Viewing the Florentine earthworks too substantial to easily take by assault, the Imperial army settled into a pattern of artillery duels and skirmishing with the defenders instead. Meanwhile, the lack of fighting in other portions of Italy drew thousands of unemployed soldiers to the Imperial army, substantially swelling its ranks; the new arrivals included Fabrizio Maramaldo, whose reputation for brutality was such that even Clement opposed allowing him to take part in the siege.
The Florentine earthworks were too formidable to assault directly, so the Imperial army adopted a strategy of artillery duels and skirmishes against the defenders instead. Meanwhile, the lack of fighting in other parts of Italy led to thousands of unemployed soldiers joining the Imperial army, significantly increasing its size; among these new recruits was Fabrizio Maramaldo, whose reputation for ruthlessness was such that even Clement opposed his participation in the siege.