Two Gentlemen Of Verona -- The Tapestries Of Pavia -- January 1, 2024

Shakespeare's Guide to Italy: Retracing the Bard's Unknown travels, Richard Paul Roe, c. 2011, in personal library.

Link to notes on that book here.

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Two Gentlemen of Verona

The story leading up to the tapestries of Pavia are included in this chapter! Tapestries of Pavia. May and I saw the tapestries last year when they were on exhibit at the Kimbell Museum in Ft Worth. 

From Digital Narratives:

Background: Thousands of soldiers emerge from the woods, arquebuses and halberds in hand, preparing to fight against the vast French army. The Battle of Pavia tapestry series captures the famous Battle of Pavia, fought between the Habsburgs and French, resulting in a Habsburg victory. These tapestries depict a range of scenes from the battle, including the capture of French King Francis I, the rout of the Swiss, and the retreat of the French army. Within the tapestry, a vast amount of emphasis is placed upon the landsknecht soldiers, landsknecht being the German word for mercenary, who played an instrumental part in the victory of the Habsburgs over the French army. The tapestries themselves connect to a wider image of European consumption, trade and mercenary lifestyles. The tapestries of the Battle of Pavia showcase Europeans conspicuous consumption of luxury goods, their connection to the global trade network, and mercenary culture. 

My notes from Roe's book:

• Most of the 15th century, Italy prospered.

• All of this changed, 1494 (think Christopher Columbus, 1492).
• France, Charles VIII of France invades Italy
• invited by the Duke of Milan -- "Il Moro" to help put down troublesome neighbors
• the invasion market 30 years of hell for much of Italy
• one French king after another invaded

• then another Charles arrives
• troops from Spain, Germany, Swiss Federation arrive in Italy
• "Carlos" --most powerful monarch in Europe since Charlemagne
• Charles V, King of Spain (1516) and Holy Roman Empire (1519) -- but not "confirmed" by the Pope
• domain also included 
• all of Spain's New World possessions; also included;
• the low countries
• kingdoms of Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia
• Mediterranean islands, parts of North Africa
• some duchies of Italy

• Medicie Pope Clement VII in Rome, on the side of France.

• Charles V (HRE) defeats the French at Pavia -- 1525 -- 30 km southwest of Milan.

• HRE troops sack Rome!

• "Sack of Rome" -- rome impoverished for years to come

• two years later Pope Clement VII and Charles V (HRE) kiss and make up!

•  1529: Treaty of Cambrai -- Milanand most of Italy become dependencies of the Spanish Crown

• 1530: Charles V (HRE) arrives at Bologna
• Pope Clement VII makes it official -- crowns Charles V the official HRE (Emperor)
• prior: he called himself HRE but not with official papal confimration
• now he had final confirmation as HRE

• HRE now wanted Milan
• great excitement in Milan where HRE scheduled to arrive

• the play, Two Gentlemen of Verona pretty much anti-climactic after that -- HRE disappears and returns to Spain!