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allowed to recover from the princes of Montferrat and Savoy the places
they had taken。 To the other Italian powers a month was allowed to
ratify the treaty。 The pope and the Florentines； and with them the
Siennese and other minor powers； acceded to it within the time。
Besides this； the Florentines； the Venetians； and the duke concluded a
treaty of peace for twenty…five years。 King Alfonso alone exhibited
dissatisfaction at what had taken place； thinking he had not been
sufficiently considered； that he stood； not on the footing of a
principal； but only ranked as an auxiliary； and therefore kept aloof；
and would not disclose his intentions。 However； after receiving a
legate from the pope； and many solemn embassies from other powers； he
allowed himself to be persuaded； principally by means of the pontiff；
and with his son joined the League for thirty years。 The duke and the
king also contracted a twofold relationship and double marriage； each
giving a daughter to a son of the other。 Notwithstanding this； that
Italy might still retain the seeds of war； Alfonso would not consent
to the peace； unless the League would allow him； without injury to
themselves； to make war upon the Genoese； Gismondo Malatesti； and
Astorre； prince of Faenza。 This being conceded； his son Ferrando； who
was at Sienna； returned to the kingdom； having by his coming into
Tuscany acquired no dominion and lost a great number of his men。
Upon the establishment of a general peace； the only apprehension
entertained was； that it would be disturbed by the animosity of
Alfonso against the Genoese； yet it happened otherwise。 The king；
indeed； did not openly infringe the peace； but it was frequently
broken by the ambition of the mercenary troops。 The Venetians； as
usual on the conclusion of a war； had discharged Jacopo Piccinino； who
with some other unemployed condottieri； marched into Romagna； thence
into the Siennese； and halting in the country； took possession of many
places。 At the commencement of these disturbances； and the beginning
of the year 1455； Pope Nicholas died； and was succeeded by Calixtus
III。； who； to put a stop to the war newly broken out so near home；
immediately sent Giovanni Ventimiglia； his general； with what forces
he could furnish。 These being joined by the troops of the Florentines
and the duke of Milan； both of whom furnished assistance； attacked
Jacopo； near Bolsena； and though Ventimiglia was taken prisoner； yet
Jacopo was worsted； and retreated in disorder to Castiglione della
Pescaia； where； had he not been assisted by Alfonso； his force would
have been completely annihilated。 This made it evident that Jacopo's
movement had been made by order of Alfonso； and the latter； as if
palpably detected； to conciliate his allies； after having almost
alienated them with this unimportant war； ordered Jacopo to restore to
the Siennese the places he had taken； and they gave him twenty
thousand florins by way of ransom； after which he and his forces were
received into the kingdom of Naples。
CHAPTER VII
Christendom alarmed by the progress of the TurksThe Turks routed
before BelgradeDescription of a remarkable hurricaneWar
against the Genoese and Gismondo MalatestiGenoa submits to the
king of FranceDeath of Alfonso king of NaplesSucceeded by his
son FerrandoThe pope designs to give the kingdom of Naples to
his nephew Piero Lodovico BorgiaEulogy of Pius II。Disturbances
in Genoa between John of Anjou and the FregosiThe Fregosi
subduedJohn attacks the kingdom of NaplesFerrando king of
Naples routedFerrando reinstatedThe Genoese cast off the
French yokeJohn of Anjou routed in the kingdom of Naples。
The pope； though anxious to restrain Jacopo Piccinino； did not neglect
to make provision for the defense of Christendom； which seemed in
danger from the Turks。 He sent ambassadors and preachers into every
Christian country； to exhort princes and people to arm in defense of
their religion； and with their persons and property to contribute to
the enterprise against the common enemy。 In Florence； large sums were
raised； and many citizens bore the mark of a red cross upon their
dress to intimate their readiness to become soldiers of the faith。
Solemn processions were made； and nothing was neglected either in
public or private； to show their willingness to be among the most
forward to assist the enterprise with money； counsel； or men。 But the
eagerness for this crusade was somewhat abated； by learning that the
Turkish army； being at the siege of Belgrade； a strong city and
fortress in Hungary； upon the banks of the Danube； had been routed and
the emperor wounded； so that the alarm felt by the pope and all
Christendom； on the loss of Constantinople； having ceased to operate；
they proceeded with deliberately with their preparations for war； and
in Hungary their zeal was cooled through the death of Giovanni Corvini
the Waiwode； who commanded the Hungarian forces on that memorable
occasion； and fell in the battle。
To return to the affairs of Italy。 In the year 1456； the disturbances
occasioned by Jacopo Piccinino having subsided； and human weapons laid
aside； the heavens seemed to make war against the earth； dreadful
tempestuous winds then occurring； which produced effects unprecedented
in Tuscany； and which to posterity will appear marvelous and
unaccountable。 On the twenty…fourth of August； about an hour before
daybreak； there arose from the Adriatic near Ancona； a whirlwind；
which crossing from east to west； again reached the sea near Pisa；
accompanied by thick clouds； and the most intense and impenetrable
darkness； covering a breadth of about two miles in the direction of
its course。 Under some natural or supernatural influence； this vast
and overcharged volume of condensed vapor burst； its fragments
contended with indescribable fury； and huge bodies sometimes ascending
toward heaven； and sometimes precipitated upon the earth； struggled；
as it were； in mutual conflict； whirling in circles with intense
velocity； and accompanied by winds； impetuous beyond all conception；
while flashes of awful brilliancy； and murky； lurid flames incessantly
broke forth。 From these confused clouds； furious winds； and momentary
fires； sounds issued； of which no earthquake or thunder ever heard
could afford the least idea； striking such awe into all； that it was
thought the end of the world had arrived； that the earth； waters；
heavens； and entire universe； mingling together； were being resolved
into their ancient chaos。 Wherever this awful tempest passed； it
produced unprecedented and marvelous effects； but these were more
especially experienced near the castle of St。 Casciano； about eight
miles from Florence； upon the hill which separates the valleys of Pisa
and Grieve。 Between this castle and the Borgo St。 Andrea； upon the
same hill； the tempest passed without touching the latter； and in the
former； only threw down some of the battlements and the chimneys of a
few houses； but in the space between them； it leveled many buildings
quite to the ground。 The roofs of the churches of St。 Martin； at
Bagnolo； and Santa Maria della Pace； were carried more than a mile；
unbroken as when upon their respective edifices。 A muleteer and his
beasts were driven from the road into the adjoining valley； and found
dead。 All the large oaks and lofty trees which could not bend beneath
its influence； were not only stripped of their branches but borne to a
great distance from the places where they grew； and when the tempest
had passed over and daylight made the desolation visible； the
inhabitants were transfixed with dismay。 The country had lost all its
habitable character； churches and dwellings were laid in heaps；
nothing was heard but the lamentations of those whose possessions had
perished； or whose cattle or friends were buried beneath the ruins；
and all who witnessed the scene were filled with anguish or
compassion。 It was doubtless the design of the Omnipotent； rather to
threaten Tuscany than to chastise her； for had the hurricane been
directed over the city； filled with houses and inhabitants； instead of
proceeding among oaks and elms； or small and thinly scattered
dwellings； it would have been such a scourge as the mind； with all its
ideas of horror； could not have conceived。 But the Almighty desired
that this slight example should suffice to recall the minds of men to
a knowledge of himself and of his power。
To return to our history。 King Alfonso was dissatisfied with the
peace； and as the war which he had unnecessarily caused Jacopo
Piccinino to make against the Siennese； had produced no important
result； he resolved to try what could be done against those whom the
conditions of the League permitted him to attack。 He therefore； in the
year 1456； assailed the Genoese； both by sea and by land； designing to
deprive the Fregosi of the government and restore the Adorni。 At the