Book VI

Chapter I

Reflections on the object of war and the use of victory -- Niccolo reinforces his army -- The duke of Milan endeavors to recover the services of Count Francesco Sforza -- Suspicions of the Venetians -- They acquire Ravenna -- The Florentines purchase the Borgo San Sepolcro of the pope -- Piccinino makes an excursion during the winter -- The count besieged in his camp before Martinengo -- The insolence of Niccolo Piccinino -- The duke in revenge makes peace with the league -- Sforza assisted by the Florentines.

 

Chapter II

Discords of Florence -- Jealousy excited against Neri di Gino Capponi -- Baldaccio d'Anghiari murdered -- Reform of government in favor of the Medici -- Enterprises of Sforza and Piccinino -- Death of Niccolo Piccinino -- End of the war -- Disturbances in Bologna -- Annibale Bentivoglio slain by Battista Canneschi, and the latter by the people -- Santi, supposed to be the son of Ercole Bentivoglio, is called to govern the city of Bologna -- Discourse of Cosmo de' Medici to him -- Perfidious designs of the duke of Milan against Sforza -- General war in Italy -- Losses of the duke of Milan -- The duke has recourse to the count, who makes peace with him -- Offers of the duke and the Venetians to the count -- The Venetians furtively deprive the count of Cremona.

 

Chapter III

Death of Filippo Visconti, duke of Milan -- The Milanese appoint Sforza their captain -- Milan becomes a republic -- The pope endeavors to restore peace to Italy -- The Venetians oppose this design -- Alfonso attacks the Florentines -- The neighborhood of Piombino becomes the principal theater of war -- Scarcity in the Florentine camp -- Disorders occur in the Neapolitan and Florentine armies -- Alfonso sues for peace and is compelled to retreat -- Pavia surrenders to the count -- Displeasure of the Milanese -- The count besieges Caravaggio -- The Venetians endeavor to relieve the place -- They are routed by the count before Caravaggio.

 

Chapter IV

The count's successes -- The Venetians come to terms with him -- Views of the Venetians -- Indignation of the Milanese against the count -- Their ambassador's address to him -- The count's moderation and reply -- The count and the Milanese prepare for war -- Milanese ambassadors at Venice -- League of the Venetians and Milanese -- The count dupes the Venetians and Milanese -- He applies for assistance to the Florentines -- Diversity of opinions in Florence on the subject -- Neri di Gino Capponi averse to assisting the count -- Cosmo de' Medici disposed to do so -- The Florentines sent ambassadors to the count.

 

Chapter V

Prosecution of the war between the count and the Milanese -- The Milanese reduced to extremity -- The people rise against the magistrates -- Milan surrenders to the count -- League between the new duke of Milan and the Florentines, and between the king of Naples and the Venetians -- Venetian and Neapolitan ambassadors at Florence -- Answer of Cosmo de' Medici to the Venetian ambassador -- Preparations of the Venetians and the king of Naples for the war -- The Venetians excite disturbances in Bologna -- Florence prepares for war -- The emperor, Frederick III. at Florence -- War in Lombardy between the duke of Milan and the Venetians -- Ferrando, son of the king of Naples, marches into Tuscany against the Florentines.

 

Chapter VI

Conspiracy of Stefano Porcari against the papal government -- The conspirators discovered and punished -- The Florentines recover the places they had lost -- Gherardo Gambacorti, lord of Val di Bagno, endeavors to transfer his territories to the king of Naples -- Gallant conduct of Antonio Gualandi, who counteracts the design of Gambacorti -- Renè of Anjou is called into Italy by the Florentines -- Renè returns to France -- The pope endeavors to restore peace -- Peace proclaimed -- Jacopo Piccinino attacks the Siennese.

 

Chapter VII

Christendom alarmed by the progress of the Turks -- The Turks routed before Belgrade -- Description of a remarkable hurricane -- War against the Genoese and Gismondo Malatesti -- Genoa submits to the king of France -- Death of Alfonso king of Naples -- Succeeded by his son Ferrando -- The pope designs to give the kingdom of Naples to his nephew Piero Lodovico Borgia -- Eulogy of Pius II. -- Disturbances in Genoa between John of Anjou and the Fregosi -- The Fregosi subdued -- John attacks the kingdom of Naples -- Ferrando king of Naples routed -- Ferrando reinstated -- The Genoese cast off the French yoke -- John of Anjou routed in the kingdom of Naples.