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deprive the Fregosi of the government and restore the Adorni。 At the
same time； he ordered Jacopo Piccinino to cross the Tronto； and attack
Gismondo Malatesti； who； having fortified his territories； did not
concern himself； and this part of the king's enterprise produced no
effect； but his proceedings against Genoa occasioned more wars against
himself and his kingdom than he could have wished。 Piero Fregoso was
then doge of Genoa； and doubting his ability to sustain the attack of
the king； he determined to give what he could not hold； to some one
who might defend it against his enemies； in hope； that at a future
period； he should obtain a return for the benefit conferred。 He
therefore sent ambassadors to Charles VII。 of France； and offered him
the government of Genoa。 Charles accepted the offer； and sent John of
Anjou； the son of King Ren？ who had a short time previously left
Florence and returned to France； to take possession with the idea；
that he； having learned the manners and customs of Italy； would be
able to govern the city； and also that this might give him an
opportunity of undertaking the conquest of Naples； of which Ren？
John's father； had been deprived by Alfonso。 John； therefore；
proceeded to Genoa； where he was received as prince； and the
fortresses； both of the city and the government； given up to him。 This
annoyed Alfonso； with the fear that he had brought upon himself too
powerful an enemy。 He was not； however； dismayed； but pursued his
enterprise vigorously； and had led his fleet to Porto； below
Villamarina； when he died after a sudden illness； and thus John and
the Genoese were relieved from the war。 Ferrando； who succeeded to the
kingdom of his father Alfonso； became alarmed at having so powerful an
enemy in Italy； and was doubtful of the disposition of many of his
barons； who being desirous of change； he feared would take part with
the French。 He was also apprehensive of the pope； whose ambition he
well knew； and who seeing him new in the government； might design to
take it from him。 He had no hope except from the duke of Milan； who
entertained no less anxiety concerning the affairs of the kingdom than
Ferrando； for he feared that if the French were to obtain it； they
would endeavor to annex his own dominions； which he knew they
considered to be rightfully their own。 He； therefore； soon after the
death of Alfonso； sent letters and forces to Ferrando； the latter to
give him aid and influence； the former to encourage him with an
intimation that he would not； under any circumstances； forsake him。
The pontiff intended； after the death of Alfonso； to give the kingdom
of Naples to his nephew Piero Lodovico Borgia； and； to furnish a
decent pretext for his design and obtain the concurrence of the powers
of Italy in its favor he signified a wish to restore that realm to the
dominion of the church of Rome； and therefore persuaded the duke not
to assist Ferrando。 But in the midst of these views and opening
enterprises； Calixtus died； and Pius II。 of Siennese origin； of the
family of the Piccolomini； and by name 苙eas； succeeded to the
pontificate。 This pontiff； free from the ties of private interest；
having no object but to benefit Christendom and honor the church； at
the duke's entreaty crowned Ferrando king of Naples； judging it easier
to establish peace if the kingdom remained in the hands which at
present held it； than if he were to favor the views of the French； or；
as Calixtus purposed； take it for himself。 Ferrando； in acknowledgment
of the benefit； created Antonio； one of the pope's nephews； prince of
Malfi； gave him an illegitimate daughter of his own in marriage； and
restored Benevento and Terracina to the church。
It thus appeared that the internal dissensions of Italy might be
quelled； and the pontiff prepared to induce the powers of Christendom
to unite in an enterprise against the Turks （as Calixtus had
previously designed） when differences arose between the Fregosi and
John of Anjou； the lord of Genoa； which occasioned greater and more
important wars than those recently concluded。 Pietrino Fregoso was at
his castle of Riviera； and thought he had not been rewarded by John in
proportion to his family's merits； for it was by their means the
latter had become prince of the city。 This impression drove the
parties into open enmity； a circumstance gratifying to Ferrando； who
saw in it relief from his troubles； and the sole means of procuring
his safety： he therefore assisted Pietrino with money and men；
trusting to drive John out of the Genoese territory。 The latter being
aware of his design； sent for aid to France； and； on obtaining it；
attacked Pietrino； who； through his numerous friends； entertained the
strongest assurance of success； so that John was compelled to keep
within the city； into which Pietrino having entered by night； took
possession of some parts of it； but upon the return of day； his people
were all either slain or made prisoners by John's troops； and he
himself was found among the dead。
This victory gave John hopes of recovering the kingdom； and in
October； 1459； he sailed thither from Genoa； with a powerful fleet；
and landed at Baia； whence he proceeded to Sessa； by the duke of which
place he was favorably received。 The prince of Taranto； the Aquilani；
with several cities and other princes； also joined him； so that a
great part of the kingdom fell into his hands。 On this Ferrando
applied for assistance to the pope and the duke of Milan； and； to
diminish the number of his enemies； made peace with Gismondo
Malatesti； which gave so much offense to Jacopo Piccinino； the
hereditary enemy of Gismondo； that he resigned his command under
Ferrando； and joined his rival。 Ferrando also sent money to Federigo；
lord of Urbino； and collected with all possible speed what was in
those times considered a tolerable army； which； meeting the enemy upon
the river Sarni； an engagement ensued in which Ferrando was routed；
and many of his principal officers taken。 After this defeat； the city
of Naples alone； with a few smaller places and princes of inferior
note； adhered to Ferrando； the greater part having submitted to John。
Jacopo Piccinino； after the victory； advised an immediate march upon
Naples； but John declined this； saying； he would first reduce the
remainder of the kingdom； and then attack the seat of government。 This
resolution occasioned the failure of his enterprise； for he did not
consider how much more easily the members follow the head than the
head the members。
After his defeat； Ferrando took refuge in Naples； whither the
scattered remnants of his people followed him； and by soliciting his
friends； he obtained money and a small force。 He sent again for
assistance to the pope and the duke； by both of whom he was supplied
more liberally and speedily than before； for they began to entertain
most serious apprehensions of his losing the kingdom。 His hopes were
thus revived； and； marching from Naples； he regained his reputation in
his dominions； and soon obtained the places of which he had been
deprived。 While the war was proceeding in the kingdom； a circumstance
occurred by which John of Anjou lost his influence； and all chance of
success in the enterprise。 The Genoese had become so weary of the
haughty and avaricious dominion of the French； that they took arms
against the viceroy； and compelled him to seek refuge in the
castelletto； the Fregosi and the Adorni united in the enterprise
against him； and were assisted with money and troops by the duke of
Milan； both for the recovery and preservation of the government。 At
the same time； King Ren？coming with a fleet to the assistance of his
son； and hoping to recover Genoa by means of the castelletto； upon
landing his forces was so completely routed； that he was compelled to
return in disgrace to Provence。 When the news of his father's defeat
reached Naples； John was greatly alarmed； but continued the war for a
time by the assistance of those barons who； being rebels； knew they
would obtain no terms from Ferrando。 At length； after various trifling
occurrences； the two royal armies came to an engagement； in which John
was routed near Troia； in the year 1463。 He was； however； less injured
by his defeat than by the desertion of Jacopo Piccinino； who joined
Ferrando； and； being abandoned by his troops； he was compelled to take
refuge in Istria； and thence withdrew to France。 This war continued
four years。 John's failure was attributable to negligence； for victory
was often within his grasp； but he did not take proper means to secure
it。 The Florentines took no decisive part in this war。 John； king of
Aragon； who succeeded upon the death of Alfonso； sent ambassadors to
request their assistance for his nephew Ferrando； in compliance with
the terms of the treaty recently made with his father Alfonso。 The
Florentines replied； that they were under no obligation； that they did