Chapter VI

SUPREMACY OF COSIMO DE’ MEDICI TO THE REFORM OF LUCCA PITTI.

Pope Eugene in Florence—Political Positions on Cosimo’s
return Home—Antecedents of the Medici Party—Lucca
Pitti—Neri Capponi—The Acciaiuoli—Agnolo and Donate
Acciaiuoli—Diotisalvi Neroni—The Giugni and other Friends of
the Medici, the Pandolfini, Salviati, Guicciardini—Cosimo’s
Party-management—Restriction of free Voting by the Practice of
Nominating to the Magistracy—Abrogation of the Law against the
Nobles—Relations towards his Opponents—Palla Strozzi—Troubled
Lot of Rinaldo degli Albizzi and his Family—Cosimo’s
Attitude towards his own Party—Neri Capponi—Baldaccio
d’Anghiari—Disunion in the Dominant Party—Termination of
Extra-legal Authority—Re-introduction of the Selection of
Magistrates by Vote—The Formation of the Cadaster—Progressive
Scale—Taxation in the Hands of the Medici—Revision of
the Cadaster in 1458—Discontent of powerful Burghers of
the Medici Party—Luca Pitti, Gonfalonier—Change in the
Government—New Commission for the Choice of Magistrates and
for Taxation—Weakening of Cosimo’s Authority—Violence of his
Adherents 114

CHAPTER VII.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS. PEACE AND WAR. COUNCIL OF UNION.

War with Milan and Naples—Filippo Maria Visconti and Alfonso
of Naples—End of the Visconti—Francesco Sforza, Duke of
Milan—Relations of Sforza with Florence and Cosimo de’
Medici—Alliance of Venice and Naples against Florence—War in
the Valley of Chiana and in the Maremma—Peace of Lodi—The
Sack of Constantinople—Triumph of the House of Aragon in
Naples—Pope Eugene IV.—Contest of the Holy See with the
Council of Basle—Council of Union at Florence—Reunion of the
Churches of the East and West—Sojourn of Pope Eugenius IV. in
Florence—Consecration of the Cathedral and of the Church of
Sta. Croce—The Eugenius College—Political Complications—René
of Anjou in Florence—Return of the Pope to Rome—Pope Pius II.
in Florence—Death of Archbishop St. Antonine—Charlotte of
Lusignan in Florence 139

CHAPTER VIII.

LAST DAYS OF COSIMO DE MEDICI.

Cosimo in Advanced Age—Death of his Brother Lorenzo—His
sons Piero and Giovanni—Piero’s Marriage to Lucrezia
Tornabuoni—Death of Giovanni—Piero’s Children—Cosimo’s
Manner of Life—Cosimo’s Disposition and Character—Cosimo in
Outward Demeanour and in Business—Cosimo’s Ecclesiastical
Edifices—Churches and Monasteries, Palace and Villas—Buildings
and Foundations Abroad—Cosimo’s Last Days at Careggi
Villa—Piero’s Letter to his Sons—Death of Cosimo—Marsilio
Ficino on Cosimo—Cosimo de’ Medici the Father of his Country 153

SECOND BOOK.

_PIERO DE’ MEDICI. FIRST YEARS OF LORENZO THE MAGNIFICENT._

CHAPTER I.

PIERO DE’ MEDICI, HIS RELATIONS AND FRIENDS.

Piero de’ Medici and his Family—Lucrezia Tornabuoni de’
Medici—Lorenzo de’ Medici—Lorenzo’s Education—Gentile de’
Becchi of Urbino—His Youthful Years and Dispositions—Giuliano
de’ Medici—Bianca de’ Medici Pazzi—The Family of
Pazzi—Andrea, Piero, Jacopo de’ Pazzi and their
Relatives—Nannina de’ Medici Rucellai—The Rucellai—Giovanni
and his Son Bernardo—The Soderini—Lorenzo Soderini and his
Sons Niccolò and Tommaso 167