From Retinue to Regiment 1453-1618-The Siege of Florence (1529-30) and the end 'Italian Freedom'

The siege's detailed account, drawn from ancient Italian archives in English, examines equipment and ensigns to illuminate a pivotal moment in Italian and European political history. The Siege of Florence (1529-1530) and the 'End of Italian Freedom', offers a fresh, revisionist account of one of the most decisive episodes of the Italian Wars. Focusing on the final struggle of the Florentine Republic against the forces of Emperor Charles V and Pope Clement VII, it examines both the military campaign and its wider political consequences. The siege is presented not simply as a dramatic last stand, but as a turning point marking the collapse of republican independence in Renaissance Italy and the transition toward princely rule. The authors challenge long-standing myths surrounding the siege, particularly the romanticised image of heroic resistance betrayed from within. Instead, they situate events within a broader European context, showing how diplomacy, internal divisions, and strategic miscalculations shaped the outcome. Combining narrative history with analysis of military organisation, leadership, and logistics, the book reconstructs the campaign in detail--from the encirclement of Florence to the decisive defeat at Gavinana and the city's eventual surrender. It also highlights key figures such as Francesco Ferrucciand Malatesta Baglioni, whose actions became central to the siege's enduring legend. With new colour illustrations by Massimo Predonzani and native Florentine Bruno Mugnai, the book also examines the troops, their organisation and the colours and flags they fought under.