It sounds almost unbelievable at first. A full-scale war fought over something as ordinary as a wooden bucket. In a world where conflicts are usually tied to power, land, or wealth, the story of the ...

In November 1325, a group of Modenese soldiers rode into Bologna, pulled a wooden bucket from a public well, and carried it home. Bologna demanded it back. Modena refused. Two of the most powerful ...

The traditional Italian observation—Se non è vero, è ben trovato (even if it isn't true, it makes a good story)—reflects a good deal of human history. One such colorful event was the 14th-century War ...