Sack of Rome (1527)
In 1526, Pope Clement VII formed an alliance with King Francis I of France to counter the growing power of Charles V. This coalition included the Duchy of Milan, the Republic of Venice, and the Republic of Genoa alongside Florence under the Medici family. The League began hostilities by attacking the Republic of Siena but failed quickly due to weak papal troops. Imperial forces defeated the French army while leaving soldiers unpaid for months. Funds were simply not available to pay the 34,000 men in the Imperial Army. Without wages, these soldiers became desperate and mutinous against their commanders.
Duke Charles III of Bourbon left Arezzo on the 20th of April 1527 leading a largely undisciplined force toward Rome. He claimed he was dragged along like a prisoner rather than acting freely. Contemporary witnesses doubted his helplessness as his troops sacked Acquapendente and San Lorenzo alle Grotte. The army reached the walls of Rome on the 5th of May after occupying Viterbo and Ronciglione. The force included 14,000 Germans known as Landsknechte under Georg von Frundsberg plus 6,000 Spaniards. Some Italian infantry led by Fabrizio Maramaldo joined them along with cavalry commanded by Philibert Prince of Orange. Outlaws and deserters from the League swelled the ranks during this march southward.
On the 6th of May the Imperial army attacked the Aurelian Walls at the Gianicolo and Vatican hills. Duke of Bourbon died fatally wounded while wearing his famous white cloak which marked him out to enemies. Benvenuto Cellini claimed he shot the Duke according to his own account. With their last respected leader dead, common soldiery lost all restraint when storming the walls. The Swiss Guard made their final stand in the Teutonic Cemetery within the Vatican alongside remaining garrison soldiers. Captain Kaspar Röist was wounded then killed by Spanish soldiers in front of his wife. Only 42 survivors escaped toward St Peter's Basilica steps where they were massacred except for a small group under Hercules Goldli. These men staved off Habsburg troops pursuing Pope Clement VII across the Passetto di Borgo passage.
After executing about 1,000 defenders pillaging began immediately against churches monasteries and palaces. Even pro-Imperial cardinals had to pay ransoms to save properties from rampaging soldiers who showed no regard for victim allegiance. Women faced rape while hospice patients were killed and prominent allies suffered violence too. German Landsknechte displayed particular vehemence toward Catholic holy sites as they ransacked relics and destroyed sacred images. Parodies included dressing a prostitute in priestly vestments seated on Saint Peter's throne shouting Vivat Lutherus pontifex! Animals mockingly presented for communion further desecrated spaces. Violence targeted clergy directly with monks castrated nuns raped priests killed systematically. Prisoners taken for ransom became primary means of compensation since most pillaging served monetary ends rather than religious goals alone. Cardinal Pompeo Colonna entered Rome on the 8th of May bringing peasants from his fiefs to avenge past sacks by Papal armies. He gave refuge to some citizens though troops gradually ceased pillaging only after his orders took hold.
Rome's population dropped from over 55,000 before the attack to just 10,000 afterward due to atrocities famine plague and flight. An estimated 6,000 to 12,000 people died during the sack itself. Two thousand bodies reportedly disposed of in the Tiber River alone. Many Imperial soldiers also perished later from diseases caused by masses of unburied corpses lying in streets. Pillaging finally ended in February 1528 when food supplies ran out no one remained to ransom and plague appeared. The city did not recover its population losses until around 1560 nearly three decades later. Antonio Tabaldeo lamented destruction writing if you come back you will find Rome unmade. The calamity dealt grave blows to scholarly prestige as contents of great libraries including Vatican library were destroyed or sold off.
Emperor Charles V professed embarrassment that his troops imprisoned Pope Clement VII yet ordered them to Italy initially to bring him under control. He eventually restored spoils worth more than 4 million ducati to the Vatican though he had wanted to avoid destruction within Rome which would damage reputation. Charles came to terms with Pope through Treaty of Barcelona signed in 1529 followed by coronation at Bologna. This agreement allowed Charles to mold Church in his own image while Clement rubber-stamped demands among them naming cardinals nominated by Emperor crowning Charles Holy Roman Emperor King of Italy at Bologna in 1530 refusing annulment of Catherine of Aragon marriage to Henry VIII England prompting English Reformation. These actions changed Catholic Church complexion steering it away from Renaissance freethought toward religious orthodoxy exemplified by Counter-Reformation. Inquisition became pervasive after Clement's death in 1534 under influence of Charles and later Philip II Spain ruling 1556, 1598.
The sack helped make permanent split between Catholics and Protestants previously Charles advocated calling Church Council to settle matter regarding Martin Luther spreading throughout Germany. Clement opposed this believing monarchs should not dictate Church policy fearing revival of conciliarism which exacerbated Western Schism during 14th, 15th centuries deposing numerous Popes. He advocated Holy War uniting Christendom but Charles opposed because armies treasury occupied fighting other wars. After sack Clement acceded to Charles wishes agreeing call Church Council naming Trent Italy as its site though he did not convene it during lifetime fearing dangerous power play. Successor Pope Paul III convened Council of Trent starting 1545 eleven years after Clement's death reforming corruption present certain orders Catholic Church. By 1545 moment reconciliation passed arguably possibility during 1520s given cooperation Pope Emperor. Martin Luther commented Christ reigns such way Emperor persecuting Luther for Pope forced destroy Pope for Luther. Swiss Guard recruits sworn annually on the 6th of May commemorating bravery defending Pope Clement VII during Sack Rome.
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Common questions
Who led the Imperial army during the Sack of Rome in 1527?
Duke Charles III of Bourbon led the Imperial army toward Rome on the 20th of April 1527. He commanded a force that included 14,000 Germans known as Landsknechte under Georg von Frundsberg and 6,000 Spaniards.
When did the Imperial army attack the Aurelian Walls during the Sack of Rome?
The Imperial army attacked the Aurelian Walls at the Gianicolo and Vatican hills on the 6th of May 1527. Duke of Bourbon died fatally wounded while wearing his famous white cloak during this assault.
How many people died during the Sack of Rome in 1527?
An estimated 6,000 to 12,000 people died during the sack itself. The city's population dropped from over 55,000 before the attack to just 10,000 afterward due to atrocities famine plague and flight.
What happened to Pope Clement VII after the Sack of Rome in 1527?
Imperial forces imprisoned Pope Clement VII following the sack of Rome. Emperor Charles V eventually restored spoils worth more than 4 million ducati to the Vatican through the Treaty of Barcelona signed in 1529.
Why did the Imperial soldiers mutiny and sack Rome in 1527?
Funds were simply not available to pay the 34,000 men in the Imperial Army which made them desperate and mutinous against their commanders. Without wages these soldiers became desperate and began pillaging churches monasteries and palaces immediately after executing about 1,000 defenders.
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