Introduction to the First Great Italian War

 

With the War of the League of Aspico over, fought with limited means for limited goals, new powers come to the fore to challenge the status quo on the Italian Peninsula. 

On the south, the Habsburg Imperial forces under El Poco Capitán, Bernicio de Sevilla, advance to take back the lands of Ostia-Ripiena, by law belonging to the crown of Spain. One quick strike against the rebel lords shall land the entire southern peninsula in the firm, but not so caring hands, of the House of Austria.

On the north, the Nibeunese, not so willing allies to the Fransicans after their recent conquest of Savonia, advance against Contatre to tie down the maritime republic's land forces, while the Fransicans themselves, also claiming the throne of Ostia-Ripiena, land a force on Papal lands, supported by the Divitecan galley fleet, in hopes of future conquests to the south.

Local Italian armies are still of the old style, relying heavily on cavalry forces, while the Fransicans and Spaniards include more modern infantry formations. It is a clash of military regimes, the old and the new: but will the fresher methods be proven, or the lances of the armored knight remain master of the field?

And, more importantly, who shall have the best Ostia-Ripienan calzone?