Spain and France had been fighting each other in Italy since 1502 CE.
At first the French had a numerical advantage, later the Spanish received reinforcements and were able to fight back.
In the next year they advanced to Cerignola and noticing the French approaching, quickly took up position on a hill.
The French commander Nemours first moved cautiously as the Spanish jinetes, light cavalry, had prevented him to scout properly.
But when some of his captains accused him of cowardice, he was antagonized and ordered a rash attack in the late afternoon.
The French army had 9,000 men: 650 heavy armored gendarmes, 1,000 light cavalry, 3,500 Swiss pikemen and 3,000 French infantry.
They were tired and somewhat overheated from a long march.
The French also had 40 guns, though these arrived too late to take part in the battle.
Awaiting them were 6,300 Spanish troops, hastily dug in on the heights of Cerignola.
They had widened an existing ditch, used the earth to build a low rampart and reinforced it with wooden stakes.
They consisted of 2,000 Landsknechte, 1,000 arquebusiers,
700 men-at-arms and 1,000 other infantry, organized into "colunela" units.
20 guns were positioned on high ground and 800 jinetes provided a screen at the front.
The French cavalry charged three times, first against the center and then on the right flank, but, blinded by dust and gunpowder smoke,
were delayed for several minutes by the ditch, where they were pounded by the arquebusiers.
Nemours was killed by a gunshot and the Swiss commander Chandieu took over, sending in his own infantry.
Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, the Spanish commander, quickly pulled his gunners back and put his Landsknechte in front.
They repulsed the attack, while the arquebusiers fired from the flanks.
Damaged and disorganized, the French withdrew and de Córdoba ordered a counterattack, surrounding the enemy.
The French cavalry routed, however the Swiss pikemen retreated in good order, though bloodied.
The attackers were reported to have lost 4,000 men, while the Spanish side suffered only 100 casualties.
Cerignola marked the rise of the 'pike-and-shot' formations, though the terrain, temporary fortifications and rash French attack had all played an important part.
De Córdoba would later refine his new army organization to Tercios.
After Cerignola, guns did not suddenly rule the battlefield.
Some, like Novarra in 1513 CE were won by good old-fashioned pike tactics;
others, like Bicocca in 1522 CE and Pavia in 1525 CE were other examples of early gunpowder victories.
War Matrix - Battle of Cerignola
Age of Discovery 1480 CE - 1620 CE, Battles and sieges