View source for Second siege of Pontevico

{{one source|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Second siege of Pontevico
| place             = [[Pontevico]], [[Lombardy]]
| partof            = [[Wars in Lombardy]]
| date              = 25–28 May [[1453]]
| result            = Venetian victory
| combatant1        = [[File:Flag of the Lordship of Milan.png|20px|border]] [[Duchy of Milan]]
| combatant2        = {{flag|Republic of Venice}}
| units1            = Around 500 soldiers in the castle
| units2            = Over 5,000 infantrymen
}}
{{Campaignbox Wars in Lombardy}}
The '''second siege of Pontevico''' was fought between 25 and 29 may [[1453]] at [[Pontevico]] ([[Lombardy]]) between the armies of the [[Duchy of Milan]] and that of [[Republic of Venice]], an episode of the [[Wars in Lombardy]].

== Background ==
{{Main article|Wars in Lombardy|First siege of Pontevico}}
During the fifth phase of the Wars in Lombardy, in June 1452 Pontevico has been besieged and occupied by [[Francesco Sforza]], [[Duke of Milan]]. However, before the winter, the venetian army passed the Oglio river. In March 1453, the venetians commanded by [[Jacopo Piccinino]] started the reconquest of the ''Bassa Bresciana'', reaching the town on May 25th, when the Duke was in [[Cremona]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Berenzi |first=Angelo |url=https://www.bdl.servizirl.it/vufind/Record/BDL-OGGETTO-10505 |title=Storia di Pontevico |pages=254–256 |language=it}}</ref>

== Order of battle ==

=== Duchy of Milan ===
In the [[Castle of Pontevico]] was located a garrison of around 500 men.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Berenzi |first=Angelo |url=https://www.bdl.servizirl.it/vufind/Record/BDL-OGGETTO-10505 |title=Storia di Pontevico |pages=257 |language=it}}</ref>

=== Republic of Venice ===
Jacopo Piccinino could count on over 5000 [[infantry]]men.

== Battle ==
On May 25th, Piccinino placed the [[Bombard (weapon)|bombards]] in front of the castle and he made his men camp along the two banks of the Oglio river, then he started the siege of the fortress. His intention was take the castle before the arrival of Francesco Sforza. The duke, as soon as he learned of the siege, gathered an army in Cremona and headed towards the [[Castle of Seniga]], which was still under his control and where were located many milanese soldiers, to move to Pontevico encircling the besiegers. But, when Sforza left Cremona, four days of siege had already passed. In the fourth day of siege, on May 29th, Jacopo Piccinino decided to incite his soldiers promising them that, in case of victory, they could loot the town and take revenge on their enemies. So, the venetians soldiers moved their heavy weapons in front of the castle [[bastion]], launching an attack against that single point of the fortress and opening an opening, where joined the besiegers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Berenzi |first=Angelo |url=https://www.bdl.servizirl.it/vufind/Record/BDL-OGGETTO-10505 |title=Storia di Pontevico |pages=256–261 |language=it}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
{{Main article|Third siege of Pontevico|Treaty of Lodi}}
The venetian soldiers who came in the town, plunded it. The milanese soldiers were taken prisoner and more unlucky has been thrown in the river.

In the next days, Jacopo Piccinino attempted to launch new attacks over Duke but he never get a win. On August 15th, the milanese army [[Battle of Ghedi|conquered Ghedi]] Then, in autumn, Francesco Sforza get numerous military reinforcements from [[Kingdom of France|France]] and [[Republic of Florence|Florence]], conjoining with [[René of Anjou|Renè of Anjou]] forming an army of around 25.000 among [[knight]]s and [[infantry]]men: they encircled the town and [[Third Siege of Pontevico|sieged his castle]] between October 16th and 19th, conquering it after three days of siege.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Berenzi |first=Angelo |url=https://www.bdl.servizirl.it/vufind/Record/BDL-OGGETTO-10505 |title=Storia di Pontevico |pages=261–300 |language=it}}</ref>

== References ==
<references/>

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[[Category:Conflicts in 1453]]
[[Category:Sieges involving the Duchy of Milan|Pontevico 1453]]
[[Category:Sieges involving the Republic of Venice|Pontevico 1453]]
[[Category:Military history of Lombardy]]
[[Category:1453 in Europe]]
[[Category:15th century in the Republic of Venice]]