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—Causesof Enmity—Attitude of Sixtus IV. and Girolamo Riario towardsthe Medici—The Plot against the Medici—Girolamo Riario, Francescode’ Pazzi, and Francesco Salviati—Preparations for the Enterprise—Invitationto Lorenzo to visit Rome—Consultations in Rome—GiovanniBatista da Montesecco—Meeting of the Conspirators—The Conspiratorsand the Papacy—Francesco de’ Pazzi and Montesecco in Florence—Agreementwith Jacopo de’ Pazzi—Francesco Salviati and Cardinal RaffaelRiario—The other Participators in the Plot—The 26th April, 1478—Attemptin the Cathedral—Death of Giuliano—Rescue of Lorenzo—TheArchbishop of Pisa in the Palace of the Signory—Conflict aroundthe Palace—Deeds of Blood in the Palace and in the Streets—Executionsand Murder—Lorenzo’s Address to the People—Legal Measures againstthe Pazzi—The Funeral of Giuliano de’ Medici—His Son Giulio | [313] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| ALLIANCES AND COUNTER-ALLIANCES. PREPARATIONS FORTHE CONFLICT. | |
| Dangerous Position and Measures of Precaution—Donato Acciaiuoli in Rome—TheFlorentines and the Papacy—Demands of Sixtus IV.—Florentinesin the Castle of St. Angelo—Cardinal Riario in Florence—His Returnto Rome—Bull of Excommunication against Lorenzo de’ Medici—KingFerrante and Lorenzo—Relations of the King with Florence and Siena—ThePapacy and Bologna—Sixtus IV.’s Observations on the Eventsat Florence—The Republic of Venice and the Florentines—Representationsof Venice to the Papacy—King Louis XI. and his Relation toFlorence and the Papacy—Naples and Burgundy—Mission of Philippede Commines, Lord of Argenton—Commines in Florence and Rome—HisOpinion of the States of the Church | [337] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| CAMPAIGN OF 1478. | |
| Allies and Opponents of the Florentines—The Duke of Urbino on Lorenzode’ Medici and the Political Situation of Milan and Venice—FlorentinePreparations—The Papal and Neapolitan Forces—The Valley of theChiana—Commencement of the Campaign at Montepulciano—Brief of PopeSixtus IV. to the Florentines—Lorenzo de’ Medici before the Council—Oppositionof the Clergy to the Curia—Official Vindication of the Republic—Replyof Pope Sixtus IV. to the Florentine Document—Death of DonatoAcciaiuoli—Revolt in Genoa in the Interest of the Brothers Sforza andKing Ferrante—War in the Valley of the Chiana—Bad Condition of theFlorentine Troops—Gian Jacopo Trivulzio—Siege and Capture of Castellinain Chianti—Ercole of Este Captain-General of the Florentines—WretchedManagement of the War—Loss of Monte San Savino—UnfavourablePosition of the Florentines—Lukewarm Assistance from theAllies—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 inFlorence and Milan—Louis XI. and Italian Affairs—French Embassy toRome—The Envoys and Sixtus IV.—The Pope’s Stipulations for Peace—Answerof the Florentines—Ineffectual Negotiations—Departure of theEnvoys from Rome—State of Affairs in Naples and the Papal Court—Disorderin Milan—Conspiracy of Roberto da Sanseverino and theBrothers Sforza against the Duchess-Regent—Seizure of Pisa—Recommencementof the Conflict in the Valley of the Chiana—War inPerugia—Discord in Florence—Enterprise of Sanseverino and LudovicoSforza against Milan—Ludovico Sforza il Moro Governor-General in Milan—Blowingup of the Florentine Head-quarters at Poggibonzi in theValley 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 ilMoro—Lodovico’s Character and Position—Lodovico il Moro as Governor—Lodovicoon the Condition of the Florentines—Advice for an Arrangementwith Naples—Filippo Strozzi’s Mission to Naples—Lorenzo de’Medici’s Resolve on a Journey to Naples—Departure for Pisa andBada | [386] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| LORENZO DE’ MEDICI IN NAPLES. PEACE WITH KING AND POPE. | |
| Lorenzo’s Arrival in Naples—Lorenzo and King Ferrante—Impression producedin Florence by his Decision and the Variety of Opinions—Uncertaintyin Florence and in the Romagna—Sixtus IV. and the PeaceNegotiations—Sixtus IV. on the Management of the Dispute—Lorenzo’sinsecure Position—The Dynasties of the Romagna—Diomede Carafa, Countof Maddalini—Lorenzo’s Connections in Naples—The Royal Family—TheDuchess of Calabria—Lorenzo’s Return Home—Proclamation andConditions of Peace—Insecure Relations with Sixtus IV.—Difficulties ofthe Affairs of Romagna—The Ordelaffi—Forli in Possession of GirolamoRiario—The Condition of Siena—The Duke of Calabria and the Sienese—PoliticalAgitation in Siena in Favour of the Nobility, at the Instigationof the Duke of Calabria—Conquest of Otranto by the Turks—Retirementof the Duke of Calabria from Siena—Florentine Embassy to Sixtus IV.—Reconciliationand Peace | [401] |
THE MEDICI IN RELATION TO LITERATURE AND ART.
First Part.
HUMANIST AND POPULAR LITERATURE TO THE SECOND HALF OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| BEGINNINGS OF HUMANISM. COLUCCIO SALUTATI AND POGGIOBRACCIOLINI. THE BOOK TRADE. | |
| Contrast between Mediæval Culture and Humanism—Character and Significanceof Humanism—Florentine Education—Lapo da Castiglionichioand Luigi Marsigli—The University—Greek Studies—Manuel Chrysoloras—EarlyStudy of Greek Learning in Florence—Poggio Braccioliniand his Discoveries—The Manuscript Business of the Fourteenth Century—AncientBook Trade—Copyists in the Universities and Monasteries—Scarcityof Books and their High Prices—Increase of the Trade in Manuscripts—PaperManufacture | [425] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| LEONARDO BRUNI AND THE FLORENTINE HUMANISTS. FRANCESCOFILELFO. COSIMO DE’ MEDICI. | |
| Leonardo Bruni Aretino—Ambrogio Traversari—The Camaldula Convent ofthe Angeli—Niccolò Niccoli—Niccoli’s Collection of Books—Carlo MarsuppiniAretino—Beginning of the Translation of the Iliad—GiannozzoManetti—Higher Education and the Universities—Jurisprudenceand Statute Law—Palla Strozzi and the University—Rinaldo degli Albizzi,and his Political Writings—Francesco Filelfo of Tolentino in Florence—Filelfoas Teacher and Politician—The Brothers Cosimo and Lorenzo de’Medici in the World of Letters—Their Connection with Poggio Bracciolini—Cosimoas a Collector—Ciriaco Pizzicolli of Ancona—RomanWant of Culture—Enoch of Ascoli and Antonio of Todi | [440] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| THE COUNCIL OF UNION AND PLATONISM. COSIMO DE’ MEDICI’SLATER YEARS. | |
| Pope Eugene IV. and the Papal Court in Florence—The Greeks in Florence—Gemisto’sPlethon—Origin of the Platonic Academy—Youth of MarsilioFicino—John Argyropulos—Philosophical Studies—Cristoforo LandinoSaint Antoninus Archbishop of Florence—Orlando Bonarli as Archbishop—Epistolariesand Dedications—Hermaphroditus—Literature and Life—AgnoloPandolfini—Villa Life—Franco Sachetti—Poggio Bracciolini’sCountry Life—Learned Connections of Florence with Foreign Countries—WilliamGrey, Earl of Worcester, and others—The Humanists duringthe Last Years of Cosimo de’ Medici—Erudition and the Vernacular | [457] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| LIBRARIES AND THE BOOK TRADE. VESPASIANO DA BISTICCI. | |
| Cosimo de’ Medici’s Library Establishments—San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice—Libraryof the San Marco Convent—The Niccolo Manuscripts—Libraryof the Abbey of Fiesole—Inscriptions of the Codices—The Duke of Urbinoand Vespasiano da Bisticci—The Copyists of the Fifteenth Century—TheMaterial Perfection of the Copies—Prices—Manuscripts and PrintedMatter | [472] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| LITERATURE OF THE VULGAR TONGUE. POPULAR AND SACREDPOETRY OF THE PEOPLE. | |
| The Italian Language and Literature at the Beginning of the FifteenthCentury—Fra Giovanni de’ Medici’s Book on Domestic Life—Leon BatistaAlberti and the Vulgar Tongue—Poetical Competition in the Cathedral—Corruptionof the Language in the Hands of the Learned—The VulgarTongue—Caterina of Siena Letters—Religious Sentiment among thePeople and in their Literature—Sacred Poetry of the People—The Fraternitiesand their Hymns—The Jesuits and their Poetry—Substance andMelody of the Hymns—Feo Belcari; his Poems and Prose Writings—GirolamoBenivieni—Lucrezia Tornabuoni de’ Medici as a Sacred Poetess—HistoricalWritings in the Vulgar Tongue—Gino Capponi—BuonaccorsoPitti—Jacopo Salviati—Neri Capponi—Domenico Buoninsegni—GoroDati—Giovanni Cavalcanti | [482] |