The tide had now evidently turned against Manfred. The long time spent crossing the narrow bridge meant a very wide space arose between his first corps, which had prematurely charged, and his second, which he had deployed to assist them. By the time Manfred's second battle arrived to aid the Germans, they had been cut to pieces and they themselves were now in a precarious situation as Charles had already ordered his third battle to charge them. While some did so from the front, others swept round their flanks and beset them from the rear. Shaken in spirit by the sight of what the French had done to the Germans, they made a very poor resistance; seeing themselves about to be surrounded, they broke and attempted to flee but most were slain. Realizing defeat was imminent, most of the nobles in Manfred's third corps deserted, leaving the king to his fate. Manfred was now left with a choice himself: death or instant flight. His undaunted spirit led him to take the first alternative. After exchanging the royal surcoat with his friend Tebaldo Annibaldi to whom he had also given his royal armor prior to the battle as not to attract too much notice in the mêlée, Manfred closed up with the few faithful of his followers left and rode straight into the midst of the enemy. He found the death that he sought. The battle saw the French give little quarter; only a few prisoners were taken, the most notable being Giordano Lancia and his cousin, Count Bartolommeo. The river was at the back of the fugitives and only the bridge was safe; those who tried to swim the flooded Calore in their heavy mail were mostly drowned.
The tide had now evidently turned against Manfred The long time spent crossing the narrow bridge meant a very wide space arose between his first corps which had prematurely charged and his second which he had deployed to assist them By the time Manfred's second battle arrived to aid the Germans they had been cut to pieces and they themselves were now in a precarious situation as Charles had already ordered his third battle to charge them While some did so from the front others swept round their flanks and beset them from the rear Shaken in spirit by the sight of what the French had done to the Germans they made a very poor resistance; seeing themselves about to be surrounded they broke and attempted to flee but most were slain Realizing defeat was imminent most of the nobles in Manfred's third corps deserted leaving the king to his fate Manfred was now left with a choice himself death or instant flight His undaunted spirit led him to take the first alternative After exchanging the royal surcoat with his friend Tebaldo Annibaldi to whom he had also given his royal armor prior to the battle as not to attract too much notice in the mêlée Manfred closed up with the few faithful of his followers left and rode straight into the midst of the enemy He found the death that he sought The battle saw the French give little quarter; only a few prisoners were taken the most notable being Giordano Lancia and his cousin Count Bartolommeo The river was at the back of the fugitives and only the bridge was safe; those who tried to swim the flooded Calore in their heavy mail were mostly drowned