Battle of Zappolino between Modena and Bologna over the disputed “Stolen Bucket” (from a public well on Via San Felice in Bologna), now preserved in the Ghirlandina in Modena (in reality, the original is elsewhere and the one in the Ghirlandina is a copy—you never know, the Bolognese might come back for it…). Passerino, from Modena, had driven all the Guelphs (supporters of the papacy) from Modena in the previous years, and transformed Modena into a Ghibelline (supporters of the Empire) stronghold. The battle begins when the Modenese Ghibellines charge, shouting “Death to the dogs!”, and the enemy’s rout is immediately dramatically evident. Then six hundred Modenese knights led by Gangalando Bertucci (from Guiglia, an expert on the territory) descend on the Guelph flank. Panic broke out in the Guelph ranks: the cavalry retreated under the orders of Fulcieri da Calcoli of Cesena, leaving the dismounted army at the enemy’s mercy. Infantry, archers, crossbowmen, and lancers scattered in every possible direction. Only a handful of unstable Romagna and Florentines resisted, being “so badly beaten that more than five hundred cavalry and fifteen hundred dismounted were left captured and dead.” Night put an end to the slaughter, allowing the survivors to retreat. In all, the Modenese killed approximately three thousand enemies and captured fifteen hundred. Several illustrious Bolognese lords and Modenese exiles were killed, and even more were captured (at the time, captured lords were worth a considerable ransom). Victory went to the Passerino, that is, the Modenese. A city gate in Bologna was also broken down and carried off by the Modenese. Several hundred Bolognese prisoners and casualties were taken. Four horse races were also organized from the bridge over the Rhine to the gate of Bologna: an outrage beyond all limits! After only two years, Duke Passerino had to flee in haste to Mantua when the papal legate from France bought the alliance of Modena with florins (15,000 gold florins). Incidentally, when in Modena they say “the times of the Duke of Paserein” to refer to a distant past, they are referring to this period.
