How Venice Turned Back
a Combined French and German Army in 1509
By this time the French
had Louis XII for king who allied his forces with those of
Maximilian and his Germans who were trying to force their way
through Venetian territory to assault Milan. Louis XII and
Maximilian considered this
the opportunity to slice up Venice for their delectation. They
descended on Padua with 35,000 troops.
Padua was a vital asset for Venice, being its door to the mainland. Captain General Pitigliano of Venice brought in men and resources, and then had a firm rampart built within the perimeter of the old walls before the allied army arrived. The new defenses were fashioned after what had been a success at Pisa.
Cannonades bashed the old walls but merely dented without tearing open the new rampart at Padua. Assault after assault of the allied army swept, then broke against the Paduan defenses. Apparently frustrated (who wouldn't be), on September 29 Maximilian sought assistance from German and French horsed nobility. Although the French were willing, the German nobles balked, claiming that for them to fight on foot was an affront to their dignity. Four days later Padua no longer had that army in front of it.
The effectiveness of the rampart and ditch was confirmed.