Battle of Fornovo

The Battle of Fornovo took place 30 km (19 miles) southwest of the city of Parma on 6 July 1495. It was fought as King Charles VIII of France left Naples upon hearing the news of the grand coalition assembled against him. Despite the numerical advantage of their opponents, the French won the engagement and Charles was able to march his army out of Italy. It was nonetheless devoid of any strategic result as all of their conquests in the Italian Peninsula were abandoned. Fornovo was the first major pitched battle of the Italian Wars.

Battle of Fornovo
Part of the First Italian War

Bataille de Fornoue, 6 juillet 1495 (oil on canvas by Éloi Firmin Féron, 1837) depicts king Charles VIII on the left and Bayard on the right.
Date6 July 1495
Location44°41′N 10°06′E
Result French victory
Belligerents
France League of Venice:
Republic of Venice
Duchy of Milan
Margraviate of Mantua
Commanders and leaders
King Charles VIII Francesco Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua
Units involved
Stradioti
Strength
10,000–11,000 men 20,000-21,500 men
Casualties and losses
  • 100–200 killed
  • 200 wounded
  • 3,350-4,000 killed
  • Unknown wounded
Fornovo di Taro
Fornovo di Taro, now a comune (municipality) in the province of Parma
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