'We have felt great pain and shame for the offence given to the
Holy See, indeed we would have preferred not to win than to be
left with such a victory.' During the first phase of the
Habsburg-Valois wars, Charles V permitted his army garrisoned in
Milan to be used against Papal troops who were engaged against
one of his Italian allies. However, under the Duke of Bourbon,
they marched on Rome. Bourbon died during the assault on the
city, but it was stormed on the 6th May 1527. The leaderless and
underpaid troops embarked on a week long orgy of rape, pillage
and destruction. The Pope fled the city but was soon captured by
the Habsburg troops. Christian Europe was horrified, and Charles
was dismayed. Rather than taking blame, he mounted a propaganda
campaign in Western Europe to convince people that the real
blame lay with his enemies - specifically, Francis I of France
and the Pope. Late in 1527 Charles released the chastened Pope
Clement, who was henceforth much more reluctant to act against
him.