April 30th, 1524 - The Battle of Sesia

Conflict: Italian Wars (1494-1559)

Combatants: French vs. Spanish

Location: Italy

Outcome: Spanish victory

At Sesia on April 30th, 1524, a Spanish Imperial army led by Charles de Lannoy routed the French army invading Italy. Pierre Terrail, the Lord of Bayard, was killed leading a failed counterattack. The French were forced to retreat back across the Alps.

The Chevaliar Bayard by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer

Points of Interest:

• After the victory at Sesia, an Imperial army invaded France in July but retreated before superior reinforcements in October.

• After the failed Spanish invasion of France, the French countered by re-invading Italy in later October 1524. Charles de Lannoy withdrew from Milan to Pavia.

Charles di Lannoy by an unknown artist

Pierre Terrail de Bayard by an unknown artist

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sources:

Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.

Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.