Our new issue of Medieval Warfare magazine will feature the Sack of Rome, one of the saddest events of the 16th century. A combination of foolish decisions and greed would lead an imperial army to Rome in May of 1527.
This translation of a Spanish eyewitness's account was made in the 19th century, so it is a little dated - we modernized a few words - but it captures the terrible events of how the city fell to imperial troops (coming from Germany, Spain and parts of Italy), and the destructive pillaging that happened afterwards. The writer notes that a couple of days before the Roman forces had captured a few scouts from the imperial side, but when the army commanded by Charles de Bourbon reached the city they immediately attacked:
The army, sir, advanced with such rapidity, that, on Monday, the 6th of May, - leaving behind them the heavy artillery wherewith to batter the walls - a party of Spaniards carried by escalade the strongest point of Rome, that part lying between the Belvidere and the gate of San Pancratio; and, I may almost say, that in one moment they carried the Borgo.
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