The Bucket War (1325) - Two cities fought over a BUCKET?!?!

The War of the Bucket, or "Secchia Rapita" in Italian, was a conflict fought in 1325 between the city-states of Bologna and Modena in northern Italy. This war is notably remembered for its unusual origin: the theft of a wooden bucket.

Background

During the Middle Ages, Italy was divided into factions supporting either the Papacy (Guelphs) or the Holy Roman Empire (Ghibellines). Bologna was a Guelph city, aligning with the Papacy, while Modena was a Ghibelline city, supporting the Empire. Tensions between these factions had been escalating, leading to border skirmishes and territorial disputes.
The Theft

In 1325, a group of Modenese soldiers infiltrated Bologna and stole a wooden bucket from a well in the city. This act, though seemingly trivial, was perceived as a significant insult by the Bolognese. They demanded the return of the bucket, but the Modenese refused, leading to heightened tensions.
The War

In response to the theft, Bologna assembled a large army of approximately 32,000 men, including 2,000 cavalry, and marched towards Modena. The Modenese, with a smaller force of about 7,000 men, met the Bolognese army near the town of Zappolino. Despite being outnumbered, the Modenese forces, bolstered by experienced mercenaries, managed to defeat the Bolognese army. The battle resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with around 2,000 men killed.
Aftermath

Following their victory, the Modenese reportedly took the stolen bucket as a trophy and displayed it in the Torre della Ghirlandina in Modena. The war did not lead to significant territorial changes, but it marked a notable episode in the long-standing Guelph-Ghibelline conflicts. The event was later immortalized in Alessandro Tassoni's mock-heroic epic poem "La secchia rapita," published in 1622, which humorously recounted the events of the war.