Chapter III

FOREIGN AFFAIRS. FRANCE, VENICE, THE ROMAGNA. THE WAR OF
COLLEONE.

The Medici after the Neroni Conspiracy—King Ferrante
to Lorenzo—Louis XI. of France and the Medici—The
Florentine Exiles and Venice—The Relations of Venice
with Florence—Bartolommeo Colleone—Colleone and the
exiled Florentines—State of the Romagna—The Popes and
the Dynasties—Relations of the Romagna with Venice and
Florence—The Raccomandati of the Romagna—The Este Counts of
Montefeltro and Urbino—The Malatesta of Rimini—The Ordelaffi
of Forli—The Manfredi, Alidosi, Sforza of Pesaro—Bologna and
the Bentivogli—Sante and Giovanni Bentivoglio.—Relations
with Florence and the Papacy—Preparations of the Allies
against Colleone—Colleone in the Romagna.—Battle at La
Molinella—Galeazzo Maria Sforza and Venice—Ineffective
Meeting of the Allies—Miserable Condition of the Army—Close
of the War—Pope Paul II.—End of Colleone and the Florentine
Exiles—Attack on Lucrezia de’ Medici 197

CHAPTER IV.

LATTER DAYS OF PIERO DE’ MEDICI. LORENZO’S MARRIAGE.

Battle near Rimini—Robert Malatesta—Finances of
Florence—Purchase of Sarzano—Gay Life amid Financial
Difficulties—Position and Life of Lorenzo de’ Medici—Lucrezia
Donati—Lorenzo’s Tournament—Lorenzo’s Engagement—Clarice
Orsini and her Relations—Lucrezia de’ Medici in
Rome—Intelligence of Clarice Orsini—Conclusion of the
Engagement, and Marriage Ceremony in Rome—Marriage Festival
in Florence—Lorenzo’s Journey to Milan to the Christening
of Gian Galeazzo Sforza—Death of Piero de’ Medici, and his
Character—Piero’s Relation to his Party and to the Exiles—King
Ferrante and Piero de’ Medici 222

CHAPTER V.

EVENTS AT HOME AND ABROAD DURING THE FIRST YEARS OF LORENZO’S
SUPREMACY.

Nature and Form of the Medici Rule—The Heads of the Medici
Party after Piero’s death—Tommaso Soderini—Council in St.
Antonio—Accession of the Sons of Piero de’ Medici to the
Position of their Father and Grand-father—Position of Lorenzo
before the Party—Appointment of the Civic Officers—The
Electors—Lorenzo assumes the Direction of Affairs—Foreign
Affairs—Pope Paul II. and Naples—Alliance between Florence,
Naples, and Milan—General Alliance against the Osmanli—Death
of Pope Paul II 244

CHAPTER VI.

POSITION AND RELATIONS OF THE MEDICI.

Splendour of the Medici Family—Their Position at Home and
their Connections Abroad—The Royal Family of Naples—Ippolita
Maria, Duchess of Calabria—The Queen of Bosnia—Luigi Pulci in
relation to the Medici—Pulci’s Journeys and Missions—Camerino
and Naples—Unfortunate Attack against Piombino—Galeazzo Maria
Sforza and his Wife, Bona of Savoy, in Florence—Visit of King
Christian of Denmark—Giovanni Bentivoglio in relation to the
Medici—Proceedings of King Louis XI. and Lorenzo concerning
King Ferrante of Naples—The Relation of Lorenzo towards his
Fellow Citizens—His Manner of Life, Residence in the Country,
and Travels—Madonna Clarice in Umbria and Rome—Visit to Zoe
Palæologa—Lucrezia de’ Medici in Bagno a Morba—The Death of
Madonna Contessina 255

CHAPTER VII.

LORENZO DE’ MEDICI IN ROME. PRATO AND VOLTERRA.

Accession of Sixtus IV. to the Papal Chair—Congratulatory
Embassy from Florence—Lorenzo accompanies it—Disposition
of the new Pope—Attempted Insurrection in Prato—Bernardo
Nardi—Connection of Volterra with Florence—Alum Pits of
Volterra—Dispute about Leasing the Alum—Intervention of
Florence—Tumult in Volterra—Various Views in Florence—Triumph
of the Reigning Faction—Expedition against Volterra—Its
Capture and Sack—Volterra and Florence—Misery of the
Volterraneans 274

CHAPTER VIII.

POPE SIXTUS IV., KING FERRANTE, AND THE MEDICI.

Feelings of Sixtus IV. towards the Medici—Plan for obtaining
the Cardinalate for Giuliano—Cardinal Pietro Riario, Archbishop
of Florence—Eleanor of Aragon Este in Florence—Arrival of
Cardinal-Archbishop Riario—Beginning of the Misunderstanding
between Sixtus and the Medici—Dynastic Ambition of the
Pope—Girolamo Riario, Lord of Imola—Affairs of the City of
Castello—The Vitelli—Niccolò Vitelli in Contention with the
Pope—Florence supports the Vitelli—Displeasure of Sixtus at
the Policy of Florence—Federigo of Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino,
won by the Pope—King Ferrante in the Conflict with Venice and
the Pope—Complications in the East—Alliance of Florence with
Milan and Venice—Alliance of Sixtus IV. with Naples—Uncertain
Policy—Second Marriage of King Ferrante 284

CHAPTER IX.

MILAN, GENOA, AND SIENA.

Cheerful Life in Florence—Tournament of Giuliano de’
Medici—Death of Galeazzo Maria Sforza—Exertions of Florence
on behalf of the Duchess Bona—Roberto da Sanseverino—Parties
in Milan—The Brothers Sforza—Disturbances in Genoa—Relations
of Genoa with France and Milan—Revolt of the Genoese against
the Domination of Milan, and its Suppression—Intrigues of
the Brothers Sforza against the Duchess-Regent, and their
Banishment—Rupture between the Pope and Lorenzo—Francesco
Salviati, Archbishop of Pisa—Causes of the Animosity between
Lorenzo and the Archbishop—Carlo Fortebraccio of Montone
opposed to Siena—Equivocal Conduct of the Florentines—The
Pope and Naples in Favour of Siena—Retreat of Carlo
Fortebraccio—Troubled Relations between the Pope, Siena, and
Florence 298

THIRD BOOK.

_CONSPIRACY OF THE PAZZI. WAR WITH ROME AND NAPLES._

CHAPTER I.

PAZZI CONSPIRACY.

State of Affairs at Home and Abroad—Lorenzo de’ Medici and
the Pazzi—Causes of Enmity—Attitude of Sixtus IV. and
Girolamo Riario towards the Medici—The Plot against the
Medici—Girolamo Riario, Francesco de’ Pazzi, and Francesco
Salviati—Preparations for the Enterprise—Invitation to
Lorenzo to visit Rome—Consultations in Rome—Giovanni Batista
da Montesecco—Meeting of the Conspirators—The Conspirators
and the Papacy—Francesco de’ Pazzi and Montesecco in
Florence—Agreement with Jacopo de’ Pazzi—Francesco Salviati
and Cardinal Raffael Riario—The other Participators in the
Plot—The 26th April, 1478—Attempt in the Cathedral—Death
of Giuliano—Rescue of Lorenzo—The Archbishop of Pisa in
the Palace of the Signory—Conflict around the Palace—Deeds
of Blood in the Palace and in the Streets—Executions and
Murder—Lorenzo’s Address to the People—Legal Measures against
the Pazzi—The Funeral of Giuliano de’ Medici—His Son Giulio 313

CHAPTER II.

ALLIANCES AND COUNTER-ALLIANCES. PREPARATIONS FOR THE CONFLICT.

Dangerous Position and Measures of Precaution—Donato Acciaiuoli
in Rome—The Florentines and the Papacy—Demands of Sixtus
IV.—Florentines in the Castle of St. Angelo—Cardinal Riario in
Florence—His Return to Rome—Bull of Excommunication against
Lorenzo de’ Medici—King Ferrante and Lorenzo—Relations of the
King with Florence and Siena—The Papacy and Bologna—Sixtus
IV.’s Observations on the Events at Florence—The Republic of
Venice and the Florentines—Representations of Venice to the
Papacy—King Louis XI. and his Relation to Florence and the
Papacy—Naples and Burgundy—Mission of Philippe de Commines,
Lord of Argenton—Commines in Florence and Rome—His Opinion of
the States of the Church 337

CHAPTER III.

CAMPAIGN OF 1478.

Allies and Opponents of the Florentines—The Duke of Urbino
on Lorenzo de’ Medici and the Political Situation of
Milan and Venice—Florentine Preparations—The Papal and
Neapolitan Forces—The Valley of the Chiana—Commencement
of the Campaign at Montepulciano—Brief of Pope Sixtus
IV. to the Florentines—Lorenzo de’ Medici before the
Council—Opposition of the Clergy to the Curia—Official
Vindication of the Republic—Reply of Pope Sixtus IV. to
the Florentine Document—Death of Donato Acciaiuoli—Revolt
in Genoa in the Interest of the Brothers Sforza and King
Ferrante—War in the Valley of the Chiana—Bad Condition of the
Florentine Troops—Gian Jacopo Trivulzio—Siege and Capture
of Castellina in Chianti—Ercole of Este Captain-General of
the Florentines—Wretched Management of the War—Loss of Monte
San Savino—Unfavourable Position of the Florentines—Lukewarm
Assistance from the Allies—Plans for the Second Campaign 356

CHAPTER IV.

LOUIS XI. AND SIXTUS IV. SECOND YEAR OF THE WAR.

Philip de Commines on the Condition of Florence—His Second
Residence in Florence and Milan—Louis XI. and Italian
Affairs—French Embassy to Rome—The Envoys and Sixtus
IV.—The Pope’s Stipulations for Peace—Answer of the
Florentines—Ineffectual Negotiations—Departure of the
Envoys from Rome—State of Affairs in Naples and the Papal
Court—Disorder in Milan—Conspiracy of Roberto da Sanseverino
and the Brothers Sforza against the Duchess-Regent—Seizure
of Pisa—Recommencement of the Conflict in the Valley of the
Chiana—War in Perugia—Discord in Florence—Enterprise of
Sanseverino and Ludovico Sforza against Milan—Ludovico Sforza
il Moro Governor-General in Milan—Blowing up of the Florentine
Head-quarters at Poggibonzi in the Valley of the Elsa—Cessation
of Hostilities 371

CHAPTER V.

FLORENCE AND HER ALLIES. LODOVICO IL MORO.

Unfavourable Condition of Florence—Lorenzo’s Position—King
Louis XI. and Italian Intrigues—Negotiations between King
and Pope—Necessity, for Lorenzo, of an Agreement—Diplomatic
Transaction with Lodovico il Moro—Lodovico’s Character and
Position—Lodovico il Moro as Governor—Lodovico on the
Condition of the Florentines—Advice for an Arrangement with
Naples—Filippo Strozzi’s Mission to Naples—Lorenzo de’
Medici’s Resolve on a Journey to Naples—Departure for Pisa and
Bada 386