Battle of Giornico: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Military Conflict |
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|conflict=Battle of Giornico |
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|partof= [[Transalpine campaigns of the Old Swiss Confederacy|Transalpine campaigns]] |
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|caption=[[Luzerner Schilling]] miniature |
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|date=28 December 1478 |
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|place=[[Giornico]] |
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|result=Victory for the Old Swiss Confederacy |
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|combatant1=[[Duchy of Milan]] |
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|combatant2=[[Old Swiss Confederacy]] |
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|commander1=unknown |
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|commander2=unknown |
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|strength1=10,000 |
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|strength2=600 |
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|casualties1=1,400 |
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|casualties2=unknown |
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}} |
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[[Image:Giornico Monument 1478.jpg|thumb|left|Memorial in [[Giornico]]]] |
[[Image:Giornico Monument 1478.jpg|thumb|left|Memorial in [[Giornico]]]] |
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In the '''Battle of Giornico''' (28 December 1478) a [[Swiss]] force of 600 defeated 10,000 [[Duchy of Milan|Milan]]ese troops. |
In the '''Battle of Giornico''' (28 December 1478) a [[Swiss]] force of 600 defeated 10,000 [[Duchy of Milan|Milan]]ese troops. |
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==History== |
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Shortly after it, the [[Duke of Milan]] built the small [[Three Castles of Bellinzona|Sasso Corbaro]]. This can be visited from [[Bellinzona]] and its [[belvedere (structure)|belvedere]] [[museum]] hosts temporary [[art]] exhibits. The [[Switzerland|Swiss]] and the [[Milan]]ese met again, in 1487, at the [[Battle of Crevola]]. |
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The Battle of Giornico was part of an expansionist policy of the [[Old Swiss Confederation]] during the 15th century. The confederation attempted to expand into the southern foothills of the Alps to gain control of both ends of the valuable mountain passes. In November 1478, [[Canton of Uri|Uri]] troops moved south over the [[Gotthard pass]] into the [[Leventina (district)|Levantina]] valley. The population of the valley, who had long been opposed to [[Duchy of Milan|Milan]], greeted the Swiss troops as liberators and allies. However, below the valley at [[Bellinzona]], they found the city gates closed. Uri was quickly joined by forces from other Confederation cantons and established a [[siege]] camp below the walls of [[Bellinzona]] on 30 November 1478. The [[Duke of Milan]] responded by sending 10,000 men toward Bellinzona to drive the Confederates back and reassert his control over the Levantina.<ref name=HDS}{{HDS|8900|Battle of Giornico}}</ref> |
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==The battle== |
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| ⚫ | On 16 December the Milanese army reached [[Magadino]] on [[Lake Maggiore]] about {{convert|14|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Bellinzona. However, the Confederates had already retired, after a 14-day siege of Bellinzona, to the Gotthard Pass. Only a 175-strong reserve army, reinforced by about 400 soldiers from the Levantina, were guarding the rear at Giornico in the Levantina valley.<ref name=HDS/> The entire Milanese army reached Giornico on 28 December 1478 and outnumbered the defenders by about twenty to one. The defenders were able to defeat the much larger force because the Milanese army was confined in a narrow valley, struggling for foothold on the December snow and ice. The Swiss ambushed the army from above, creating confusion by rolling large boulders down the hillside. They reportedly also wore [[crampons]] for better foothold. Against this attack, the Milanese army was helpless regardless of their superior number, and they were forced to flee, leaving an estimated 1,400 dead. |
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==Aftermath== |
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Following this decisive defeat, the Duke of Milan withdrew from the Levantina, leaving it under Uri's control. To consolidate his power in Bellinzona, the Duke of Milan built the small [[Three Castles of Bellinzona|Sasso Corbaro]] castle. Nine years later, the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] and the [[Milan]]ese met again, in 1487, at the [[Battle of Crevola]]. |
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==See also== |
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*[[Battles of the Old Swiss Confederacy]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{coord|46.3833|8.88333|display=title}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Giornico, Battle of}} |
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[[Category:1478 in Italy]] |
[[Category:1478 in Italy]] |
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[[Category:Battles involving Switzerland|Giornico 1478]] |
[[Category:Battles involving Switzerland|Giornico 1478]] |
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Revision as of 16:13, 8 January 2012
| Battle of Giornico | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Transalpine campaigns | |||||||
 Luzerner Schilling miniature | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Duchy of Milan | Old Swiss Confederacy | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| unknown | unknown | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 10,000 | 600 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1,400 | unknown | ||||||
In the Battle of Giornico (28 December 1478) a Swiss force of 600 defeated 10,000 Milanese troops.
History
The Battle of Giornico was part of an expansionist policy of the Old Swiss Confederation during the 15th century. The confederation attempted to expand into the southern foothills of the Alps to gain control of both ends of the valuable mountain passes. In November 1478, Uri troops moved south over the Gotthard pass into the Levantina valley. The population of the valley, who had long been opposed to Milan, greeted the Swiss troops as liberators and allies. However, below the valley at Bellinzona, they found the city gates closed. Uri was quickly joined by forces from other Confederation cantons and established a siege camp below the walls of Bellinzona on 30 November 1478. The Duke of Milan responded by sending 10,000 men toward Bellinzona to drive the Confederates back and reassert his control over the Levantina.<ref name=HDS}{{HDS|8900|Battle of Giornico}}</ref>
The battle
On 16 December the Milanese army reached Magadino on Lake Maggiore about 14 km (8.7 mi) from Bellinzona. However, the Confederates had already retired, after a 14-day siege of Bellinzona, to the Gotthard Pass. Only a 175-strong reserve army, reinforced by about 400 soldiers from the Levantina, were guarding the rear at Giornico in the Levantina valley.[1] The entire Milanese army reached Giornico on 28 December 1478 and outnumbered the defenders by about twenty to one. The defenders were able to defeat the much larger force because the Milanese army was confined in a narrow valley, struggling for foothold on the December snow and ice. The Swiss ambushed the army from above, creating confusion by rolling large boulders down the hillside. They reportedly also wore crampons for better foothold. Against this attack, the Milanese army was helpless regardless of their superior number, and they were forced to flee, leaving an estimated 1,400 dead.
Aftermath
Following this decisive defeat, the Duke of Milan withdrew from the Levantina, leaving it under Uri's control. To consolidate his power in Bellinzona, the Duke of Milan built the small Sasso Corbaro castle. Nine years later, the Swiss and the Milanese met again, in 1487, at the Battle of Crevola.
See also
References
- Battle of Giornico in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.