The War Over a Wooden Bucket

In 1325, northern Italy erupted into war — all because of a wooden bucket.

The city of Modena snuck into rival Bologna, raided a well, and stole a heavy

oak bucket used to draw water. It wasn’t valuable. It wasn’t sacred. It was… just a bucket.

But Bologna was furious — they demanded it back. Modena refused. So the two cities

raised armies of thousands, cavalry, infantry, and crossbowmen

— all preparing to fight for the honor of a stolen bucket. The battle at Zappolino

lasted only hours. Modena won decisively — and proudly kept the bucket as a

trophy. Today, almost 700 years later, that same bucket