The Battle of Agnadello was fought on May 14, 1509, between the forces of the Kingdom of France and the Republic of Venice as part of the Italian Wars. Leading the French troops was King Louis XII, who aimed to expand French influence in Italy and diminish the power of the Venetian Republic. The French army, numbering around 18,000, included heavily armored cavalry and experienced infantry, while the Venetian forces were about 10,000 strong, comprising their renowned mercenary troops. The battlefield was situated near the village of Agnadello, just south of the River Adda in Lombardy.

In the lead-up to the battle, the French forces had effectively allied with the Duchy of Milan, which was opposed to Venetian expansion. The battle itself was marked by strategic maneuvers, where the French cavalry executed flanking movements that caught the Venetian forces off-guard, leading to heavy losses for Venice. The French captured a significant number of Venetian prisoners and seized precious artillery and supplies.

The victory at Agnadello not only crippled the Venetian military strength but also demonstrated the effectiveness of the French battle tactics and organization. Following this battle, French control extended over much of northern Italy, heralding a shift in power dynamics. Venice would struggle to recover from this defeat as it faced subsequent military challenges and events that led to further territorial losses in the years that followed.