An engagement in the Habsburg–Valois wars, which involved the papacy and England supporting Charles V against Francis I. In October 1524 the French invaded Italy and took Milan, and the Pope changed sides to join them. Then the city of Pavia, in Lombardy, saw a battle between the French and imperial armies. The imperial forces, numbering 23,000 defeated the French army even though it had 5,000 more soldiers, and Francis was taken prisoner. He was released in 1526 and the wars in Italy continued.