APRIL 28 - The First Battle Won by Small Arms Fire & the Death of an English Noblemen
- Christopher Jack
- May 10, 2019
- 2 min read
On this day in 1503 the Battle of Cerignola was fought between the Spanish and French armies in southern Italy. The Spanish forces were led by Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba and totalled around 6,300 men. The French forces were led by Louis d’Armagnac, Duke of Nemours and totalled around 9,000 men. This was the first European battle won with the use of gunpowder weapons. The battle began with 2 charges by the French heavy cavalry but they were beat by back the Spanish heavy artillery and arquebus (an early rifle) fire. The next charge was along the right flank of the Spanish force but this too was stopped by a hail of arquebus fire. The Duke of Nemours was killed in this charge making him possible the first general killed in action by small arms fire. The commander of the Swiss Guard (who made up a unit of the French force) took charge but to no avail. The battle was a decisive victory for the Spanish who lost only around 500 men compared to the some 4,000 French soldiers lost. After the battle the French army retreated to the fortress of Gaeta north of Naples. De Córdoba attempted to storm the keep but was stopped and fearing the arrival of possible French reinforcements, lifted the siege of the fortress and retreated to Castellone, 8 km south.
On this day in 1489, Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland died at the age of 40. Henry was the son of Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland and Eleanor Poynings. His father was the first cousin of Edward IV, King of England and many other nobles. During the War of the Roses, an English civil war between to sub-houses of the Plantagenet house, Henry’s father sided with the House of Lancaster but was killed in March 1461. In 1469, after being imprisoned in the Tower of London for 5 years, Henry swore loyalty to the Yorkist king Edward IV and was released. In 1473, he regained his titles and was made a Knight of the Garter in 1474. After his release from prison he married Maud Herbert, daughter of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke and his wife Anne Devereaux. They would have 8 children together. He would be imprisoned again in 1485 for several months after the Battle of Bosworth Field. His inactivity in this battle played an important role in the defeat and death of the king. After a few months he was released and allowed to retain his titles and return to his old posts within the king's court. In April 1489, Henry held temporary residence in his estates in Yorkshire. Riots broke out in protests of the kings high taxes. The rioters targeted Percy and filled him as he approached the city of York. He was buried at Beverley Minster, passing his titles to his eldest son.
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