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Italian War of 1542: The Siege of Boulogne begins

The Italian War of 1542–1546 was a conflict late in the Italian Wars, pitting Francis I of France and Suleiman I of the Ottoman Empire against the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and Henry VIII of...

The Italian War of 1542–1546 was a conflict late in the Italian Wars, pitting Francis I of France and Suleiman I of the Ottoman Empire against the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and Henry VIII of England. The course of the war saw extensive fighting in Italy, France, and the Low Countries, as well as attempted invasions of Spain and England. The conflict was inconclusive and ruinously expensive for the major participants.

The war arose from the failure of the Truce of Nice, which ended the Italian War of 1536–1538, to resolve the long-standing conflict between Charles and Francis—particularly their conflicting claims to the Duchy of Milan. Having found a suitable pretext, Francis once again declared war against his perpetual enemy in 1542.

Historical Significance

The Italian War of 1542–1546 was a conflict late in the Italian Wars, pitting Francis I of France and Suleiman I of the Ottoman Empire against the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and Henry VIII of England.

Events Before

  1. Flemish physician Andreas Vesalius publishes "De humani corporis fabrica (On the fabric of the human body in seven books

    Flemish physician Andreas Vesalius publishes "De humani corporis fabrica (On the fabric of the human body in seven books)" a major step forward in understanding human anatomy [date is representative as exact date of publication unknown]

  2. King of England Henry VIII (52) weds twice-widowed Catherine Parr (30) at Hampton Court Palace, his sixth and final wife

    King of England Henry VIII (52) weds twice-widowed Catherine Parr (30) at Hampton Court Palace, his sixth and final wife

  3. Mary Stuart, at nine months old, is crowned Queen of Scots in the central Scottish town of Stirling

    Mary Stuart, at nine months old, is crowned Queen of Scots in the central Scottish town of Stirling

  4. Battle at Wayna Daga: Ethiopian and Portuguese troops beat Muslim army

    Battle at Wayna Daga: Ethiopian and Portuguese troops beat Muslim army

  5. England & Scotland sign peace treaty of Greenwich

    The Treaty of Greenwich (also known as the Treaties of Greenwich) contained two agreements both signed on 1 July 1543 in Greenwich between representatives of England and Scotland.

Events After

  1. German Parliament opens in Worms

    German Parliament opens in Worms

  2. The first landing of French troops onto the coast of the Isle of Wight during the French invasion

    The Isle of Wight ( WYTE) is an island off the south coast of England which, together with its surrounding uninhabited islets and skerries, is also a ceremonial county.

  3. Pope Paul III names his son Pierluigi Farnese as Duke of Parma

    Pope Paul III (Latin: Paulus III; Italian: Paolo III; born Alessandro Farnese; 29 February 1468 – 10 November 1549) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 October 1534...

  4. Earl of Hertford leads a retaliatory mission against Scotland

    Earl of Hertford leads a retaliatory mission against Scotland

  5. Having published nothing for eleven years, Francois Rabelais publishes the Tiers Livre, his sequel to Gargantua and Pant

    Having published nothing for eleven years, Francois Rabelais publishes the Tiers Livre, his sequel to Gargantua and Pantagruel

More from the 1540s

Ivan the Terrible, aged 17, crowns himself the first Tsar of Russia

Ivan IV Vasilyevich, commonly known as Ivan the Terrible, was Grand Prince of Moscow and all Russia from 1533 to 1547, and the first Tsar and Grand Prince of all Russia from 1547 until his death in…

Russian Tsar Ivan IV [Ivan the Terrible] (17) marries Anastasia Romanova (17)

Russian Tsar Ivan IV [Ivan the Terrible] (17) marries Anastasia Romanova (17)

The first recorded horse race meeting in England is held at Roodee Fields in Chester

Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, close to the England–Wales border.

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado's expedition sets off from Mexico in search of the Seven Cities of Gold (Cibola)

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who led a large expedition from what is now Mexico to present-day Kansas through what is now parts of the southwestern United...

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on July 19, 1544?
The Italian War of 1542–1546 was a conflict late in the Italian Wars, pitting Francis I of France and Suleiman I of the Ottoman Empire against the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and Henry VIII of England. The course of the war saw extensive fighting in Italy, France, and the Low Countries, as well as attempted invasions of Spain and England. The conflict was inconclusive and ruinously expensive for the major participants.
Why is Italian War of 1542: The Siege of Boulogne begins significant?
The Italian War of 1542–1546 was a conflict late in the Italian Wars, pitting Francis I of France and Suleiman I of the Ottoman Empire against the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and Henry VIII of England.

Explore More

July 19 in HistoryYear 1544