Chapter V: The Albizzi and Cosimo De’ Medici

Cosimo de’ Medici in his Youth—Countess of Bardi and her
Family—The Medici and Pope John XXIII.—Death of John
XXIII. in Florence—Public Acts of Cosimo de’ Medici—The
Position of Cosimo towards the Party of Albizzi—The
Albizzi in the Fourteenth Century—Piero degli Albizzi
and the Magistracy of the Guelf Party—The Tumult of the
Ciompi, Exile of the Albizzi—Authority of Maso degli
Albizzi—Rinaldo degli Albizzi—Niccolo da Uzzano—Palla
Strozzi and his Family—Flourishing Condition of the Town
and Commonwealth—War against Lucca—Relation of Rinaldo
to Cosimo de’ Medici—Proceedings of the Oligarchy against
Cosimo—Cosimo’s Capture—Cosimo’s Banishment—Unsettled State
of Things—Rinaldo’s Appeal to Arms—Cosimo is called back, and
returns—Exile of the Albizzi—Cosimo’s Gonfaloniership—Review
of the Albizzi Rule—Florentine Order and its Formation—The
Subjection of the smaller Communes—Conditions of this
Subjection—Statutes—Acquisition of Pistoja, Volterra, Prato,
and Arezzo—The Accomandigia 86