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====Sack of Why was Rome - The Terror==Sacked by Charles V's army? ==After a few weeks, the loot and food available in the area began to run low, and the soldiers looked for other targets. They selected Rome. They believed that they could get all the money and food that they needed in the Eternal City.<ref>Tuchman, p. 344</ref> Many of the mutinous soldiers were German mercenaries, famed for their bravery, . But many were also sympathizers of Martin Luther and they believed that the Pope was corrupt and . Some even describe the pope as the ‘Anti-Christ’ who had because they believe he distorted the message of Christ. They wanted to seize Rome for religious reasons and possibly believed that they could deliver a fateful blow to the Catholic Church, even though Martin Luther stated that this would be wrong. Soon 33,000 Imperial troops were on their way to Rome in the spring of 1527. The army was composed of Germans, Spaniards, and Italians.<ref>Tuchman, p. 345</ref> The army was reinforced by deserters from the French army and bandits. It was largely unopposed as an Italian army, under Venetian command, also mutinied. The army became more disorganized as they advanced on Rome. They sacked several towns on the way, and on the 5th of May, they had reached the Walls of Rome. By this stage, the army was largely under the control of the common soldiers as their erstwhile leader of the Charles Bourbon was only heeded by his men when it pleased them.<ref> Chastel, Andre, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691099472/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0691099472&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=990e20db1788d33ca9ee2a70c1f69586 The Sack of Rome, 1527]</i> (Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1983), p. 78</ref>

The army was reinforced by deserters from the French army and bandits. It was largely unopposed as an Italian army, under Venetian command, which also mutinied. The army became more disorganized as they advanced on Rome. They sacked several towns on the way, and on the 5th of May, they had reached the Walls of Rome. y this stage, the army was largely under the control of the common soldiers as their erstwhile leader of the Charles Bourbon was only heeded by his men when it pleased them.<ref> Chastel, Andre, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691099472/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0691099472&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=990e20db1788d33ca9ee2a70c1f69586 The Sack of Rome, 1527]</i> (Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1983), p. 78</ref> On June the 6th, the army attacked the city walls. The leader of the attack, Charles the Bourbon, was killed during the assault. He had been at least able to influence the soldiers, but now the army was completely out of control. They massacred the defenders and any civilians they came across. Only the bravery of the Swiss Guard saved the Pope from the army.<ref> Chastel, p. 115</ref> The mutinous soldiers executed any defenders who surrendered. A reign of terror ensued in Rome for three days, if not longer.  The soldiers attacked the cardinals and stole their wealth. The ordinary Romans also suffered greatly. Countless were robbed, murdered, and raped. Many were tortured in macabre ways so that they would divulge the location of their wealth. The mutineers stayed in the city for some months, continuing to terrorize the inhabitants, and they only left after eight months because of the plague and having received a the hefty bribe from they were paid by the Pope.