Key Facts
- Duration of siege
- 3 months and 14 days
- French casualties
- ~2,000 soldiers lost to starvation and disease
- Year
- 1495
- Context
- Part of the Italian War of 1494–1495
Strategic Narrative Overview
Louis d'Orléans captured the city of Novara in 1495, threatening Milanese territory. In response, the Milanese army and their League of Venice allies surrounded and besieged the city. The siege lasted over three months. Lacking adequate supplies and suffering from disease, the French garrison endured severe attrition. No relief force arrived to break the encirclement, leaving Louis with dwindling options as casualties mounted.
01 / The Origins
During the Italian War of 1494–1495, French king Charles VIII invaded and seized the Kingdom of Naples. As his army retreated northward under pressure from a League of Venice coalition, his cousin Louis d'Orléans exploited the situation by opening a second front against the Duchy of Milan, which had abandoned its French alliance and joined France's enemies, seeking to press French claims in northern Italy.
03 / The Outcome
After losing approximately 2,000 men to starvation and disease, Louis d'Orléans was compelled to surrender Novara and withdraw. The fall of Novara ended French operations in the Duchy of Milan and reinforced the failure of Charles VIII's Italian campaign. France relinquished its hold on northern Italian territory, marking a decisive check on French expansion during this phase of the Italian Wars.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Louis d'Orléans.
Side B
2 belligerents
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.