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The
battle of Como
 Because
of these events, it was established a league against
France with the aim to expel the French from the
Dukedom of Milan and proclaim Duke Francis II
Sforza, brother of the exile Maximilian. John
the Crazy was given the task to occupy Como and,
to fulfil this aim, he was put at the head of
a column of eight hundred men between Lansquenets
and stranded Lombard soldiers of fortune, among
whom there were some from Como.
The historian writes: "the Crazy, thus approaching
the town with his
fleet and laying an ambush at Borgo Vico, waited
for the right moment for the assault, also hoping
to receive a valid help from part of some citizens;
mainly from the Rusconis, who were enemies to
the French. But the Governor baffled the  plan
from inside the city
and boarding on a ship well armed with artilleries,
he went on the lake along the shore of Borgo Vico
and faced the attackers who, in the mean time,
were assaulted from the land by a cohort of French.
The Crazy’s soldiers were thus taken between two
fires, so they stranded and may were killed."
Rebuschini adds an interesting and curious episode
to this event. He writes: "Garrau ordered that,
at twilight, a ship, loaded with good wines and
every other kind of delightful liquors which could
be found in town, landed as by chance at Borgo
Vico and was seized by the strangers. None of
the corrupted chiefs withdrew, and so the greedy
soldiers easily became drunk and all revenges
ceased. They drifted along the streets and spent
the night passing from revelry to sleep. In the
midst of this noisy feast, out came Garrau with
his army, and attacked them easily conquering
the village of Borgo Vico. "
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