The First Second Italian Wars, 1494–1504 by Julian Romane

Author:Julian Romane [Romane, Julian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Europe, Italy, Military, Medieval, Modern, 16th Century
ISBN: 9781526750525
Google: eND9DwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
Published: 2020-08-30T03:37:12+00:00

The Lord de Ligny Comes to a Settlement with his Subjects

When the French took Milan, King Louis awarded some towns, including Tortona and Voghera, to Lord de Ligny. When Lodovico returned, these towns immediately recognized the Sforza restoration. After Lodovico’s defeat, Ligny returned and threatened to sack all of his towns because they joined with Lodovico. Here, we will see a display of medieval theatre. Lord de Ligny could not say ‘welcome back’. He really could not trust these subjects and they would not respect him. To re-establish a firm lord-subject relationship based on mutual respect, the parties decided to ritualize a new affiliation.

The Lord de Ligny came to Alessandria, accompanied by his captain, d’Ars and his retinue including the Chevalier Bayard, called Picquet (spur). Ligny’s towns joined together and sent a delegation of twenty worthies to pay their respects and beg to be readmitted to his lordship’s good graces. The Lord Ligny passed them by without acknowledgment. The delegation returned to their towns and gave their report. His lordship was most upset with them. The town leaders sought the help of Captain d’Ars, requesting he arrange an audience with the Lord de Ligny. Usually, such arrangements were accompanied by a gratuity which we may assume d’Ars accepted because he agreed to arrange the meeting.

The next day, after the early afternoon main meal, fifty of the most important citizens went to the hotel where Ligny resided. When he came out, the fifty took off their hats, fell to their knees and begged for mercy. Besides heartfelt entreaties, the citizens presented Ligny with a silver dinner service of many silver cups and vessels, worth 300 marks which he should accept as a token of forgiveness. (This was not an extravagant gift. A mark was worth about as much as a French crown, so 300 marks was a nice sum for an individual, but a drop in the bucket as far as a great lord was concerned. On the other hand, if they gave a lot, the Lord de Ligny might think that there was a good source of income.) The Lord de Ligny refused the gift and condemned the townspeople as ungrateful and treasonous.

Then Captain d’Ars fell to his knees and offered surety for the towns-people, expressing his faith in their gratitude and loyalty. The citizens joined as a chorus, begging Ligny to accept d’Ars request. The Lord de Ligny, with tears in his eyes, cried that they truly erred, but for the sake of Captain d’Ars, who was loyal and always gave good service, he would grant them pardon. As for the gift, he would not touch it. Rather, he turned and told Picquet, ‘Take these vessels.’ But the good knight replied, ‘My lord, I thank you for your consideration, but for the sake of God, please do not make me take into my house that which belongs to these wretched people because it would bring misfortune.’ Then Bayard took the vessels, one by one to each one present although at that time he had not ten crowns.

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