SERIOUS HISTORICAL GAMES GOLD AND STEEL SERIES BICOCCA 1522 PAVIA 1525

Description

The second expedition of Francis I to Italy, 1521-1526.

Battles of Biccoca (1522) and Pavia (1525) – 500th anniversary

To celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Pavia (February 24, 1525), this game features the entire 6th Italian War, beginning in 1521 and leading up to Pavia.

PAVIA 1525, a Duel of Giants

Far from being merely a single battle fought in Lombardy on the early morning of 24 February 1525, the Pavia event was in fact a four-month siege, part of a war that had begun in the summer of 1521 between the king of France, Francis I, and Charles V, king of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor. Although rooted primarily in the rivalry between these two princes, the conflict quickly shifted its focus to northern Italy and control of the Duchy of Milan, drawing in additional belligerents such as Rome, Venice, Mantua, Ferrara, the king of England, and even Charles de Bourbon—Constable of France—who defected to the Imperial camp.

This open duel thus became a truly European affair, mobilizing vast numbers of men and resources on both sides of the Alps. It was at once a war of maneuver, of sieges, and of attrition, in which the stronger side would prevail… or not. Francis I learned this at his own expense. His defeat and capture before Pavia—along with the loss of 10,000 of his men—shattered his Italian ambitions barely ten years after his triumph at Marignano.

Julien GUINAND*
*Doctor in Early Modern History and Associate Professor at UCLy (Lyon, France), where he serves as academic director of the History program. He is the author of Pavie 1525, Perrin “Champs de bataille”.

Scenarios:

La Bicocca: 1521-22 (5 turns)

Intermezzo : 1522-23 (14 turns)

Marseille: 1523-24 (11 turns)

Pavia: 1524-25 (6 turns)

The 6th war of Italy: 1521-25 (35 turns)

Features:

Number of Players: 2

Solo Playability: 4/10

Complexity: 6/10

Duration: 60 to 300 minutes (campaign)

One Turn: One to two months (winter)

1 Strengh Point: Represents 500 to 2,000 men

Scale: One zone ≈ 50 km

324 counters

Map size 85 x 60 cm

Rulebook and scenario booklet

Format: ziplock