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made war with Ladislaus； king of Naples； who finding himself in great
danger ceded to them the city of Cortona of which he was master； but
soon afterward； recovering his power； he renewed the war； which became
far more disastrous to the Florentines than before； and had it not； in
1414； been terminated by his death； as that of Lombardy had been by
the death of the duke of Milan； he； like the duke； would have brought
Florence into great danger of losing her liberty。 Nor was the war with
the king concluded with less good fortune than the former； for when he
had taken Rome； Sienna； the whole of La Marca and Romagna； and had
only Florence itself to vanquish； he died。 Thus death has always been
more favorable to the Florentines than any other friend； and more
potent to save them than their own valor。 From the time of the king's
decease； peace was preserved both at home and abroad for eight years；
at the end of which； with the wars of Filippo； duke of Milan； the
spirit of faction again broke out； and was only appeased by the ruin
of that government which continued from 1381 to 1434； had conducted
with great glory so many enterprises； acquired Arezzo； Pisa； Cortona；
Leghorn； and Monte Pulciano； and would have accomplished more if the
citizens had lived in unity； and had not revived former factions； as
in the following book will be particularly shown。
BOOK IV
CHAPTER I
License and Slavery peculiar defects in republican governments
Application of this reflection to the state of FlorenceGiovanni
di Bicci di' Medici re…establishes the authority of his family
Filippo Visconti； duke of Milan； endeavors to make amicable
arrangements with the FlorentinesTheir jealousy of him
Precautionary measures against himWar declaredThe Florentines
are routed by the ducal forces。
Republican governments； more especially those imperfectly organized；
frequently change their rulers and the form of their institutions； not
by the influence of liberty or subjection； as many suppose； but by
that of slavery and license； for with the nobility or the people； the
ministers respectively of slavery or licentiousness； only the name of
liberty is in any estimation； neither of them choosing to be subject
either to magistrates or laws。 When； however； a good； wise； and
powerful citizen appears （which is but seldom）； who establishes
ordinances capable of appeasing or restraining these contending
dispositions； so as to prevent them from doing mischief； then the
government may be called free； and its institutions firm and secure；
for having good laws for its basis； and good regulations for carrying
them into effect； it needs not； like others； the virtue of one man for
its maintenance。 With such excellent laws and institutions； many of
those ancient republics； which were of long duration； were endowed。
But these advantages are； and always have been； denied to those which
frequently change from tyranny to license； or the reverse； because；
from the powerful enemies which each condition creates itself； they
neither have； nor can possess any stability； for tyranny cannot please
the good； and license is offensive to the wise： the former may easily
be productive of mischief； while the latter can scarcely be
beneficial； in the former； the insolent have too much authority； and
in the latter； the foolish； so that each requires for their welfare
the virtue and the good fortune of some individual who may be removed
by death； or become unserviceable by misfortune。
Hence； it appears； that the government which commenced in Florence at
the death of Giorgio Scali； in 1381； was first sustained by the
talents of Maso degli Albizzi； and then by those of Niccolo da Uzzano。
The city remained tranquil from 1414 to 1422； for King Ladislaus was
dead； and Lombardy divided into several parts； so that there was
nothing either internal or external to occasion uneasiness。 Next to
Niccolo da Uzzano in authority； were Bartolomeo Valori； Neroni di
Nigi； Rinaldo degli Albizzi； Neri di Gino； and Lapo Niccolini。 The
factions that arose from the quarrels of the Albizzi and the Ricci；
and which were afterward so unhappily revived by Salvestro de' Medici；
were never extinguished； for though the party most favored by the
rabble only continued three years； and in 1381 was put down； still； as
it comprehended the greatest numerical proportion； it was never
entirely extinct； though the frequent Balias and persecutions of its
leaders from 1381 to 1400； reduced it almost to nothing。 The first
families that suffered in this way were the Alberti； the Ricci； and
the Medici； which were frequently deprived both of men and money； and
if any of them remained in the city； they were deprived of the honors
of government。 These oft…repeated acts of oppression humiliated the
faction； and almost annihilated it。 Still； many retained the
remembrance of the injuries they had received； and a desire of
vengeance remained pent in their bosoms； ungratified and unquenched。
Those nobles of the people； or new nobility； who peaceably governed
the city； committed two errors； which eventually caused the ruin of
their party； the first was； that by long continuance in power they
became insolent； the second； that the envy they entertained toward
each other； and their uninterrupted possession of power； destroyed
that vigilance over those who might injure them； which they ought to
have exercised。 Thus daily renewing the hatred of a mass of the people
by their sinister proceedings； and either negligent of the threatened
dangers； because rendered fearless by prosperity； or encouraging them
through mutual envy； they gave an opportunity to the family of the
Medici to recover their influence。 The first to do so was Giovanni di
Bicci de' Medici； who having become one of the richest men； and being
of a humane and benevolent disposition； obtained the supreme
magistracy by the consent of those in power。 This circumstance gave so
much gratification to the mass of the people （the multitude thinking
they had now found a defender）； that not without occasion the
judicious of the party observed it with jealousy； for they perceived
all the former feelings of the city revived。 Niccolo da Uzzano did not
fail to acquaint the other citizens with the matter； explaining to
them how dangerous it was to aggrandize one who possessed so much
influence； that it was easy to remedy an evil at its commencement； but
exceedingly difficult after having allowed it to gather strength； and
that Giovanni possessed several qualities far surpassing those of
Salvestro。 The associates of Niccolo were uninfluenced by his remarks；
for they were jealous of his reputation； and desired to exalt some
person； by means of whom he might be humbled。
This was the state of Florence； in which opposing feelings began to be
observable； when Filippo Visconti； second son of Giovanni Galeazzo；
having； by the death of his brother； become master of all Lombardy；
and thinking he might undertake almost anything； greatly desired to
recover Genoa； which enjoyed freedom under the Dogiate of Tommaso da
Campo Fregoso。 He did not think it advisable to attempt this； or any
other enterprise； till he had renewed amicable relations with the
Florentines； and made his good understanding with them known； but with
the aid of their reputation he trusted he should attain his wishes。 He
therefore sent ambassadors to Florence to signify his desires。 Many
citizens were opposed to his design； but did not wish to interrupt the
peace with Milan； which had now continued for many years。 They were
fully aware of the advantages he would derive from a war with Genoa；
and the little use it would be to Florence。 Many others were inclined
to accede to it； but would set a limit to his proceedings； which； if
he were to exceed； all would perceive his base design； and thus they
might； when the treaty was broken； more justifiably make war against
him。 The question having been strongly debated； an amicable
arrangement was at length effected； by which Filippo engaged not to
interfere with anything on the Florentine side of the rivers Magra and
Panaro。
Soon after the treaty was concluded； the duke took possession of
Brescia； and shortly afterward of Genoa； contrary to the expectation
of those who had advocated peace； for they thought Brescia would be
defended by the Venetians； and Genoa would be able to defend herself。
And as in the treaty which Filippo made with the Doge of Genoa； he had
acquired Serezana and other places situated on this side the Magra；
upon condition that； if he wished to alienate them； they should be
given to the Genoese； it was quite palpable that he had broken the
treaty； and he had； besides； entered into another treaty with the
legate of Bologna； in opposition to his engagement respecting the
Panaro。 These things disturbed the minds of the citizens； and made
them； apprehensive of ne