Italian Wars 9/10 - The Battle of Pavia 1525

In late 1524 the imperial army retreats from Provence in the face of superior French forces. Lannoy retreats to Lodi and leaves a detachment commanded by D'Avalos to hold Pavia. Francis I decides to besiege Pavia instead of pursuing the main army. After two failed assaults, he decides to starve out the defenders. While the siege of Pavia is going on, he intervenes in Genoa and decides to send a small force against Naples. After the imperialists receive reinforcements, they go on the attack. The Marquis of Pescara assaults Visconti Park and with the assistance of Georg von Frundsberg and Charles Bourbon, wins a decisive battle. Francis is captured and is forced to sign the humiliating Treaty of Madrid. While he was in captivity, his mother Louise of Savoy negotiated the Franco-Ottoman alliance. Suleiman I destroys Hungary