Battle of Scannagallo
Re - enactment in Pozzo della Chiana 4th - 5th June 2024
In the later part of May or early June, there is a reenactment of an important battle which occurred during the ‘War of Italy’ in the area of Pozzo della Chiana.
This historically important but bloody battle happened in 1554 between Siena and Florence, with the concluding battle taking place on the hill near Scannagallo in Pozzo della Chiana, Arezzo.
This battle has been immortalised by Giorgio Vasari in a famous fresco placed in the Sala dei 500 in Florence.
Battle of Scannagallo
The Battle of Scannagallo is also known as the Battle of Marciano and this event occurred on 2nd August 1554 during the Italian war of 1551.
The battle marked the defeat of the Republic of Siena against Duchy of Florence and the outcome was that the area, Marciano della Chiana, became part of Florence and lead to the creation of the region known today as Tuscany.
The bloody battle came about by Cosimo de Medici launching a grand campaign to conquer his last enemy in Tuscany, the Republic of Siena. With 4,500 soldiers and arms of cannons and sappers, they were deployed to Poggibonsi to attack Siena.
Siena’s defence was lead by a fierce rival of the Medici and French general Piero Strozzi.
The Florentine troops launched their attack in January 1554 and after 6 months of fighting, sieges and supply lines interrupted, Strozzi fought in the summer in the Val di Chiana and easily overcame the small Florentine garrisons, capturing Lucignano, Marciano della Chiana and Foiano.
After a few days rest-bite, the two armies clashed again on the night of 1st August. Strozzi’s army occupied a hill that lead down to the Scannagallo creek.
Initial battles were won by Florence and to counter these loses, Strozzi and his infantry attacked from the hill and a chaotic melee ensued. The initial Sienese attacks were strong but soon began to wane under the artillery fire power of Florence’s Imperial army. The Sienese armies were encircled by the larger stronger army, panic ran through Strozzi’s army Strozzi was injured three times but escaped. 4,000 of his men lost their lives and the same number were captured.
The battle lasted 2 hours
Florentine army easily captured surrounding neighbourhoods in the coming days and Florence laid siege to Siena. After months of food shortages, Siena surrender on April 17th 1555 with the Republic of Siena disappearing in 1559 and the Duke ordered that a large fortress be constructed as a precaution against the risk of further rebellion by the Sienese and this has presided over the city since it’s completion in 1563.
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