Battle of Delebio explained

Conflict:Battle of Delebio
Partof:Wars in Lombardy
Place:Delebio, Valtellina, Lombardy
Result:Ducal Milanese victory[1]
Combatant1:Duchy of Milan
Combatant2:Republic of Venice
Date:18 and 19 November 1432[2]
Commander1:Niccolò Piccinino
Pietro Brunoro
Stefano Quadrio
[3] [4] [5]
Commander2:Giorgio Corner
Cesare Martinengo
Taddeo d'Este
[6]
Strength1:400 Milanese Knights
Strengenthed by the
Ghibelline faction loyal
to the Duke
Strength2:1 Venetian Column[7]
Casualties1:Unknown
Casualties2:ca. 5,000 Killed
2,700 Captured

The Battle of Delebio took place during the Wars in Lombardy. It occurred on 18 and 19 November 1432, near Delebio, in the Valtellina. It was an aftermath of the occupation of Brescia and the Valle Camonica by the armies of the Republic of Venice, led by Francesco Bussone, Count of Carmagnola.

Prelude

The Venetian troops under Giorgio Corner had invaded the Valtellina in 1431, in order to secure the Republic's northern borders and favour their trade towards Germany. On 18 November 1432 the army of Filippo Maria Visconti, duke of Milan, with more than 400 horse and an unspecified infantry under the condottiero Niccolò Piccinino, marched alongside the Lake Como to defy the Venetians. Among the commanders of the Venetian troops was Bartolomeo Colleoni, who later became one of the most famous condottieri.

Battle

The first clash occurred that same day, when Venetians lost c. 300 infantry to push back a surprise attack on their camp. The following morning the camp was attacked by Piccinino from the West and by the Ghibellines of Valtellina, under Stefano Quadrio, from the East. The Venetians were crushed, most of their commanders being imprisoned. The Venetian losses amounted to 1,800 cavalry and 3,500 infantry, with c. 2,700 prisoners (5,000 casualties and 7,000 prisoners according to other sources).

See also

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Notes and References

  1. Book: Wilkes, John. Encyclopaedia Londinensis, Vol. 5 . 1810 . London.
  2. Book: Benetti, Dario . Storia di Valtellina e Valchiavenna . 1990 . Milano.
  3. Book: Leonhardi, Georg . Das Veltin nebst einer beschreibung der bäder von Bormio . 1860 . Leipzig.
  4. Book: Capponi, Niccolò . La battaglia di Anghiari. Il giorno che salvò il Rinascimento . 2011 . Milano.
  5. Book: Curti, Pier Ambrogio . Tradizioni e leggende di Lombardia, Volume III . 1852 . Milano.
  6. Book: Lavizari, Pietro Angelo . Memorie istoriche della Valtellina . 1716 . Chur.
  7. Book: Cognasso, Francesco . I Visconti . 1966 . Milano.