Figure 1.--The Republic of Genoa, traditionally an ally of Spain, was invaded and occupied by French troops commanded by the Duke of Savoy. Only the walled city of Genoa held out. The Savoy-French forces beseiged the city. The Dutch had helped finance the invasion to 'hit the bank of the King of Spain'. [Engels, p. 118.] It would also help close the Soanish Road. The Spamish mounted a naval relief force (March-April 1625). The Spanish relief fleet was commanded by General Álvaro de Bazán, Marquis of Santa Cruz. The Savoy-French Army had to end the seige nd were then driuven out of Genoese territory. They were forced out of Liguria and the Spanish then invaded Piedmont hoping to open the Spanish Road. We are not sure who the boy in the painting was, proably a page boy perhaps even Marquis' son. Click on the image for a more detailed view. The artist depicting the relief of Genoa was Antonio de Pereda.
Italy was divided into various principalities. As a resilt, it was constanly being invaded by the major powers. Spain with its naval power controlled the south. The Papacy controlled Rome and central Italy. Northern Italy domianted by Savoy was primarily contested by France and Austria, both Catholic powers. Here the Papacy usually allied with the Hapsburgs was concerned about Hapsburg designs on central Italy. While the Thirty Years War was primarily fought in Germany, Itlay became a major issue because of the Spansh Road. Italy was divided into various principalities. As a result, it was constanly being invaded by the major powers (France, Germany, Ottoman Empire, and Spain). Spain with its naval power controlled the south. The Papacy controlled Rome and central Italy. Northern Italy domianted by Savoy was contested by France and the Hapsburg (Austria and Spain), both Catholic powers. Here the Papacy usually allied with the Hapsburgs was concerned about Hapssburg designed on central Italy. While the Thirty Years War was primarily fought in Germany, Itay became an issue becaise of the Spanish Road. This was an important Dpnih military supply/trade route (1567–1620) streaching from Northern Italy to the Low Countries. And was thus important to the Spanish during the Dutch War of Independence. The route crossed through relatively neutral territory and became Spain's preferred military route. Soldiers were able to march the 1,000 km (620 mi) route from Milan to Flanders about 23 km (14 mi) a day. Maitime transport was of course much faster, but was less secure, exposed as it was to rough seas and enemy attacks as was the fate of the 'invincible' Spanish Armada (1588). The Spanish used the route extensively, sending some 123,000 men compared to only 17,600 by sea (1567-1620). While this largely ceased after the supression of the Bohemian revoly, it set off a major struggle between France snd Spain over northern Italy. This was a continuation of the centuries-long condlict between France and the Habsburgs. Rhe french were especially concerned anout the their South-Western provinces, with a tradition of autonomy from central authority. Spain was the dominant power in Italy, but needed control of the north to operate the Spanish Road. Conflicts between Spain and France in northern Italy occurred in the 1620s and finally broke out into the Franco-Spanish War (1635). The primary importance of the battles in Italy betwwn the French and Spanish is that it diverted Spanish military forces from the central struggle in Germany.
Sources
Engels, Marie-Christine. Merchants, Interlopers, Seamen and Corsairs: The "Flemish" Community in Livorno and Genoa (1615–1635). (Verloren Publishing: 1997.
