1. The Italian Wars 1494 – 1559
In 1494 Charles VIII of France
invaded Italy for two reasons: to
assist a claimant to Milan (which
Charles also had a claim on)
and to pursue a French claim on
the Kingdom of Naples. When
the Spanish Habsburgs joined
the battle, in alliance with the
Emperor (also a Habsburg), the
Papacy and Venice, the whole
of Italy became a battleground
for Europe’s two most powerful
families, the Valois French and
the Habsburgs. France was
driven out of Italy but factions
continued to fight, and the war
moved to other areas in Europe.
A final settlement only took
place with the Treaty of Cateau-
Cambrésis in 1559.