In 1325 the Italian city state Modena mobilized its army and invaded its neighbor, Bologna. The reason for the invasion? Seizure of a single oaken bucket. Modena claimed the prize it sought and went home, but during the raid hundreds of Bolognians (?) kicked the bucket.

In order to avenge its slain citizenry and recover the pilfered pail, Bologna mobilized for what would be a twelve year long war. The conflict came to be known as the War of the Oaken Bucket, and ended inconclusively – or perhaps it could be said that the Modenans (?) were victorious, because the object of the war rests still in a bell-tower atop the Duomo di Modena, a 12’th century cathedral in the eponymous city; presumably, everyone involved just wishes that the situla (Latin for bucket) in question could be forgotten about forever.

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