Battle of Polesella facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Polesella
Part of the War of the League of Cambrai
Battle of Polesella
Date 22 December 1509 Location Polesella, present-day Italy Result Ferrarese victory
Belligerents
Duchy of Ferrara	Republic of Venice
Commanders and leaders
Cardinal d'Este Alfonso I d'Este	Angelo Trevisan
Strength
unknown number of artillery	unknown
Casualties and losses
light	2,000 killed 15 galleys captured 60 flags captured

The Battle of Polesella was a big naval battle fought on December 22, 1509. It happened on the River Po in Italy. This battle was part of a larger conflict called the War of the League of Cambrai, which was itself part of the Italian Wars. The battle was between the Duchy of Ferrara and the Republic of Venice. Ferrara won a huge victory.

What Was the Battle of Polesella?

The Battle of Polesella was a key naval fight during the War of the League of Cambrai. This war involved many powerful groups in Europe. It was fought mostly in Italy during the early 1500s. The battle took place on the River Po, a major river in Italy.

Who Fought in the Battle?

The main groups fighting were the forces of the Duchy of Ferrara and the Republic of Venice.

• The Duchy of Ferrara was a powerful state in northern Italy. It was ruled by the House of Este.
• The Republic of Venice was a very strong maritime (sea-based) power. It controlled a large area and had a powerful navy.

The battle was a big win for Ferrara.

How the Battle Happened

Voghiera, Museo del modellismo storico: This small diorama shows soldiers from Ferrara at the time of the battle.

In 1509, the Venetian fleet was on the River Po. They were waiting for the right moment to attack Ferrara. At the same time, mercenaries from Slavic and Albanian lands, called Stratioti, were causing trouble. They would raid the lands of Ferrara, causing fear and damage.

The Surprise Attack

On the night of December 21-22, something important happened. The water level of the Po River was very high. This meant the Venetian ships were close to the riverbank. The forces from Ferrara saw this as a chance to attack.

They quickly set up their artillery (cannons) along the river. At dawn, they started firing at the Venetian fleet. This was a complete surprise for the Venetians.

The Outcome of the Battle

The attack caused a lot of confusion and chaos. Many Venetian ships were sunk, and others were captured. Soldiers and sailors who tried to escape into the water were taken prisoner. Many were killed as soon as they reached the land. It was a very one-sided fight.

The troops from Ferrara captured 15 large ships called galleys. They also took many other smaller ships. The Venetians lost about 2,000 soldiers. These soldiers were either killed or drowned in the river. Ferrara also captured 60 Venetian flags.

What Happened Next?

The Venetian commander, Angelo Trevisan, managed to escape. However, his damaged ship sank about 5 kilometers (3 miles) away. When he returned to Venice, he was put on trial. He was accused of "misconduct and carelessness" for how he handled the battle.

Five days after the battle, Duke Alfonso I d'Este of Ferrara returned home. His wife, Lucrezia Borgia, and the people of Ferrara were waiting for him. They celebrated the big victory.

The famous Italian poet Ludovico Ariosto even wrote about this battle. He described it in his epic poem called Orlando Furioso.