He also asked for loans to improve the army, but his first campaigns were ineffective: Piacenza was occupied by the Spanish troops, and his army was defeated by Francesco I d'Este.
De asemenea, el a cerut împrumuturi pentru a îmbunătăți armata, dar primele sale campanii au fost ineficiente: Piacenza a fost ocupată de trupele spaniole iar armata sa a fost învinsă de Francesco I d'Este.