Battle of Rapallo

For the Battle of Rapallo in 1495, see Battle of Rapallo (1495).

Battle of Rapallo
Part of the First Italian War
Date 5 September 1494 Location Rapallo, Republic of Genoa Result Franco-Milanese victory[1]
Belligerents
France  Milan  Genoa	Kingdom of Naples
Commanders and leaders
Louis d'Orleans	Giulio Orsini (POW)
Strength
3,000 Swiss mercenaries Genoese-Milanese infantry	4,000 Neapolitan
Casualties and losses
	Giulio Orsini(Captured) Fregosino Campofregoso(Captured)

The Battle of Rapallo, was fought between Swiss mercenaries on French pay and their Genoese-Milanese allies led by Louis d'Orleans against Neapolitan forces led by Giulio Orsini on 5 September 1494 near Rapallo.[2]

Rapallo was occupied by 4,000 Neapolitan troops on 3 September 1494 with Giulio Orsini, Obietto Fieschi, and Fregosino Campofregoso in command, their plan being to force a rebellion in Genoa. Later the Neapolitan fleet was forced away by bad weather.[2] On 5 September,[3] Louis d'Orleans landed with 1,000 Swiss mercenary infantry which was later reinforced overland by 2,000 more Swiss mercenaries and a contingent of Genoese-Milanese infantry.[2]

A skirmish broke out between the Swiss mercenaries and Neapolitan forces, though the terrain did not allow for the Swiss to form up their pike squares.[2] However, the battle was mainly fought between the Genoese-Milanese and Neapolitan infantry.[2] Following concentrated artillery fire from the French fleet, the Neapolitans were routed.[2] The Swiss massacred Neapolitans trying to surrender,[3] although Orsini and Campofregoso were captured in the retreat.[2]

After the battle the Swiss mercenaries killed the enemy wounded and sacked the town of Rapallo.[2] Though a small battle, it was seen as a significant victory which halted Neapolitan attempts to incite a rebellion in Genoa against the French.[2]

References

1. Leathes 1903, p. 112.
2. Mallett & Shaw 2012, p. 19.
3. Nicolle 2004, p. 89.

Sources

• Leathes, Stanley (1903). "Italy and Her Invaders". In Acton, Baron John Emerich Edward Dalberg (ed.). The Cambridge Modern History. Vol. 1. The Macmillan Company.
• Mallett, Michael; Shaw, Christine (2012). The Italian Wars. Pearson Educational Limited.
• Nicolle, David (2004). Fornovo 1495: France's Bloody Fighting Retreat. Osprey.