EPISODE · May 30, 2026 · 6 MIN
The Sack of Rome 1527: When the Eternal City Burned
from The Story of Italy: Rome, Renaissance, and the Birth of Modern Europe — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In 1527, an army of mutinous imperial soldiers descended on Rome, sacking the city with a brutality that shocked Europe. The Pope, Clement VII, fled to Castel Sant'Angelo as the Eternal City was engulfed in fire and chaos. This episode examines the political and military backdrop: the League of Cognac, the ambitions of Emperor Charles V, and the role of the Landsknechts — mercenaries who had not been paid for months. We also explore the cultural aftermath, including the dispersal of artists like Rosso Fiorentino and the lasting trauma on the city's psyche. Discover how the Sack of Rome marked a turning point in the Italian Wars and the end of the High Renaissance. #SackOfRome1527 #ClementVII #CharlesV #Landsknechts #CastelSantAngelo #ItalianWars #RenaissanceRome #LeagueOfCognac #FurorTeutonicus #RossoFiorentino #Pope #HRE #Spain #16thCentury #History #Renaissance #Italy #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Sack of Rome 1527: When the Eternal City Burned
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