In a way, all wars are stupid—but none was stupider than the Battle of Zappolino that was waged over a silly wooden bucket.

The War of the Oaken Bucket, as it is popularly known, was fought in 1325 between the rival city-states of Bologna and Modena in Italy. It started when a group of Modenese soldiers sneaked into Bologna and stole an oak bucket used to draw water from a well located in the center of the city. While the bucket itself held no historic or sentimental value, the affront hurt Bologna’s pride, and the humiliated Bolognese demanded the bucket be returned. The Modenese refused which outraged the Bolognese and war was declared upon them.