The Battle of San Romano was fought on 1 June 1432, in San Romano, some 30 miles outside Florence,[1] between the troops of Florence, commanded by Niccolò da Tolentino, and Siena, under Francesco Piccinino. The outcome is generally considered favourable to the Florentines, but in the Sienese chronicles it was considered a victory. As the 1430s began Florence had found itself in conflict with the rival city state of Lucca, and her allies, Siena and Milan.

Battle of San Romano
Part of Wars in Lombardy

Niccolò da Tolentino leading the Florentine cavalry
Date1 June 1432
Location
Result Florentine victory (disputed)
Belligerents
Republic of Florence Republic of Siena
Commanders and leaders
Niccolò da Tolentino
Micheletto Attendolo
Francesco Piccinino
Strength
4,000 cavalry, 2,000 infantry
Casualties and losses
400 cavalry taken prisoner 600 cavalry and unknown infantry taken prisoner

The Florentine deployed about 4,000 horse and 2,000 infantry. The clash, which lasted for some six or seven hours, consisted of a series of heavy cavalry fights. It was decided by the intervention of a second cavalry corps commanded by Micheletto Attendolo.

Paintings

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The battle was depicted in three large paintings by the Italian Renaissance artist, Paolo Uccello: The Battle of San Romano. Today the three panels are separated and located in galleries in London, Paris, and Florence:

References

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  1. ^ Private Life of a Masterpiece, BBC TV
  2. ^ National Gallery Catalogues: The Fifteenth Century Italian Paintings, Volume 1, by Dillian Gordon, 2003, pp. 378–397 ISBN 1-85709-293-7
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43°41′20″N 10°45′29″E / 43.6890°N 10.7581°E / 43.6890; 10.7581