Chapter 11:
Matrimony leads to war:
With the marriage of Catherine of York and Francis of Angouleme relations between England, France and the Duchy of Brabant reached an all time low.
It wasn't the only alliance that would push Europe into war either - In May of 1508 Ludovico Sforza the deposed Duke of Milan died in captivity.
The Emperor stated that the true line of succession should be restored in Milan and proclaimed and recognised Francesco Sforza (the teenaged son of Gian Galeazzo Duke of Milan who had been deposed by Ludovica) - Francesco was also in captivity in France though his mother and sister had fled. The same year his sister Bona was betrothed to the Archduke Frederick (the emperors only surviving son by Elizabeth of York).
This alliance was a direct challenge to Louis XII's hold on the Duchy but given his and Maximilian's involvement with the Pope in attacking Venice any disagreement could be held off for a while.
Historians have often described the political relationships of 1508/09 as a tinder box and have stated that war was inevitable.
Treaty and Alliances 1508/1509:
Spain and France (tied by the Treaty of Marseilles that gave France her only ally, Spain is also technically still treaty bound to England, Louis is determined to hold on to Franche Comte and to prevent any restoration of the Duchy of Burgundy to Philip the Fair, he is also keen to end England's hold on Brittany)
England and Brabant (tied by treaty and long standing resentment of France - England is determined to retain Calais and Brittany and Edward V dreams of the long lost Angevin Empire, whilst Philip of Brabant is determined to regain the Duchy of Burgundy and extend his influence along the border between France and the Empire by reviving his grandfather's ambition to absorb the ancient Duchy of Lorraine into his territories.)
Scotland - is tied to England by the Treaty of Perpetual Peace but resentment of England remains and James IV wants to restore his country's ancient alliance with France.
Austria and the Empire - Maximillian's interests have turned to reforming the empire and looking to the east and the growing threat of the Ottoman Turks. However his resentment of France remains and his interests are concentrated on removing France from Milan an imperial territory.
Rumblings of War:
Although the Italian Wars had ended Pope Julius II was determined to curb Venetian expansion particularly into the Romagna region which was part of the Papal States and which Venice had seized in the chaos that had followed the end of the Borgia Papacy and Cesare Borgia's control of the Papal Armies.
He appealed to both the Emperor and France who for once were at peace with each other.
Maximillian had happily offered the Pope his services but in early 1508 his army's were humiliated forcing him to a truce with the Venetians.
The Pope again tried to form a new alliance - Louis XII and Maximilian II were browbeaten by the Papacy into coming to terms as was Ferdinand of Aragon.
On 10 December 1508, representatives of the Papacy, France, the Holy Roman Empire and Spain concluded the League of Cambrai against the Republic.
The agreement provided for the complete dismemberment of Venice's territory in Italy and for its partition among the signatories: Maximilian, in addition to regaining Istria, would receive Verona, Vicenza, Padua and the Friuli; France would annex Brescia, Crema, Bergamo and Cremona to its Milanese possessions; Ferdinand would seize Otranto; and the remainder, including Rimini and Ravenna, would be added to the Papal States.
On 15 April 1509, Louis left Milan at the head of a French army and moved rapidly into Venetian territory. On 14 May, Venetian forces confronted the French at the Battle of Agnadello; despite orders to retreat the army fought and was destroyed by the French.
The Venetian collapse continued and Louis proceeded to occupy Venetian territory with speed, Maximillian reinvaded and occupied the major cities that had not been occupied by the French - Padua, Verona and Vicenza. Julius, having in the meantime issued an interdict against Venice that excommunicated every citizen of the Republic, invaded the Romagna and seized Ravenna.
However revolts in Venetian cities would soon cause problems for the Emperor forcing him to despatch a larger Imperial army to the region in August laying seige to Padua.
All out War:
Edward V and Philip of Brabant had been approached to join the League but had both rejected papal overtures, given their relations with Louis were so poor.
The marriage of Catherine of York and Francis of Angouleme in the summer gave both men the excuse they'd wanted to take advantage of Louis' latest Italian adventure.
On August 21st Edward V's emmissaries confronted the King in Italy demanding that Edward's pension be increased, that Catherine of York's dowery from France be increased to an appropriate level and that the King of France recognise the rights of the Prince of Wales to succeed his mother in Brittany should Edward have no further sons by Anne of Brittany.
The English also requested that the French recognise Breton independence of the French crown and that the Duchy should be permanently attached to the English Crown. The offer was rejected outright - but Louis offered to allow the Pope to arbitrate any dispute with his "his dear brother" confidant that Julius would support him.
The same day Philip of Brabant's armies crossed into the Duchy of Lorraine, ill prepared and supporting the French King in Italy the Duchy's defences soon crumbled and Philip laid siege to Nancy by the second week of September.
Philip's invasion caused considerable discomfort for the Pope - who had no wish to discomfort Philip's father Maximilian but equally was keen to keep Louis XII happy. However Julius came under pressure from Louis and the Duke of Lorraine who urged him to put Philip under interdict for attacking without cause and whilst Lorraine was in the service of the Pope.
Julius dithered keen to keep everyone on side.