During the 14th century, Northern Italy was deeply divided between two warring political factions: the Guelphs, who supported the Pope, and the Ghibellines, who backed the Holy Roman Emperor. The neighboring city-states of Guelph-aligned Bologna and Ghibelline-aligned Modena had endured decades of border friction. Tensions finally boiled over in 1325 when a group of Modenese soldiers sneaked into Bologna and stole a wooden bucket from a public well, filling it with looted treasure before retreating.
Insulted by the theft, Bologna demanded the return of the bucket, but Modena refused. What began as a petty insult escalated into a full-scale military conflict. Bologna raised an army of 32,000 foot soldiers and 2,000 cavalrymen, marching toward Modena.
The two armies clashed at the Battle of Zappolino. Despite being outnumbered nearly six to one, the Modenese force executed a brilliant tactical defense, routing the Bolognese troops and pursuing them all the way back to the gates of Bologna. Instead of besieging the city, the Modenese army staged a celebratory mock tournament outside the city walls to humiliate their enemies.
Before returning home, they seized a second bucket from a well outside Bologna's city limits. The war ended with the status quo ante bellum preserved, except for the stolen bucket. Modena kept the original trophy, which now hangs in the bell tower of the Torre della Ghirlandina in Modena as a testament to one of history's strangest conflicts.