The Sack of Rome: May 6, 1527

Today's photos:

 

1. Castel Sant'Angelo where Clement VII took refuge during the Sack of Rome in 1527.

2. The Passetto connects Castel Sant'Angelo to the papal residence.

3. A view of the Passetto from the Castle.

4. The feuding parties were King Francis I of France (left) and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (right), shown here after they reconciled their differences.

5. Clement VII made the mistake of siding with the French king against the Holy Roman Emperor.

6. Two modern-day Swiss Guards on duty at one of the entrances to the private area of Vatican City.

           

 

One often hears about the infamous Sack of Rome which took place in the Eternal City beginning on May 6, 1527. What follows is a thumbnail sketch which I hope will help you to understand the reasons for the Sack as well as the importance of this event especially to the city of Rome and the papacy.

 

THE FEUD

 

A running feud over territorial rights had existed between the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in Germany and the French King, Francis I. Both the king and the emperor wanted an alliance with the pope, Clement VII dei Medici (1523-1534). For a long time the pope remained neutral in this feud, but he finally made what would prove to be a fatal mistake by allying himself with Francis.

 

THE INITIAL ATTACK IN NORTHERN ITALY

 

In late 1526 Charles, angered by the pope's support of the French, sent 30,000 mercenary troops into northern Italy where they soundly defeated the troops loyal to Pope Clement. Despite this setback, the pontiff stubbornly refused to change his loyalty from the French king to the German emperor.

 

THE NEFARIOUS STRAGEGY OF THE EMPEROR

 

The mercenaries of Charles naturally expected to be paid handsomely for their military victory. The emperor, however, refused to pay them, promising instead to give them a free hand to plunder the city of Rome and its many treasures. The troops, spurred on by this promise, began their fateful march south to the Eternal City.

 

ARRIVAL AT THE WALLS OF ROME

 

By the beginning of May, 1527, the marauding mercenaries of the emperor had reached the third- century Aurelian Walls on the Janiculum Hill just above the Vatican. It did not take them long to break through these fortifications which were in a much weakened state because they had undergone little reinforcement since Roman times.

 

THE SACK BEGINS

 

Having penetrated the walls on May 6, the mercenaries descended onto Trastevere and crossed the Tiber at Ponte Sisto, entering the heart of Rome. By that evening the city was in flames. The Sack of Rome had begun and the wealthy nobles of Rome were being slaughtered by the troops of the emperor. The carnage in the streets was terrifying as the pillaging troops, thirsty for the promised booty, indiscriminately slaughtered men, women and children. Many Romans were kidnapped for ransom, but often the victims were killed even after the ransom was paid.

 

THE AFTERMATH

 

The sacking of the city went on for months while the invading forces remained in Rome for over two years. They finally departed the city in 1528 after Clement VII paid an enormous ranson to the emperor. The city was left in shambles and in the grips of a devastating plague caused by the presence of decaying bodies in the streets.

 

The population of Rome fell drastically from ninety thousand to thirty thousand in the first few months of the Sack. Many Romans were murdered, others died in the plague, and still others fled the city, never to return.

 

WHAT HAPPENED TO POPE CLEMENT DURING THE SACK?

 

Pope Clement himself was saved on May 6, the first day of the Sack by the heroic action of the Swiss Guards; 147 of them were killed while holding off the mercenaries. This allowed 42 other guards to lead the pope to the safety of Castel Sant'Angelo through the Passetto, the passageway in the thirteen-century wall which connects the castle to the Apostolic Palace.

 

(Read more about the Swiss Guards in Rome: Sights and Insights, Chapter 15: The Pontifical Swiss Guards).