Second Italian War

The **Second Italian War** was a conflict which took place during Episode XIV: "Checkmate" of Brazilian Mapping's Alternate History of Europe series.

## 1529: Background

"On May 6th, 1529, the Italic troops stormed Urbino, bringing an end to the First Italian War."

- Giovanni Morosini, in Milan.

Following the First Italian War was the Aegean Crisis between the Italic Union and the Anatolian Empire. At the same time, the Marche Uprising took place, during which a letter from the Duke of Urbino was transferred to its recipient, Giano Loredan, the recently-elected Captain & Defender of the Ambrosian Republic of Milan. When King Ferrante of Italia learned of this transmission, he immediately declared war on Milan, on New Year's Day 1530.

Savoy and Genoa took Milan's side, forming the Second Lombard League, while Sardinia and Tuscany sided with Italia.

## 1530: Conquest of Genoa

As Italic troops swarmed the eastern territories of Milan, and began setting up vassal states, Sardinian troops besieged and captured Genoa.

The Republic of Genoa was hence converted into the Grand Duchy of Liguria, a Sardinian vassal state. The city of Savona was incorporated directly into the Sardinian kingdom.

Not long after, France entered the war as a third party.

## 1531: Conquest of Savoy

Italic and Tuscan troops consolidated control over the new vassal states, before meeting the Sardinians in southern Milanese territories. Meanwhile, French troops entered northern Provence, before besieging the Savoyard capital of Chambéry.

Savoy talked to Milan, saying that they had heard and believed the Venetian story about the Malta Agreement.

As Savoy surrendered, the Treaty of Gap was drafted; France would annex Dauphiné (northern Provence) and north-western Savoy, On New Year's Eve 1531, the treaty was ratified, marking the end of French intervention in the Second Italian War.

## 1532: Turning Point

As the remainder of Savoy was reorganised into a series of Italic vassals, Giano Loredan sent for Giovanni Morosini and his brother Bruno, the latter of whom was a war veteran of the Fifth Lombard War. Bruno Morosini was sent to confront the Italic First Army at Novara, on March 15th, 1532.

The Battle of Novara was Italia's first ever defeat, giving Milanese troops a morale boost which took them to Turin. It was there that Milan united with the Italic vassal of Turin, to form the Lombard Republic. As Bruno thwarted a second Italic offensive on Milan, other Lombard armies conquered Aosta, Montferrat, and captured the city of Pavia.

When Pavia declared that they wished to surrender, Italia declared war on Pavia in order to consolidate control. In response, Parma and Liguria joined the Pavian side.

## 1533: The March on Venezia

Giovanni Morosini travelled to secure a truce with Pavia, Parma and Liguria, all of which were annexed into Lombardy shortly afterwards.

A Second Brescian Uprising broke out, led by the same man who led the First Uprising, Angelo Marangon. He revealed that Pope Clement VII had also survived the Italic Sack of Rome (September 6th, 1527, during the First Italian War), and then Giano Loredan revealed his true identity of Lorenzo Furlan, the former Ragusan fisherman.

Lombard troops advanced on Lucca, aided by a rebellion in the city of Prato against Tuscany. As Lucca fell, half of Tuscany fell with it, allowing Prato to declare independence. The other half of Tuscany was reorganised into the Italic vassals of Florence and Siena.

On June 6th, 1533, just as Italia seemed to be winning the Battle of Lago di Garda, their enemies were saved by an Austrian intervention. Austria then began invading Gorizia and Istria, as the main anti-Italic force marched towards Venezia, and captured the territories and islands surrounding the city. It was at this moment that King Ferrante of Italia died from a heart attack, during which he "saw" Italia's enemies, notably Venice.

On October 7th, 1533 (Episode XV: "Calamity" - Part 1), the Second Treaty of Venezia was signed, ending the war for all belligerents except Italia, Sardinia, and Austria. They would continue fighting in the succession war following Ferrante's death.