Il Castello di Milano
Period of the spanish sovereignty
| 1537 |
About this date the Castle’s earlier magnificence begins to decline. |
| 1552 | Ludovico Birago a Milanese in France’s pay,
with the help of the soldier Giorgio Sanese, tries to seize the Castle
by a treacherous and a sudden assault but fails. Birago manages to
escape but the soldier is caught, tried for treason and pulled to
pieces alive. From 1580 onwards the Spanish Governors reduce the Castle solely to a huge and very powerful fortress, multiplying the defences and enlarging the work which had been began in 1527. Milan is encircled by a series of bastions which are joined to the Castle, and this last is armed with a great deal of artillery and equipped with all the means of attack and defence in use for warfare during those times. It is turned into a real town within the town, over a mile and a half in compass, with filled wells, roads, houses, churches, shops of every description and store-houses full of forage arid supplies. No longer a Ducal Court the Castle has lost the former sumptousness of its ceremonies and banquets and the splendour of the Sforza’s household but it has acquired the reputation of an impregnable citadel. During the whole of the XVII century nothing of importance or worthy of being related, happens to the Castle. |
| 1702 | Spain’s rule over Lombardy ends with the conclusion
of the war for the Spanish succession. Lead by the Signor de Vendome, the French enter Milan but are very soon driven out by the Austrian troops commanded by the Prince Eugenio of Savoy who lays siege to the Castle. |
| 1707 | The French garrison, under the Marchese di Florida defends itself courageously and quits the Castle only in compliance to the treaty which obliges the French to leave Italy. |
| 1708 | The Austrian commander of the town, Maresciallo di Colmenero, repairs the fortress where it has been damaged during the siege. |
| 1729 | A statue of San Giovanni Nepomuceno is erected in the big courtyard. |
| 1734 | The French and Sardinian army suddenly descends on Milan and besieges the Castle which is stormed after fourteen days. |
| 1736 | By the treaty of Vienna the town is handed back o to the Austrians. |
| 1745 | The Franco-Spanish arrive in Milan and attack the Castle, but soon retire hastily over the Alps. |