I talian Wars – Treaties of 1494–1559

Abstract

There were over fifty treaties directly relating to the Italian Wars of 1494 to 1559. Only one of them involved solely Italian powers, and only one of the major leagues was formed on the initiative of Italian states. France was a party to two‐thirds of the treaties, and most of the remainder were directed against France, a reflection of the importance of the dynastic ambitions of the French kings in initiating and continuing the conflicts throughout the wars, but the final Treaty of Cateau‐Cambrésis left Spain as the unchallenged dominant power in Italy.