Battle of Castione
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Castione was fought between the Golden Ambrosian Republic (Milan
) and the canton of Uri
on 6 July 1449.
The site of the battle is near that of the earlier battle of Arbedo
, both in the territory of the current-day municipality of Arbedo-Castione
in the Swiss canton of Ticino.
The cause of both battles was the contest for control of the nearby fort of Bellinzona
, which at the time happened to be at the point of overlap of the spheres of influence of the Old Swiss Confederacy
and the Duchy of Milan
. Control of Bellinzona was the strategic key to controlling the Gotthard Pass and the valleys of Ticino
and Misox.
Uri had won Bellinzona in 1419, but lost it again as a result of the battle of Arbedo of 1422. Uri launched a renewed campaign to regain the valleys in the southern Alps in 1439, and in 1441 forced Milan to yield the Leventina (which had already come under Swiss control in 1430)
The unstable situation in the Duchy of Milan with the death of Filippo Maria Visconti
in 1447 and the formation of the short-lived Golden Ambrosian Republic encouraged Uri to push forward as far as Bellinzona once again.
Milan charged Condottiere Giovanni della Noce with leading the campaign against the Swiss and re-establish Milanese control over the Sottoceneri.
Della Noce defeated the force of Uri near Castione, in a battle which lasted for most of the day. The village was burned down, and Uri was forced to retreat to the Misox. Milan secured control over Bellinzona and the Riviera
.
A formal peace treaty was enacted in 1450, and in 1466, Milan agreed to grant the Leventina to Uri permanently. The defeat at Castione halted Swiss expansion south of the Alps for several decades, until the Confederate campaign of 1478, and the Swiss victory in the Battle of Giornico
in 1487.
In Swiss historiography, the account of the battle of Castione was corrupted, because historian Theodor von Liebenau (1840–1914) confused it with the battle of Castiglione Olona
(1450), which led to the dissolution of the Ambrosian Republic. Proper identification of the battle was left to historians of the 20th century (Chiesi 1979).
Duchy of Milan
The Duchy of Milan , was created on the 1st of may 1395, when Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, purchased a diploma for 100,000 Florins from King Wenceslaus. It was this diploma that installed, Gian Galeazzo as Duke of Milan and Count of Pavia...
) and the canton of Uri
Canton of Uri
Uri is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's territory covers the valley of the Reuss River between Lake Lucerne and the St. Gotthard Pass. German is the primary language spoken in Uri...
on 6 July 1449.
The site of the battle is near that of the earlier battle of Arbedo
Battle of Arbedo
The Battle of Arbedo was fought on June 30, 1422 between the Duchy of Milan and the Swiss Confederation.In 1419, Uri and Unterwalden bought the Bellinzona stronghold from the Sacco barons, but were unable to defend it adequately...
, both in the territory of the current-day municipality of Arbedo-Castione
Arbedo-Castione
Arbedo-Castione is a municipality in the district of Bellinzona in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:The Early Bronze Age Hoard of Castione contains material from north of the Alps. This large find indicates that the area was an important trading and transportation center during the...
in the Swiss canton of Ticino.
The cause of both battles was the contest for control of the nearby fort of Bellinzona
Bellinzona
Bellinzona is the administrative capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland. The city is famous for its three castles that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000....
, which at the time happened to be at the point of overlap of the spheres of influence of the Old Swiss Confederacy
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
and the Duchy of Milan
Duchy of Milan
The Duchy of Milan , was created on the 1st of may 1395, when Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, purchased a diploma for 100,000 Florins from King Wenceslaus. It was this diploma that installed, Gian Galeazzo as Duke of Milan and Count of Pavia...
. Control of Bellinzona was the strategic key to controlling the Gotthard Pass and the valleys of Ticino
Ticino River
The river Ticino is a left-bank tributary of the Po River. It has given its name to the Swiss canton through which its upper portion flows.-The course:...
and Misox.
Uri had won Bellinzona in 1419, but lost it again as a result of the battle of Arbedo of 1422. Uri launched a renewed campaign to regain the valleys in the southern Alps in 1439, and in 1441 forced Milan to yield the Leventina (which had already come under Swiss control in 1430)
The unstable situation in the Duchy of Milan with the death of Filippo Maria Visconti
Filippo Maria Visconti
Filippo Maria Visconti was ruler of Milan from 1412 to 1447.-Biography:Filippo Maria Visconti, who had become nominal ruler of Pavia in 1402, succeeded his assassinated brother Gian Maria Visconti as Duke of Milan in 1412. They were the sons of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Gian Maria's predecessor, by...
in 1447 and the formation of the short-lived Golden Ambrosian Republic encouraged Uri to push forward as far as Bellinzona once again.
Milan charged Condottiere Giovanni della Noce with leading the campaign against the Swiss and re-establish Milanese control over the Sottoceneri.
Della Noce defeated the force of Uri near Castione, in a battle which lasted for most of the day. The village was burned down, and Uri was forced to retreat to the Misox. Milan secured control over Bellinzona and the Riviera
Riviera (district)
The district of Riviera is a district of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It has a population of . The capital of the district is Biasca.-Geography:...
.
A formal peace treaty was enacted in 1450, and in 1466, Milan agreed to grant the Leventina to Uri permanently. The defeat at Castione halted Swiss expansion south of the Alps for several decades, until the Confederate campaign of 1478, and the Swiss victory in the Battle of Giornico
Battle of Giornico
In the Battle of Giornico a Swiss force of 600 defeated 10,000 Milanese troops.This victory against odds of one to twenty was possible because the Milanese army was confined in a narrow valley, struggling for foothold on the December snow and ice. The Swiss ambushed the army from above, creating...
in 1487.
In Swiss historiography, the account of the battle of Castione was corrupted, because historian Theodor von Liebenau (1840–1914) confused it with the battle of Castiglione Olona
Castiglione Olona
Castiglione Olona is a town and comune in the province of Varese, in Lombardy....
(1450), which led to the dissolution of the Ambrosian Republic. Proper identification of the battle was left to historians of the 20th century (Chiesi 1979).