ABSTRACT
The Italian Wars were European wars, with Italy one of the chief arenas in which the rivalries and conflicts between the major European powers were fought out. Although Maximilian was often held in low esteem by other princes, he devoted close attention to the presentation of his image as a wise and chivalrous ruler and military leader. His part, and that of his armies, in the Italian Wars, especially in campaigns against Venice, figured prominently in this self-promotion. Maximilian was also concerned with more mundane propaganda, aimed at a wide audience in Germany and Italy, being involved in writing, editing, correcting and directing the distribution of bulletins. If Maximilian’s war propaganda failed to convince the Diet to grant him the money he wanted, it may have been more effective in influencing the tone and approach of other publications in Germany concerning the war in Italy, which supported his policy rather than that of the Diet.
