Battle of Polesella
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Polesella, fought on 22 December 1509, by forces of the Duchy of Ferrara
and the Republic of Venice
, was a naval battle on the River Po in the War of the League of Cambrai
in the Italian Wars
. It was an overwhelming victory for Ferrara.
mercenaries (called stradiotti) made daily incursions into the Dukedom, sowing death and terror.
On the night of 21-22 December, given the high level reached by the waters of the Po, that had brought the enemy galleys up to the level of the embankment, the Ferrarese forces set up their famous artillery along the river and at dawn opened fire. In the indescribable chaos that followed this surprise action, many ships were sunk and others captured. The soldiers and sailors who tried to escape into the water were taken prisoner and shot or killed without mercy as soon as reach firm ground. It was rather a massacre than a battle.
The troops of Ferrara conquered 15 galleys and a number of other ships. The Venetians lost 2000 killed or drowned and 60 flags.
Angelo Trevisan succeeded in fleeing, but his damaged galley sunk 5 km further. Back in Venice, he was tried for "misconduct and carelessness".
When Duke Alfonso I d'Este
entered Ferrara five days later, his wife Lucrezia Borgia
was waiting for him with her maids of honour, the court and the jubilant population.
The battle was described by Ludovico Ariosto
in his epic poem Orlando Furioso
(canto 40, 2, vv. 1-4).
Duchy of Ferrara
The Duchy of Ferrara is a former sovereign state of northern Italy.Obizzo II d'Este was proclaimed lifelong ruler of Ferrara in 1264. He also became seignior of nearby Modena in 1288 and of Reggio in 1289...
and the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
, was a naval battle on the River Po in the War of the League of Cambrai
War of the League of Cambrai
The War of the League of Cambrai, sometimes known as the War of the Holy League and by several other names, was a major conflict in the Italian Wars...
in the Italian Wars
Italian Wars
The Italian Wars, often referred to as the Great Italian Wars or the Great Wars of Italy and sometimes as the Habsburg–Valois Wars, were a series of conflicts from 1494 to 1559 that involved, at various times, most of the city-states of Italy, the Papal States, most of the major states of Western...
. It was an overwhelming victory for Ferrara.
The battle
In 1509 the Venetian fleet was moored on the river Po, waiting for the right moment to attack Ferrara. Meanwhile, the Slavonian and AlbanianAlbanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
mercenaries (called stradiotti) made daily incursions into the Dukedom, sowing death and terror.
On the night of 21-22 December, given the high level reached by the waters of the Po, that had brought the enemy galleys up to the level of the embankment, the Ferrarese forces set up their famous artillery along the river and at dawn opened fire. In the indescribable chaos that followed this surprise action, many ships were sunk and others captured. The soldiers and sailors who tried to escape into the water were taken prisoner and shot or killed without mercy as soon as reach firm ground. It was rather a massacre than a battle.
The troops of Ferrara conquered 15 galleys and a number of other ships. The Venetians lost 2000 killed or drowned and 60 flags.
Angelo Trevisan succeeded in fleeing, but his damaged galley sunk 5 km further. Back in Venice, he was tried for "misconduct and carelessness".
When Duke Alfonso I d'Este
Alfonso I d'Este
Alfonso d'Este was Duke of Ferrara during the time of the War of the League of Cambrai.-Biography:He was the son of Ercole I d'Este and Leonora of Naples....
entered Ferrara five days later, his wife Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia [luˈkrɛtsia ˈbɔrʤa] was the illegitimate daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Renaissance Valencian who later became Pope Alexander VI, and Vannozza dei Cattanei. Her brothers included Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, and Gioffre Borgia...
was waiting for him with her maids of honour, the court and the jubilant population.
The battle was described by Ludovico Ariosto
Ludovico Ariosto
Ludovico Ariosto was an Italian poet. He is best known as the author of the romance epic Orlando Furioso . The poem, a continuation of Matteo Maria Boiardo's Orlando Innamorato, describes the adventures of Charlemagne, Orlando, and the Franks as they battle against the Saracens with diversions...
in his epic poem Orlando Furioso
Orlando Furioso
Orlando Furioso is an Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto which has exerted a wide influence on later culture. The earliest version appeared in 1516, although the poem was not published in its complete form until 1532...
(canto 40, 2, vv. 1-4).