The Battle of Pavia 1525: How Arquebuses Ended Chivalry

In 1525, just two years before the infamous Sack of Rome, the Italian Wars reached a brutal turning point outside the walls of Pavia. This episode unpacks the Battle of Pavia, where French King Francis I was captured by the forces of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Lucas and Luna explore how this battle marked the end of medieval knightly warfare and the rise of gunpowder infantry, focusing on the decisive role of Spanish arquebusiers. They discuss the tactical innovations of the Spanish tercio, the imprisonment of Francis I in Madrid, and the political fallout that reshaped Italy and Europe. Along the way, they touch on the careers of condottieri like Giovanni de' Medici (delle Bande Nere) and the strategic importance of the Duchy of Milan. The episode also examines the human cost of the battle and the shifting alliances that made 16th-century Italy a battleground for Habsburg-Valois rivalry. A vivid, specific look at a battle that changed military history. #BattleOfPavia #ItalianWars #FrancisI #CharlesV #HabsburgValois #SpanishTercio #Arquebus #Condottieri #GiovanniDelleBandeNere #RenaissanceWarfare #History #FexingoHistory #MilitaryHistory #16thCentury #Lombardy #Pavia #Milan #Gunpowder Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo