194 - The Italian Wars 11 - Medici pope to Medici pope - Battle of Pavia and Cognac
A History of Italy16 Syys 2025

194 - The Italian Wars 11 - Medici pope to Medici pope - Battle of Pavia and Cognac

After three episodes exploring the life of Leonardo da Vinci, we return to the turbulent stage of the Italian Wars. In this episode, we pick up in the early 1520s, a period shaped by papal politics, dynastic rivalries, and the shifting fortunes of France and Spain.

Highlights include:

  • The succession of popes after Leo X: Hadrian VI and Clement VII, and their struggles with reform, neutrality, and survival.
  • The tug-of-war between France and Spain over Milan and Naples, with Spain ultimately gaining the upper hand.
  • The dramatic Battle of Pavia (1525) — where Francis I of France was captured, changing the balance of power in Italy.
  • Local legend and culinary history: the devil’s bridge of Pavia and the birth of zuppa alla pavese.
  • The curious origin of the word lapalisiano (and its English cousin lapalissade), born from the death of French commander Jacques de La Palice.
  • The rise of the League of Cognac (1526), a desperate coalition including France, the Papacy, Florence, and Venice against Charles V’s growing dominance.

Along the way, we balance high politics with folklore, language quirks, and even a recipe or two — showing how wars, words, and food can be unexpectedly intertwined.

Jaksot(297)

169 - The Italian Wars 6 - round 1 aftermath, the north

169 - The Italian Wars 6 - round 1 aftermath, the north

After leaving the Papal States with Cesare Borgia waiting for us, we head into the Republic of Florence to look at the struggle with the other Italian powers over Pisa and also stop to talk a little a...

21 Touko 202415min

168 - The Italian war 5 - round 1 aftermath - the south and centre

168 - The Italian war 5 - round 1 aftermath - the south and centre

After seeing French King Charles VIII out of the Italian peninsula, we take a quick tour around to see what the situation is at the end of the 15th century and make sure everyone is on the same page. ...

7 Touko 202420min

167 - The Italian Wars 4 - Charles has left the building (1495 - 1498)

167 - The Italian Wars 4 - Charles has left the building (1495 - 1498)

Charles VIII of France is on his way out as king Ferrandino of Naples, along with Gonzalo de Cordoba, are gradually taking back the kingdom.Meanwhile Charles is headed off by the Holy League of Venice...

23 Huhti 202419min

166 - The Italian Wars 3 - finally Naples… for a bit (1495)

166 - The Italian Wars 3 - finally Naples… for a bit (1495)

Charles VIII of France finally managed to get to Naples, but doesn't hang around long, the players on the Italian scene feel he has worn out his welcome and Venice, Milan, the pope, Holy Roman Emperor...

9 Huhti 202421min

Special - The Gulf of poets: Byron, Keats and Shelly in Italy

Special - The Gulf of poets: Byron, Keats and Shelly in Italy

A chance visit to the beautiful Ligurian town of Porto Venere, staying in a 900 year-old tower, Torre Capitolare (https://www.capitolare.com/) gave us the opportunity to meet not only with medieval hi...

26 Maalis 202418min

165 - The Borgias are the bosses (1492 - 1497)

165 - The Borgias are the bosses (1492 - 1497)

After his election as pope Alecander VI Rodrigo Borgia gets straight down to business, sorting out the lawlessness in Rome, tinkering with the delicate national balance with the Duchy of Milan, the Re...

19 Maalis 202416min

Special - Lucrezia Borgia

Special - Lucrezia Borgia

To celebrate the "A History of Italy" podcast joining the "Sentire" media network (sentire.media), we take a look at one of the most maligned women in history, Lucrezia Borgia. By the 20th century, he...

5 Maalis 202422min

Special - Caterina of Siena

Special - Caterina of Siena

To celebrate A History of Italy of joining the Sentire podcast network (sentire.media) we go back to visit with a peculiar young girl who went from early, rather graphic and violent religious visions ...

5 Maalis 202418min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
rss-narsisti
psykopodiaa-podcast
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
rss-uskonto-on-tylsaa
psykologia
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna
rss-duodecim-lehti
aamukahvilla
rss-valo-minussa-2
kesken
rss-niinku-asia-on
adhd-podi
koulu-podcast-2
jari-sarasvuo-podcast
rss-xamk-podcast
rss-luonnollinen-synnytys-podcast
rss-laiska-joogi
rss-opi-espanjaa