 Overshadowed by the power of the nearby Alessandria, it attracted the attentions of Galeazzo I Visconti, duke of Milan, but his plot to capture the city failed.The Viscount were however able to conquer Valenza in 1370.Later the town was sacked by the French troops (1499 and 1515), reconquered by the Spaniards (1521) under Charles V (1521) and then again captured by the French (1523).