Swiss-Milanese War of 1478

The duke of Milan had promised in 1466 to grant the Leventina to the Swiss Confederates, but he had been slow to act on his promise, and as the Swiss are tied up in the Burgundian Wars, he even forms a pact with the Burgundians.

This prompts the canton of Uri to send an expedition to the Leventina, which is greeted as liberators by the local population.

The Swiss try to conquer Bellinzona as well, but after a two weeks' siege give up and return home.

The Battle of Giornico is for once a Swiss victory, in which a force of Uri of about one hundred and seventy-five men, with the support of about four hundred men from the local population, manage to rout a Milanese army of ten thousand.

From this time, the Leventina is an undisputed possession of Uri, while Bellinzona remains under Milanese control.

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