La difesa del Ducato di Milano agli albori della dominazione asburgica. Contributo e 'remunerazioni' degli hombres de negocios italiani al servizio dell'Impero

The article analyses the role played by private finance in mobilising the resources needed to defend the State of Milan between 1536 and 1558. As a result of the momentous changes that occurred in warfare among great powers during the first half of the 16th century, the bargaining power of private actors capable of providing sovereigns with crucial strategic resources significantly increased. As regards in particular the Italian hombres de negocios serving Charles V, they supplied him with a wide range of services, obtaining equally diverse and significant rewards in return.