Battles & Campaigns · 1440
Battle of Anghiari
Anghiari, Tuscany, Italy
What happened
The Milanese army attacked in the afternoon, but the League's commander saw the dust of its march and was ready. Venetian knights held the bridge over a channel until pushed back, then Papal troops struck the Milanese side. After about four hours a third of the Milanese army was cut off, and the League won.
Why it matters
Florence secured its dominance in central Italy.
What came next
Florence later asked Leonardo da Vinci to paint the battle on a wall of the Palazzo Vecchio.
Did you know?
Leonardo's painting was never finished and is now lost; it is known from sketches and a copy by Rubens.
Timeline
- 1364Florentine victory at Cascina.
- 29 Jun 1440Battle of Anghiari.
- 1687A relief of the battle is made by Giovanni Battista Foggini.