Introduction

The Treaty of Cambrai was being concluded, Charles V was already on his way to Italy. Traditionally, this trip to Italy and the settlement of Italian affairs while Charles was there were seen as marking the end of Italian political liberty and independence, the beginning of a long period of Spanish oppression. But there was still much room for manoeuvre and evasion left to even the smaller Italian states and princes under the new dispensation, not least because French aspirations in Italy were by no means at an end. Arriving at Genoa, Charles waited there for confirmation of the conclusion of the Treaty of Cambrai before moving on to Piacenza, where he stayed for several weeks. Although it was some months before Charles finally decided against going to Rome and Naples. Awareness of all Charles's difficulties encouraged the Venetians not to capitulate to Charles and to continue to support Francesco Sforza, and hostilities in Lombardy did not cease.