Strategic choices of the Spanish Monarchy at the beginning of the war against France (1636-1638): Marco Antonio Gandolfo’s project

Abstract

May 1635 saw the outbreak of franco-spanish war. This fact came to complicate the delicate international situation which had to face the Spanish monarchy. But it may be possible to change a difficult situation and take this opportunity to be imposed on France. Thus, began to take shape the possibility of invading France through a joint attack from the areas bordering it. In this context, Marco Antonio Gandolfo, an Italian military engineer in the service of Spain, presented a plan for the invasion of France through the Pyrenees, which should be followed by similar attacks in Flanders and Milan.