Sack of Rome 1527 - Defending forces?

[traveller]

I am gathering forces for the project of "The Sack of Rome 1527". The limited information I have found so far on the defending forces involved is:

2000 Swiss Papal Guard
8000 Italian Militia
2000 Black Band (Bande Nere) mercenaries

I would be grateful for any information or help on the dress and weaponry of the latter two groups. Thanks

[craig2]

Italian militia were dressed with the colours of the families of Rome (Orsini etc...), equipped with blades and bucklers, or halleberds and pikes too.
The Black band was a Landsknecht company (usually in French service), with a black dress code.

[carlos marighela]

Little cocktail dresses or tails with white tie? Basic black never goes out of style.

[whiskey priest]

The Black Band would have been http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_dalle_Bande_Nere an italian unit of arquebsiers and light cav led by the son of Caterine Sforza. The Other Black Band were a landsknecht unit in French service who continued to serve the french King after the emperor forbidden all germans to do so. Incidentally their is a film about some of the incidents leading up to the death of Giovanni dalle Bande Nere http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Profession_of_Arms_%282001_film%29

[traveller]

Thanks for your response. I just found a book on the subject:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Black-Bands-of-Giovanni/dp/8884922313

The movie sounds great. I must try to find that one as well.

Craig2,
 
I have admired your work on the Della Rovere. Would you have any reference of the colours of the families possibly organizing the militia of Rome on that fateful day?

[whiskey priest]

Have a look at the Assault Group figures for the italians, they would be pretty spot on. As for arms they would normally be armed with the Roncone which is the italian version of the Bill or the pike but more than likely would have been mostly crossbowmen and arquebusiers as they would have manned the walls during the siege. I would doubt that the militia would have fought as formed units as they would have been pretty useless against the veteran germans. I'm not sure if militias were uniformed at this stage. They may have had banners based upon their quarters of the city but i'm unsure of what these were. These will give you an idea of militia flags from an earlier period http://www.krigsspil.dk/download/download_2.html . I can't recall of any point where the Roman militia were actually called to fight during the Italian wars so I wouldn't imagine they'd be of the greatest quality.

[craig2]

Be carefull...Are we talking about the "Bande Nere" of Giovanni de Medici, or about "the black band", which was a Landsknecht company ?
The first was an Italian mercenary company, leaded by Giovanni (composed with pikemen, mounted handgunners etc...); the second was a classic Landsknecht unit, but dressed with a majority of black clothes...
The first fought against the Charles V army; the second fought with Francis I at Pavia, and was totally destroyed and reformed later.

[whiskey priest]

Giovanni's black bands fought on both sides during the wars. He left the service of Charles V over pay and his troops were present at Pavia but never took part on the battle due to the man himself being injured and the troops being stationed on the far side of Pavia. He left Franci's service to serve with pope. He was known as the last Condottiere.

[craig2]

Indeed, as a mercenary (that "Condottiero" means), Giovanni fought with both sides, depending of the period. BUT, as we talk about the sack of Rome, Giovanni was employed by the Pope against the Frundsberg army. He was the only real opposant, because Francesco Maria della Rovere wasn't so motivated to defend a Medici pope (the Della Rovere and the Medici were ennemies for long years...).

[whiskey priest]

So we are talking about the correct unit then? 

[traveller]

So we are talking about the correct unit then? 

Yep, its the Giovanni Black Band I want 

[whiskey priest]

From what I remember your talking about a small number of men-at-arms (the assault group elmeti would be perfect) then the rest made up of mounted arquebusiers and foot arquebusiers. There is another film based on giovanni called 'Condottieri' (I think) but as it was made in Italy in the '30s you can imagine the political message it might be trying to promote. Actually made me quite uncomfortable watching it! 

[craig2]

The best movie about Giovanni de Medici :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Profession_of_Arms_(2001_film)

[craig2]

Just for example, here are my Ginetes and Italian footmen, for my papal army :

The Jinetes :






The footmen :






Billmen of the Della Rovere family :


With the general leading them :




Italian infantry and crossbowmen :

[traveller]

Great photos!

I have not come that far yet. Only a fleeing pope (perhaps Clement VII heading for the Passetto di Borgo)