Seyssel And Italy: A Scholar Looks At War

This chapter provides an analysis of Claude de Seyssel’s military thought. The account of the battle of Cerignola illustrates the context of Seyssel’s military thought. Seyssel provided military intelligence as a diplomat and negotiator. Therefore the military transformation of the early sixteenth century played a large role in the transformation of noble identity. Seyssel, from a family of feudal barons renowned for its military deeds, aided his lord in war and diplomacy through knowledge rather than action. The Italian wars of the sixteenth century brought Renaissance ideas and classical architecture to France, as did individuals who brought their cultural capital with them as they crossed the Alps. Seyssel focused on individual ambition as a greater motivation than a dedication to shared social interests, and in this way, his configuration mirrored his vision of the social order.Keywords: battle of Cerignola; Claude de Seyssel; France; Italian wars; Renaissance; Seyssel’s military thought