Book VIII

Chapter I

State of the family of the Medici at Florence -- Enmity of Sixtus IV. toward Florence -- Differences between the family of the Pazzi and that of the Medici -- Beginning of the conspiracy of the Pazzi -- Arrangements to effect the design of the conspiracy -- Giovanni Batista da Montesecco is sent to Florence -- The pope joins the conspiracy -- The king of Naples becomes a party to it -- Names of the conspirators -- The conspirators make many ineffectual attempts to kill Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici -- The final arrangement -- Order of the conspiracy.

 

Chapter II

State of the family of the Medici at Florence -- Enmity of Sixtus IV. toward Florence -- Differences between the family of the Pazzi and that of the Medici -- Beginning of the conspiracy of the Pazzi -- Arrangements to effect the design of the conspiracy -- Giovanni Batista da Montesecco is sent to Florence -- The pope joins the conspiracy -- The king of Naples becomes a party to it -- Names of the conspirators -- The conspirators make many ineffectual attempts to kill Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici -- The final arrangement -- Order of the conspiracy.

 

Chapter III

The Florentines prepare for war against the pope -- They appeal to a future council -- Papal and Neapolitan movements against the Florentines -- The Venetians refuse to assist the Florentines -- Disturbances in Milan -- Genoa revolts from the duke -- Futile endeavors to effect peace with the pope -- The Florentines repulse their enemies from the territory of Pisa -- They attack the papal states -- The papal forces routed upon the borders of the Lake of Perugia.

 

Chapter IV

The duke of Calabria routs the Florentine army at Poggibonzi -- Dismay in Florence on account of the defeat -- Progress of the duke of Calabria -- The Florentines wish for peace -- Lorenzo de' Medici determines to go to Naples to treat with the king -- Lodovico Sforza, surnamed the Moor, and his brothers, recalled to Milan -- Changes in the government of that city in consequence -- The Genoese take Serezana -- Lorenzo de' Medici arrives at Naples -- Peace concluded with the king -- The pope and the Venetians consent to the peace -- The Florentines in fear of the duke of Calabria -- Enterprises of the Turks -- They take Otranto -- The Florentines reconciled with the pope -- Their ambassadors at the papal court -- The pope's reply to the ambassadors -- The king of Naples restores to the Florentines all the fortresses he had taken.

 

Chapter V

New occasions of war in Italy -- Differences between the marquis of Ferrara, and the Venetians -- The king of Naples and the Florentines attack the papal states -- The pope's defensive arrangements -- The Neapolitan army routed by the papal forces -- Progress of the Venetians against the marquis of Ferrara -- The pope makes peace, and enters into a league against the Venetians -- Operations of the League against the Venetians -- The Venetians routed at Bondeno -- Their losses -- Disunion among the League -- Lodovico Sforza makes peace with the Venetians -- Ratified by the other parties.

 

Chapter VI

Affairs of the pope -- He is reconciled to Niccolo Vitelli -- Discords between the Colonnesi and the Orsini -- Various events -- The war of Serezana -- Genoa occupied by her archbishop -- Death of Sixtus IV. -- Innocent VIII. elected -- Agostino Fregoso gives Serezana to the bank of St. Giorgio -- Account of the bank of St. Giorgio -- War with the Genoese for Serezana -- Stratagem of the Florentines to attack Pietra Santa -- Difficulties and final surrender of Pietra Santa -- The Lucchese lay claim to Pietra Santa -- The city of L'Aquila revolts against the king of Naples -- War between him and the pope -- The Florentines take the king's party -- Peace between the pope and the king.

 

Chapter VII

The pope becomes attached to the Florentines -- The Genoese seize Serezanello -- They are routed by the Florentines -- Serezana surrenders -- Genoa submits to the duke of Milan -- War between the Venetians and the Dutch -- Osimo revolts from the church -- Count Girolamo Riario, lord of Furli, slain by a conspiracy -- Galeotto, lord of Faenza, is murdered by the treachery of his wife -- The government of the city offered to the Florentines -- Disturbances in Sienna -- Death of Lorenzo de' Medici -- His eulogy -- Establishment of his family -- Estates bought by Lorenzo -- His anxiety for the defense of Florence -- His taste for arts and literature -- The university of Pisa -- The estimation of Lorenzo by other princes.