Book VII

Chapter I

Connection of the other Italian governments with the history of Florence -- Republics always disunited -- Some differences are injurious; others not so -- The kind of dissensions prevailing at Florence -- Cosmo de' Medici and Neri Capponi become powerful by dissimilar means -- Reform in the election of magistrates favorable to Cosmo -- Complaints of the principal citizens against the reform in elections -- Luca Pitti, Gonfalonier of Justice, restrains the imborsations by force -- Tyranny and pride of Luca Pitti and his party -- Palace of the Pitti -- Death of Cosmo de' Medici -- His liberality and magnificence -- His modesty -- His prudence -- Sayings of Cosmo.

 

Chapter II

The duke of Milan becomes lord of Genoa -- The king of Naples and the duke of Milan endeavor to secure their dominions to their heirs -- Jacopo Piccinino honorably received at Milan, and shortly afterward murdered at Naples -- Fruitless endeavors of Pius II. to excite Christendom against the Turks -- Death of Francesco Sforza, duke of Milan -- Perfidious counsel given to Piero de' Medici by Diotisalvi Neroni -- Conspiracy of Diotisalvi and others against Piero -- Futile attempts to appease the disorders -- Public spectacles -- Projects of the conspirators against Piero de' Medici -- Niccolo Fedini discloses to Piero the plots of his enemies.

 

Chapter III

Niccolo Soderini drawn Gonfalonier of Justice -- Great hopes excited in consequence -- The two parties take arms -- The fears of the Signory -- Their conduct with regard to Piero -- Piero's reply to the Signory -- Reform of government in favor of Piero de' Medici -- Dispersion of his enemies -- Fall of Lucca Pitti -- Letter of Agnolo Acciajuoli to Piero de' Medici -- Piero's answer -- Designs of the Florentine exiles -- They induce the Venetians to make war on Florence.

 

Chapter IV

War between the Venetians and the Florentines -- Peace re-established -- Death of Niccolo Soderini -- His character -- Excesses in Florence -- Various external events from 1468 to 1471 -- Accession of Sixtus IV. -- His character -- Grief of Piero de' Medici for the violence committed in Florence -- His speech to the principal citizens -- Plans of Piero de' Medici for the restoration of order -- His death and character -- Tommaso Soderini, a citizen of great reputation, declares himself in favor of the Medici -- Disturbances at Prato occasioned by Bernardo Nardi.

 

Chapter V

Bernardo takes possession of Prato, but is not assisted by the inhabitants -- He is taken, and the tumult appeased -- Corruption of Florence -- The duke of Milan in Florence -- The church of Santo Spirito destroyed by fire -- The rebellion of Volterra, and the cause of it -- Volterra reduced to obedience by force, in accordance with the advice of Lorenzo de' Medici -- Volterra pillaged.

 

Chapter VI

Origin of the animosity between Sixtus IV. and Lorenzo de' Medici -- Carlo di Braccio da Perugia attacks the Siennese -- Carlo retires by desire of the Florentines -- Conspiracy against Galeazzo, duke of Milan -- His vices -- He is slain by the conspirators -- Their deaths