Prospero Colonna, whose health is declining, has…

Prospero Colonna, whose health is declining, has only nine thousand men to oppose the French advance, and finally decides to retreat to Milan.

Bonnivet, however, overestimates the size of the Spanish-Imperial army and moves into winter quarters rather than attacking the city.

This allows the commanders of Emperor Charles to summon fifteen thousand landsknechts and a large Spanish force under the command of Charles of Bourbon.

By December 28, when Charles de Lannoy replaces Colonna, Bonnivet has begun his withdrawal.

A member of the noble de Lannoy family, Charles was born the younger son of Jean de Lannoy, Lord of Mingoval, himself nephew of Jean III de Lannoy.

His mother was Philipotte de Lalaing.

He had taken service with the Emperor Maximilian I and won distinction for bravery and leadership, being appointed member to the council of Charles of Burgundy; later Emperor Charles V and his Caballerizo mayor in 1515.

Appointed knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1516, he had become governor of Tournai in 1521, had been made viceroi of Naples in 1522, and is made commander in chief of Imperial armies in Italy upon the death of Prospero Colonna at the end of 1523.