The War Of The Bucket

Wars are fought for many reasons, but few of them would seem to me to be quite as silly as the War of the Bucket. Who would fight a war over a bucket taken from a well, you might ask, and it is a valid question. Well, the proposed cause of the war is odd, but the question is valid. The actual cause of the war was said to be because Modena had captured the Bolognese castle of Monteveglio. There were two factions in northern Italy at that time, the Guelphs and Ghibellines. The factions, from the late Middle Ages to the Renaissance in northern Italy was divided supporting the rival political claims of the Holy Roman Emperor (“Ghibellines”) and the Pope (“Guelphs”). the city of Modena was Ghibelline, and the city of Bologna was Guelph. The political difference exacerbated the natural conflicts over border territories.

The War of the Bucket, also known as the War of the Oken Bucket, took place in the region of Emilia-Romagna, in northern Italy. In reality, the war was long-standing, taking place as a 300-year-long struggle between Guelphs and Ghibellines. The only battle in the 300-year-long war the Battle of Zappolino, and it was won by Modena. One common myth was that the war started because one of the Modenese citizens stole a bucket from a Bolognese well, however, that is mostly incorrect, as the bucket was, according to most accurate accounts, taken as a trophy by the Modenese after the war.

In a prior conflict that took place in 1176, Frederick Barbarossa was defeated at the Battle of Legnano by the Lombard League, which supported Pope Alexander III. That battle was the start of a protracted period of conflict in Medieval Italy between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. The two opposing factions constantly started wars against each other. The town of Modena was a staunch supporter of the Holy Roman Empire and pledged to be a Ghibelline city. The northern city of Bologna was a Guelph city and was led by the Popes because it supported them. The lines were clear, and there was little room for negotiation.

As the war continued, Bologna seized Bazzano and Savigno from Modena in 1296. The title deed was confirmed for Bologna by Pope Boniface VIII that same year. Azzo VIII d’Este, Marquis of Ferrara controlled Modena from 1293 to 1308 and confronted Bologna partly to bolster his lukewarm support among Modena’s nobles. The Mantuan Passerino Bonacolsi, who was an agent of Emperor Louis IV of Bavaria became his elected successor. He continued the Ghibelline war policy, with Parma and Reggio also under his power. Pope John XXII declared Bonacolsi a rebel against the Church and granted indulgences as befit a Crusader to any who could harm his person or his possessions. That was basically like sending out vigilantes to kill him. In the months before the battle, border clashes intensified. The Bolognese entered the Modenese territory and burned the fields in the section “between the canals.” In August, a Bolognese attack, headed by their podestà, found them spending two weeks ravaging other lands in Modena. In September, Mantua took its turn, and at the end of that month, the strategic Bolognese rocca of Monteveglio was betrayed to Modena by malcontents. Two renegade castellans were decapitated. The war had turned especially bloody and morbid. Nothing was considered off limits.

In November, Bologna mustered an army of 32,000 men and marched against Modena. Under Bonacolsi, 7,000 Modenese met them at Zappolino, in Bolognese territory. The Bolognese were overtaken and fled into the walls of their city, hiding in terror. About 2,000 men were killed on both sides. It is rumored that at this point, the Modenese took a bucket from a well just outside a city gate as a trophy. It was a strange trophy to be sure, but it was what they took, and apparently it was the last straw. The War of the Bucket was on.