Biography of Jacques de La Palice

A proverbial memory

Year of birth: 1470
24 February 1525
Jacques II de Chabannes de La Palice (often referred to as Lapalisse) was founded in about 1470 to La Palice, by Charlotte de Prie and Geoffroy de Chabannes. Only fifteen years, enters the service of King Charles VIII, King of France descendant of Valois as enfant d'honneur, and at the time of the battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier, staged on 2 July 1488, receives the baptism of fire, with the defeat of the Bretons. After marrying in 1492 Marie de Montberon, daughter of the Royal Adviser Eustache, follows the King in Italy, fighting in Piedmont in Valencia and Alexandria. After having participated in the battle of Fornovo, on the death of Charles VIII in 1498, Jacques de La Palice is at the service of Louis XII, her successor, and takes part in the battles fought against Ludovico il Moro in Lombardy. Named viceroy of Abruzzi, must deal with the siege of Ruvo di Puglia by Consalvo of Cordova: taken prisoner after being defeated, is freed in 1504. In that year, however, his wife Marie dies.
Injured during the French siege in Genoa in 1507, intervenes in the war waged against the Republic of Venice from the League of Cambrai, and was appointed commander of the transalpine troops in Lombardy. In 1511 takes command of operations in Italian war against Pope Julius II and the Spanish, and was appointed Grand Master of France. The following year, however, Louis XII the forwards over the Pyrenees to help Jean d'Albret, Duke of Navarre. Wounded and imprisoned the Artois, at Therouanne, by the English King Henry VIII, is freed once concluded peace, and retired to his castle. He married Marie de Melun, was named Marshal of France by Francis I, and sent against the troops of the Pope in Italy. Together with the King, defeated the Swiss mercenaries on 13 September 1515 at Marignano, and with Francis I joined Milan. After the war, the city of Milan is occupied by men of Prospero Colonna: Jacques de La Palice is mailed to retake the city, but his siege at the Bicocca ends in failure.
He moved to the Pyrenees to help the French stuck in Fuenterrabia, succeeds in freeing his countrymen. After the Spaniards from Marseilles, returns to Italy with the army, prompting Milan is left by the Spanish. The same Spaniards, along with mercenaries led by Antonio de Leyva, defending Pavia, besieged by the French King and La Palice. The battle that takes place under the walls of the city on 25 February 1525 resolves in favor of the imperial army led by Fernando d'avalos, while Francis I is captured and imprisoned, and Jacques de La Palice dies. His body will be buried at the castle of La Palice. Upon his death, his men perform a song with verses in French "If he had not died would still envy", became in time "would still be alive." A self-evident, indeed.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.