Italy
The Invasion of Italy
The French entered Italy in September 1494 at the head of 30,000 troops, including Swiss pikemen and Scottish archers and a huge train of artillery, plus a large fleet providing support and supplies. While Charles may have thought mainly in terms of glory, his advisors tended to the details and had built one of the greatest armies Europe had yet seen. It was certainly the largest army Italy had ever seen, and the French artillery train was the wonder of everyone. This invasion marks one of the first serious uses of field artillery.
The king of Naples, Alfonso II, tried to prepare, but his defenses collapsed as fast as he built them, for he had few supporters. His ally, Piero de' Medici of Florence, was to delay Charles, but the Florentine people would have none of it and the city surrendered without a fight. Likewise the pope, who might have been thought to cause delay, gave Charles free passage through the Papal States.
The invasion was more of a triumphal parade. Charles arrived in Naples only five months after entering Italy. Alfonso fled to Sicily, and Charles had himself crowned king of Naples without ever having fought a battle.