The Sack of Rome: When the Troops of Charles V Destroyed the Eternal City

The sack of Rome in 1527 is one of the darkest episodes in European history, a moment when the greatness of the Renaissance was overshadowed by the brutality of military conflict. The Spanish troops, in the service of Charles V, not only destroyed the Eternal City but also marked a turning point in the power of the House of Habsburg. This terrifying event was the result of a complex web of alliances and enmities that shook the foundations of Europe, leaving in its wake a trail of death, ruin, and despair.

The Political Context: The Ambition of Charles V

In 1516, Charles V, King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, emerged as one of the most powerful figures in Europe. His ambition to unite vast regions of the continent under his rule led him to confront not only rival powers like France but also Rome, the center of papal authority. The relationship between Charles V and Pope Clement VII was particularly tense, marked by the power struggle between monarchy and the Church.

The formation of the League of Cognac in 1526, a coalition between France, the Pope, and other Italian states, was the catalyst that prompted Charles V to take drastic action. To crush this alliance, he decided to send his troops into Italy, but what happened in the spring of 1527 was a catastrophe that would leave deep scars in the city's history.

The Assault: The Fall of the Eternal City

On May 6, 1527, after a long and exhausting siege, the Spanish troops, largely made up of German, Italian, and Swiss mercenaries, stormed Rome in what is known as the sack of Rome. With an uncontrolled army consisting of approximately 20,000 men, the city c...