FLORENCE UNDER THE MEDICI
GOVERNMENT OF PIERO DE MEDICI (1464-1469)
Piero "Il Gottoso" (gout-ridden), son of Cosimo
Republican opposition headed by Niccolo Soderini and Luca Pitti
1465 Soderini leads campaign to restore
secret elections
serves
two months as gonfaloniere; speeches in favor of "liberty"
1466 attempted anti-Medici revolt
death
of Francesco Sforza weakens Cosimo's Florence/Milan alliance
Republicans
encourage Venice & Ferrara to attack Florence
balance
of power restored by Naples/Milan support for Medici Florence
emergency
commission (balia) exiles Niccolo Soderini (but Niccolo's
brother,
Tommaso Soderini, remains as leader of the Medici faction)
Pitti
Palace confiscated and occupied by Medici
For republican opposition under Piero, see Mark Phillips, Memoir of Marco
Parenti
Marco
Parenti is merchant who marries into Strozzi family after exile of
male
members of Strozzi by Cosimo in 1434; wrote a political memoir;
Phillips'
other major source is the correspondence of Alessandra Strozzi:
Letters
of Alessandra Strozzi, English translation available for papers on women
wife
& mother of exiled Strozzi men remains behind in Florence;
corresponds
with her sons who are bankers in Naples & Spain;
excellent
source for role of women "behind the scenes" of political issues,
her
major goal is getting her family re-admitted to Florence
matchmaking
documented as she tries to find local wives for exiled sons.
LORENZO DE MEDICI (1469-1492) "IL MAGNIFICO"
1469
marries Clarice Orsini old noble Roman family: sign of princely status
joint
heir with brother Guiliano, but Lorenzo assumes leadership after
"petition"
by Tommaso Soderini; receives title of "Magnifico"
Foreign Affairs
1471-1484
Pope Sixtus IV (Della Rovere) resumes papal conquest of central Italy
1474-80
war against Papal expansion: Venice, Milan, Florence vs Papacy, Naples
PAZZI CONSPIRACY: Anti-Medici assassination plot inspired by events in
1476
Milan: assassination of Duke Galeazzo Maria, by assassins with republican
humanist
motives; had read classical treatises on tyrannicide;
power
seized by Ludovico il Moro (brother in law of Duke's widow)
1478 Florence: Pazzi Conspiracy: direct inspiration from Milanese assassination
Pazzi
= old Florentine noble family, banned from politics in 1292;
readmitted
to Florence by Cosimo with marriage alliance, but
Pazzi
have rival bank with headquarters in Rome, resent Medici
plot
to kill Lorenzo & Giuliano, seize government for Pazzi family
mercenary
captain (condottiere) Gian Battista Montesecco hired
but
backs out when plan is set for assassination in cathedral
Papal
role of Sixtus IV 1) 1476 transfers papal accounts to Pazzi Bank,
2)
appoints Francesco Salviati (Medici enemy) Archbishop of Pisa
3)
approves overthrow of Medici, but not their assassination
4)
publicly denounces Medici "tyranny" as abomination to God
April 26: assassination of Giuliano (killed) and Lorenzo (survived) set for
Sunday
Mass in Florentine Cathedral (Duomo) Santa Maria del Fiore;
Archbishop
Salviati has role in revolt, occupies palace for Pazzi
expect
republican support; Pazzi attempt to use republican slogan
"Popolo
et liberta"; crowd replies "Palle, Palle" (Medici symbol)
Florence
remains loyal to Medici, revolt fails
execution
of Francesco Pazzi and Archbishop Salviati angers Pope
1478-80 war resumed: Florence, Venice, Milan vs Naples & Papacy
1479
Ludovico's seizure of power in Milan strengthens Florence
Lorenzo
travels to Naples to negotiate with King Ferrante
1480
Turkish invasion of Otranto distracts Pope, withdraws from war;
Lorenzo
returns as "savior of Florence" because of truce