Battle of Delebio

The Battle of Delebio was a battle of the Wars in Lombardy. It occurred on 18 and 19 November 1432, near Delebio, in the Valtellina. It was an aftermath of the occupation of Brescia and the Valle Camonica by the armies of the Republic of Venice, led by Francesco Bussone, Count of Carmagnola.

The Venetian troops under Giorgio Corner had invaded the Valtellina in 1431, in order to secure the Republic's northern borders and favour their trades towards Germany. On 18 November 1432 the army of Filippo Maria Visconti, duke of Milan, with more than 400 horse and an unspecified infantry under the condottiero Niccolò Piccinino, marched alongside the Lake Como to defy the Venetians. Among the commanders of the Venetian troops was Bartolomeo Colleoni, which later became one of the most famous condottiero.

The first clash occurred that same day, when Venetians lost c. 300 infantry to push back a surprise attack on their camp. The following morning the camp was attacked by Piccinino from West and by the Ghibellines of Valtellina, under Stefano Quadrio, from East. The Venetians were crushed, most of their commanders being imprisoned. The Venetian losses amounted to 1,800 cavalry and 3,500 infantry, with c. 2,700 prisoners (5,000 casualties and 7,000 prisoners according to other sources).