Italian Wars

The Italian Wars, often known as the Great Wars of Italy and sometimes as the Habsburg–Valois Wars, were a long series of wars fought between 1494 and 1559 in Italy during the Renaissance.

Italian Wars
Part of the French–Habsburg rivalry
Detail of a tapestry depicting the Battle of Pavia, woven from a cartoon by Bernard van Orley (c. 1531).
Date 1494–1498; 1499–1501; 1502–1504; 1508–1516; 1521–1530; 1536–1538; 1542–1546; 1551–1559 Location Italian Peninsula (primarily), France, Germany, Spain, and the Low Countries Result Treaties of Noyon and Brussels (1516) French rule in the Duchy of Milan recognized by the Holy Roman Empire Spanish rule in the Kingdom of Naples recognized by France Republic of Venice retains the Domini di Terraferma Congress of Bologna (1530) Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor crowned King in Italy France abandons the Imperial Duchy of Milan and retains Burgundy Papal States remain independent; Republic of Genoa restored; Republic of Florence becomes a Duchy of the Medici family Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis (1559) Philip II of Spain recognised as Duke of Milan and King of Naples Henri II of France gains the Three Bishoprics, Calais, and various fortresses Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I retains the Imperial feudal network in Italy Savoyard state under Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy; Genoa retains Corsica; Florence annexes Siena
Belligerents
Kingdom of France Kingdom of England (1526–1528) Ottoman Empire (1536–1559) Variable Italian states	Holy Roman Empire Spanish Empire Kingdom of England (1496–1526; 1542–1559) Variable Italian states
Commanders and leaders
Charles VIII Louis XII Francis I Henry II Suleiman I	Maximilian I Ferdinand V Charles V Ferdinand I Philip II Henry VII Henry VIII Mary I

The conflicts involved the major powers of Italy and Europe.