The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic — Volume 3

The narrative chronicles the political and military struggle over the Neapolitan kingdom as Spanish and French crowns contend for partition and supremacy, tracing diplomatic maneuvering among the papacy, Venice, and the emperor. Campaigns led by the Spanish commander Gonsalvo de Cordova, including sieges in Calabria and the climactic battle of Cerignola, are described alongside French operations under Louis XII and the duke of Nemours. The account records episodes of chivalry, mutiny, and harsh reprisals, the storming and surrender of key fortresses, and competing claims that provoke open rupture. Parallel court developments include dynastic negotiations, a fraught treaty, and the declining health and mental distress of the royal family, culminating in a temporary truce.