Italian Wars of 1499–1504
The Italian Wars of 1499-1504 are divided into two connected, but distinct phases: the Second Italian War (1499–1501), sometimes known as Louis XII's Italian War, and the Third Italian War (1502-1504) or War over Naples. These conflicts were fought primarily by Louis XII of France on one side against a number of Italian states and King Ferdinand II of Aragon over control of the Duchy of Milan and the Kingdom of Naples. In the aftermath of the First Italian War, Louis had been determined to press his claim on the thrones of Milan and Naples; in 1499, Louis XII finally invaded Lombardy and seized Milan, starting off this phase of the Italian Wars. For the next five years, France and Spain would vie for control of Milan and Naples, with France eventually controlling the former and Spain taking the latter.