The Bastion of the Pussycat No.1 by sandra46

Photography • Military • posted on Dec 04, 2009

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Description

This is the first of a triptych about an episode of the history of Padua occurred in 1509. This bastion is close to my home, and not as the protagonists saw it at the time. In fact is was built just after the siegeto substitute the one built in a hurry, and most of it was interred in the 19th century. The so-called 'guasto' or the wasteland, full of ditches, marshes and traps against the enemies,surrounding it, together with the (interred)moat, is now a busy crossroad and a neighbourhood. This triptych is a companion of Flavia49's story. The characters come from different reenactments. The Venetians were faced in 1509 by a league of virtually all the European states with the exceptions of Hungary and of England. Actually, Henry VIII also offered the Venetians a loan, and signed a friendship treaty with them. In the spring of 1509, a French army of 20,000 soldiers left Milan and crossed the Adda River into Venetian territory. On May 14, 1509 this French force met and destroyed an evenly-matched Venetian mercenary army. The Venetians gave up Verona, Bergamo, Brescia, Vicenza and even Padova, retreating into the natural fortress of their lagoons. The entire Venetian land empire had been lost in a single day. The Venetians were able to retake Padova, but had to defend it against the German Emperor and 100,000 troops. Thousands of peasants flocked to Padua. Before they built the defenses, then they turned into soldiers remembering the violence suffered by their families, especially their women. The besieged Padua defied the mercenaries of the King of France and the Emperor Maximilian I the Pennyless exposing a she-cat on the ramparts. The symbolic use of cats is very old and lasted until the revolution of 1848. The cat is the symbol of the woman, her liberty and fertility. In Padua Giovanni de 'Gregori, said Citolo from Perugia, one of the most courageous mercenary warlords, proposed it to the peasants and soldiers, in order to defy the ‘cats’ that is a type of cannons used in the siege by the Emperor. The symbolic use of the cat is described in several epics. Despite three furious assaults in September 1509, the bastion wasn't captured. Thanks to the valuable "Histoire du gentil seigneur de Bayard" by Jacques de Maille we know that the attack on the bastion failed not only because of the courage of the defenders but also for the class pride of the knights who served the Emperor and didn't want to fight on foot. The composer of the song Gatta (Pussy-cat), which was published immediately after the episode remained unknown. It is a text full of pride insulting violently the enemies. La Gatta of Padua, a symbol of femininity, cannot be touched by any outrage. Thank you for your kind comments.

Comments (42)

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bimm3d

10:43AM | Fri, 04 December 2009

wonderful story and photo!!

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flora-crassella

10:49AM | Fri, 04 December 2009

a very interesting history!!!! Wonderful picture!!!!

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brycek

11:05AM | Fri, 04 December 2009

Terrific capture and facts!!

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0rest4wicked

11:09AM | Fri, 04 December 2009

Fantastic narrative and image

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mgtcs

11:23AM | Fri, 04 December 2009

Very interesting, excellent photo and narrative!

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carlx

11:24AM | Fri, 04 December 2009

Great story and imagination!!!

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virginiese Online Now!

11:34AM | Fri, 04 December 2009

a stunning character. Thanks for the information too !

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magnus073

12:15PM | Fri, 04 December 2009

Magnificent work on this one Sandra. The image is amazing and as is the history

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Umbetro38

1:53PM | Fri, 04 December 2009

very interesting infos and shot

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Mousson

2:46PM | Fri, 04 December 2009

Superbe photo!!!

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1358

4:14PM | Fri, 04 December 2009

we have to learn from history, what history has to teach us....sieges and massed armies... too much bloodshed, too much pain, too much hate... here, shown, is a delicate reminder!

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drifterlee

4:57PM | Fri, 04 December 2009

Fascianting story and cool shot!!

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bazza

4:57PM | Fri, 04 December 2009

Super photo and history lesson.. oh the greed of man never happy with the land he has always wants to amass more and enslave, rule over or kill those who want to just live in peace on the land they have... Indeed to much bloodshed and killing.. Nice work on this presentation Sandra!!

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Faemike55

6:10PM | Fri, 04 December 2009

Fantastic photo and history lesson. I got the link to you via flavia49!

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Minda

8:28PM | Fri, 04 December 2009

great capture and history sandra,,

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MOSKETON

9:22PM | Fri, 04 December 2009

FANTASTICA.

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Radar_rad-dude

10:06PM | Fri, 04 December 2009

Splendid photo and descriptive!

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claude19

5:06AM | Sat, 05 December 2009

MAGNIFIQUE rappel et belle composition photographique !!!

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artistheat

6:32AM | Sat, 05 December 2009

Very Cool Image and Story

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MagikUnicorn

8:51AM | Sat, 05 December 2009

Very well done...excellent naration too

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greensleeves81

9:32AM | Sat, 05 December 2009

Good expression and interesting history!

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frieder

11:11AM | Sat, 05 December 2009

thanks for bringing a little history in our lives!

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danapommet

11:48AM | Sat, 05 December 2009

There is very little written about the League of Cambray. The photo is very well done. Liked the "horned" helmet and the period flag. Your narrative of this story is also very well done. Looking forward to past 2. Bravissimo! Dana

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