"The War of the Bucket or the War of the Oaken Bucket was fought in 1325, between the rival city-states of Bologna and Modena. It took place in the Emilia district of northern Italy. It was provoked when Modenese soldiers stole the bucket from a city well.
Bologna mustered an army of 32,000 men and marched against Modena in November. 7,000 Modenese under Bonacolsi met them at Zappolino, in Bolognese territory. The Bolognese were routed, fleeing into the walls of their city. About 2,000 men were killed on both sides. Some accounts state that the Modenese took a bucket from a well just outside a city gate as a trophy."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Bucket
tecuani ago
It is interesting that Modena was outnumbered by about 4.6 to 1 and the battle was on enemy territory, but yet they routed the enemy and the provocation came from their side as well.
By the way, from other articles it appears that the bucket was actually filled with "loot" of some kind and merely resting near the central well, so that makes the makes the provocation more hurtful for sure. And seems like the side of Bologna, true to the pope, was not doing very well, so maybe their troops were just less disciplined and trained and/or had worse equipment than the Modenese ones. Might explain the unlikely victory.
Prepackaged ago
It was an excuse. Just like when people point out that WWII started over a disagreement about the delivery of telegraph poles.
CANCEL-CAT-FACTS ago
So around 4,000 people were killed in a pointless war back in 1325. In some ways, humanity has not come very far since then.
Mediocrity ago
Pointless?
I think not.
First, they come for the bucket (cutting their water supply). Then for the grazing rights (cutting their food supply). Then the lumber (depleting their building materials). And finally, (((they))) come for the gold.