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This book explores a significant historical event in sixteenth-century European history. The Italian crusade against the German Lutherans in 1546 was, for many reasons, the catalyst for the military phase of the Lutheran opposition in Germany's clash with Emperor Charles V (1546-1555). Contributing to literature which has generally interpreted the conflict between Charles V and the Roman-German Empire as an internal German affair, this book highlights the military involvement and participation of Pope Paul III in the initial phase of the so-called Schmalkaldic War, which took place from 1546-1547. Rather than the papal army acting peripherally through 'auxiliary military contingents' as it had done in previous years, the author argues that the Pope was directly involved in the war, sending a large army from Rome to suppress the heretical movement.

Outlining the technical advance of the papal army while still on Italian territory, its campaign across the Alps into Germany, and its military activities in the early stages of the war, this book provides a new perspective on the diplomatic negotiations that led to the imperial-papal alliance in 1546. It sheds light on the development of the crusade and its eventual failure, illustrating the worsening relationship between the Pope and the Emperor, and its influence on subsequent political development.