On four occasions in the 15th century, the Ottoman Empire raided the Patria del Friuli, then part of the Republic of Venice and nowadays north-eastern Italy.
The Ottoman threat to Friuli dates back to 1415, when they raided the neighbouring lands of Carniola, Styria and Lower Austria.
In response, Venice hired the condottiere Deifobo dell'Anguillara, Galeotto Manfredi, Ercole Malvezzi and Fontaguzzio da Bologna.
They also hired some lance spezzate and dispatched the cernide (peasant levies) of Bergamo, Crema, Brescia, Verona, Vicenza, Padua and Treviso.
[2] At the first encounter along the Isonzo, the Venetian commanders Girolamo Novello and Giacomo Badoer were lured out of their fortress, fooled by a feigned retreat, and killed in the fighting.
[3] The Ottomans pillaged Tolmino, Caporetto and Plezzo before crossing the Alps at the Predil Pass and raiding Fusine, Coccau [it] and Villach.
[2] Following the raids of 1477–1478, the Venetians improved the fortifications of Gradisca and brought in light cavalry, the stratioti, and archers recruited from Durazzo, Morea, and Zante.