had given birth to a daughter, Louise, a good omen for the forthcoming battle. The Battle of Marignano, near Milan, began on September 13, 1515 and lasted two days. François I fought heroically in the thick of it, like a warrior from ancient times, andemerged the overwhelming victor. He defeated the indomitable Swiss mercenaries, who were employed by the ruler of Milan, Maximilian Sforza, an ally of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and of the pope. In a brief ceremony, Pierre du Terrail, chevalier de Bayard, France’s most famous warrior, knighted the king on the field as he knelt among the fifteen thousand slain. François wrote to his mother: “There has not been seen so fierce and cruel a battle these last two thousand years.…”
On October 13, 1515, François I was declared duke of Milan and Parma. He had begun his reign in glory by regaining France’s lost territories in northern Italy, and he could return home to enjoy his kingdom with Milan part of France once more. A medal was struck with the profile of the twenty-two-year-old warrior-king, and his splendid conquest was immortalized in paintings and friezes.
Diane’s honeymoon at her husband’s château of Anet had been brief. Just three weeks after the wedding, Louis de Brézé and Jehan de Saint-Vallier left for Grenoble to join the king’s army heading toward Italy. Brézé and Saint-Vallier each distinguished themselves in the battle of Marignano, and when the king made his triumphal entry into Milan on October 11, the hundred crossbowmen under Brézé and the hundred led by Saint-Vallier, all fully armed and in the liveries of their captains, were much admired. Diane pined for her husband. In a letter she sent him through Florimond Robertet, powerful secretary to the previous king, Diane wrote complaining of having been deserted, and gave the impression of being sincerely attached to Louis de Brézé.
Marignano entered the annals of French history as a great victory, but tragically its gains were short-lived. During her son’s absence at war, the regent Louise de Savoie had held back for herself funds that the king had instructed be sent to his troops in Milan. Without pay, the soldiers of the army of occupation in Italy deserted, and the duchy was lost. By May 1522, after the Battle of La Bicocca, all that the French retained were the castles of Milan and Cremona. The
After a series of elderly kings, the French nation rejoiced in the youthful
joie de vivre
of François I, and his nobles yearned to prove themselves and gain the spoils of victory. The members of François’ court were young, enthusiastic, and daring, and they goaded their young king into reaching for glory by going to war over Milan especially as François had a mighty army and the best captains in memory. While the Spanish army and the pope’s forces were engaged in fighting the Venetians, the republic of Genoa asked France for military assistance. The French king knew that Henry VIII of England would not move against him without allies. The time was ripe for François I to strike against the emperor.
Although it was customary for a king of France to appoint his wife as his regent during his absence abroad, Queen Claude felt lost at courtand was somewhat frail during her first pregnancy. François installed his undoubtedly more able mother as his regent, and on July 15, 1515, a few months after his coronation, he left for Lyons to assemble his forces there.
Louise de Savoie, mother of François I and regent of France during his imprisonment in Spain.
Gathering his friends about him, François I rode out at the head of an army of 30,000 men and 370 pieces of artillery—a huge force at the time. While on the march, the king received the news that on August 19, Queen Claude had given birth to a daughter, Louise, a good omen for the forthcoming battle. The Battle of Marignano, near Milan, began on September 13, 1515 and lasted two days. François I fought heroically in the thick of it, like a warrior from ancient times, andemerged the overwhelming victor. He defeated the indomitable Swiss mercenaries, who were employed by the ruler of Milan, Maximilian Sforza, an ally of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and of the pope. In a brief ceremony, Pierre du Terrail, chevalier de Bayard, France’s most famous warrior, knighted the king on the field as he knelt among the fifteen thousand slain. François wrote to his mother: “There has not been seen so fierce and cruel a battle these last two thousand years.…”
On October 13, 1515, François I was declared duke of Milan and Parma. He had begun his reign in glory by regaining France’s lost territories in northern Italy, and he could return home to enjoy his kingdom with Milan part of France once more. A medal was struck with the profile of the twenty-two-year-old warrior-king, and his splendid conquest was immortalized in paintings and friezes.
Diane’s honeymoon at her husband’s château of Anet had been brief. Just three weeks after the wedding, Louis de Brézé and Jehan de Saint-Vallier left for Grenoble to join the king’s army heading toward Italy. Brézé and Saint-Vallier each distinguished themselves in the battle of Marignano, and when the king made his triumphal entry into Milan on October 11, the hundred crossbowmen under Brézé and the hundred led by Saint-Vallier, all fully armed and in the liveries of their captains, were much admired. Diane pined for her husband. In a letter she sent him through Florimond Robertet, powerful secretary to the previous king, Diane wrote complaining of having been deserted, and gave the impression of being sincerely attached to Louis de Brézé.
Marignano entered the annals of French history as a great victory, but tragically its gains were short-lived. During her son’s absence at war, the regent Louise de Savoie had held back for herself funds that the king had instructed be sent to his troops in Milan. Without pay, the soldiers of the army of occupation in Italy deserted, and the duchy was lost. By May 1522, after the Battle of La Bicocca, all that the French retained were the castles of Milan and Cremona. The
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