1476.Dec. 26.Assassination of Duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza[234]
His character by Sanzi[235]
1477.Jan.Federigo prepares to march upon Milan, but attacks Montone[236]
1473. Count Girolamo Riario invested with Forlì and Imola[236]
He is betrothed to Caterina Sforza[236]
Her education and character[237]
1477. Their marriage[237]
The friendship of Sixtus for Lorenzo de' Medici soon interrupted[237]
Revolutions in Florence usually sprang from family feuds[239]
Origin of the Pazzi conspiracy[239]
1478.April 26.It explodes; Giuliano assassinated[240]
Italian conspiracies and politics[241]
The Pope is compromised[242]
Lorenzo appeals to his fellow citizens[243]
The parties to a new war in Tuscany[243]
The Duke's letter to an astrologer[244]
The campaign narrated by Federigo[245]
He breaks his leg[247]
Dec. 23.He goes to the baths of Petriolo[247]
1479.May 23.He leaves Petriolo[247]
Defection of Roberto Malatesta[247]
The Florentines successful at Thrasimene, but worsted in the Val d'Elsa[247]
Nov. 12.Colle surrenders[248]
Its siege painted on a bicherna (note)[248]
State of the Italian artillery[248]
Notices of it by Duke Federigo[249]
Nov. 20.He goes to Siena and receives a donative[251]
” 27.A truce for three months[251]
The unfortunate position of Florence, and disorganisation of its army[251]
Dec. 6.Lorenzo de' Medici goes to Naples to negotiate a treaty[252]
1480.Mar. 25.Peace proclaimed[252]
Dec.Humiliation of the Florentines before Sixtus[253]
1479-1480. Intrigues of the Duke of Calabria at Siena[253]
”” Federigo winters at the baths of Viterbo[253]
”” He receives the Sword and Hat[253]
1480.May 19.His letter to the magistrates at Siena[254]
He returns home[254]
Count Girolamo takes possession of Forlì[254]
Description of his Countess[255]
1474-1479. Progress of the Turks in Europe[256]
1480.Aug. 11.They take Otranto by concert with the Venetians[257]
Consequent panic in Italy, and new combinations of its powers[257]
Federigo summoned by Ferdinand, but detained by Sixtus[257]
1481.May 3.Death of Sultan Mahomet[257]
Aug. 10.Otranto recovered from the Turks[257]

[CHAPTER XII]

1481. Sixtus combines with the Venetians against Ferrara[258]
Federigo declines their offers, and vainly inculcates peace[259]
1482.April 17.He is engaged to command the League in defence of Ferrara[259]
” 23.His departure for the campaign[260]
Description of the seat of war[261]
May 3.War declared by Venice[262]
” 11.The Venetians besiege Ficheruolo[262]
” 4.Federigo's letter to Lorenzo de' Medici[262]
He goes to Milan and Mantua for reinforcements[264]
” 20.Returns to La Stellata[264]
June.Fatal effects of malaria[264]
” 29.Ficheruolo taken[265]
July.Ferrara hard pressed, but obstinately defended by Federigo[265]
His appeal to the Pontiff, who perseveres in his schemes of nepotism[265]
Lawless condition of Rome[266]
Federigo attacked by fever, and relapses[266]
He resigns his command, and retires to Ferrara[267]
Sept. 10.Prepares for death and expires[267]
Simultaneous death of Roberto Malatesta[269]
Character of Duke Federigo, by Poggio Bracciolino[270]
By Francesco di Giorgio[270]
By Pirro Pirotti and Cyrneo[271]
By Vespasiano[272]
Anecdotes preserved by him[273]
His military commands[282]
His funeral[283]
His body subsequently exposed[283]
1482. Notice of his portrait, by Piero della Francesca, with his Countess[284]
By Mantegna, with his son[285]
By an unknown artist[286]
By Fra Carnevale[287]
By Justus of Ghent[288]
By an unknown artist[288]
His children and their marriages[289]

[CHAPTER XIII]

1482. Retrospect for Duke Federigo's reign[295]
1472.Jan. 24.Birth of his son Guidobaldo, who is confirmed by Cardinal Bessarion[296]
July 6.Death of Guidobaldo's mother[296]
His precocious genius and sweet temper[296]
Attested by his tutor Odasio[297]
1482.Sept. 17.His father's death[299]
Position of the duchy[299]
Sept. 17.Investiture of Duke Guidobaldo I.[300]
He is continued in his father's command[301]
1483.Jan. 6.Sixtus deserts the Venetians, and joins the League[301]
Guidobaldo in the service of Naples[303]
July 19.Death of Costanzo Sforza of Pesaro[303]
1484.Aug. 13.Death of Sixtus IV.[304]
” 29.And election of Innocent VIII.[304]
” 11.Treaty of Bagnuolo[305]
1485. The Pontiff attacks Naples.[305]
Guidobaldo retained by him[305]
Aug. 11.Peace restored[305]
1486. Guidobaldo serves under Trivulzio[306]
The regency of Ottaviano Ubaldini terminates[306]
1488.April 14.The assassination of Count Girolamo Riario, and revolution at Forlì[307]
Energetic measures of his widow[307]
The regulations and manners of the court of Urbino[309]
Duke Guidobaldo betrothed to Elisabetta Gonzaga of Mantua[311]
1489.Oct.Their marriage and disappointment of children[312]
1490. Comparative repose of Italy[313]
1492.April 7.Death of Lorenzo de' Medici[314]
July 25, 29.And of the Pope[314]
Aug. 11.Succeeded by Alexander VI.[314]

[CHAPTER XIV]

1492. Condition of the papacy on the accession of Alexander VI.[315]
His family descent and debauched life[316]
Circumstances of his election[317]
His children and their scandalous conduct[318]
Pedigree of the Borgia[320]
The aspect of Italy at the close of her golden age[321]
Described by Guicciardini[322]
Sketch of the disputed succession of Naples, and its results[322]
The condition of Milan and Venice[325]
And of Florence[326]
Character of Charles VIII. of France, and his views upon Italy[327]
Negotiations for an Italian League frustrated by Pietro de' Medici[328]
State of the Roman Campagna and its rival barons[329]
Their feuds fire the train[331]
Ludovico il Moro invites Charles into Italy[331]
1493. Military circumstances of Italy[332]
The condottiere system gradually abandoned[333]
Condemned by Machiavelli[334]
A new system introduced[335]
Lances, stradiotes, and infantry[335]
The Swiss infantry[337]
The lansquenets and Spaniards[338]
Introduction of fire-arms and artillery[338]

[CHAPTER XV]

1494.Jan.Alfonso II. succeeds to the crown of Naples[341]
Position of the Italian powers at the invasion of Charles VIII.[341]
Alfonso's efforts to conciliate the Pontiff and his children[342]
His son Cesare made Cardinal Valentino[343]
The Pope employs Guidobaldo against the Orsini[344]
His first attack of gout[344]
The marriage of Lucrezia Borgia to Giovanni Sforza of Pesaro[344]
Its scandalous orgies[345]
June.Her visit to Urbino[345]
Double-dealing of Alexander with Alfonso[345]
The calamities of the French invasion[346]
Description of Charles VIII. by Guicciardini[346]
And by Mantegna[347]
And by Ludovico il Moro[347]
The campaign opened by Sir Bernard Stuart of Aubigny[348]
Aug. 20.Charles leaves Vienne and reaches Milan[348]
Alfonso alone prepares to oppose him[348]
Sends the Duke of Calabria into Romagna[348]
He is supported by the Duke of Urbino, but without avail[348]
Nov. 9.Tuscany welcomes Charles, and expels the Medici[349]
This revolution graphically described[350]
Financial expedient proposed at Florence[351]
Dec. 31.Charles enters Rome[351]
1495.Jan. 28.Leaves it for Naples[351]
” 23.Alfonso abdicates the crown, and dies soon after[351]
Succeeded by his son Ferdinand II., who retires to Ischia[352]
” 22.Charles takes possession of Naples[352]
Mar. 31.A new League formed against the French[352]
1494.Oct.Ludovico il Moro becomes Duke of Milan[353]
1495. The demoralisation of the French army[353]
May 20.It leaves Naples[353]
July 6.Battle of the Taro, at Fornovo[354]
Oct.It re-enters France[354]
July.Ferdinand II. restored at Naples[354]
1496. Whose French garrison surrenders[355]
Results to Italy of this invasion[355]
1495. The Pisan war, in which Guidobaldo was engaged by the Florentines[356]
Their conduct leads to fresh discord[356]
And to an invasion by Maximilian[357]
Guidobaldo recalled by the Pope to aid in restoring Ferdinand II.[357]
1496.Oct.Who dies soon after[358]
Peace again troubled by Alexander, who attacks the Orsini[358]
Aided by Guidobaldo[358]
His petty campaign against Bracciano[359]
1497.Jan. 23.Is beaten, and taken prisoner[360]
The Venetian Signory interfere in his behalf[361]
A heavy ransom extorted from him with the Pope's connivance[361]