Battle of the Bicocca

French troops attempt to attack Imperial fortified positions on the Bicocca hill. The battle turns into a French rout, notably due to the power of enemy artillery and arquebusiers.

The battle is part of conflicts between France and the Empire of Charles V for control of Italy. It shows French difficulty in adapting to new infantry tactics and mass use of firearms.

Colonna entrenched in the park of La Bicocca, protected by a ditch, an earthwork, and Spanish arquebusiers below. Swiss columns advanced without artillery support, were blocked by a flooded road and decimated by arquebus fire before retreating after half an hour of assaults.

Lautrec, having lost much of his Swiss infantry, withdrew into Venetian territory and left the Duchy of Milan to the Imperials. Swiss mercenaries quit the campaign; the battle marks the end of Swiss pikemen's dominance on Italian battlefields.