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continued； Tuscany being in confusion； and the Florentines； in whom
alone she had hope； themselves in trouble； she determined； as she
could not retain Genoa in subjection； to secure it as an ally； and
agreed with Battistino Fregoso； the enemy of Prospero Adorno； to give
him the Castelletto； and make him prince of Genoa； on condition that
he should expel Prospero； and do nothing in favor of her son's uncles。
Upon this agreement； Battistino； by the assistance of the Castelletto
and of his friends； became lord of Genoa； and according to the custom
of the city； took the title of Doge。 The Sforzeschi and the Signor
Roberto； being thus expelled by the Genoese； came with their forces
into Lunigiana； and the pope and the king； perceiving the troubles of
Lombardy to be composed； took occasion with them to annoy Tuscany in
the Pisan territory； that the Florentines might be weakened by
dividing their forces。 At the close of winter they ordered Roberto da
San Severino to leave Lunigiana and march thither； which he did； and
with great tumult plundered many fortresses； and overran the country
around Pisa。
At this time； ambassadors came to Florence from the emperor； the king
of France； and the king of Hungary； who were sent by their princes to
the pontiff。 They solicited the Florentines also to send ambassadors
to the pope； and promised to use their utmost exertion to obtain for
them an advantageous peace。 The Florentines did not refuse to make
trial； both for the sake of publicly justifying their proceedings； and
because they were really desirous of peace。 Accordingly； the
ambassadors were sent； but returned without coming to any conclusion
of their differences。 The Florentines； to avail themselves of the
influence of the king of France； since they were attacked by one part
of the Italians and abandoned by the other； sent to him as their
ambassador； Donato Acciajuoli； a distinguished Latin and Greek
scholar； whose ancestors had always ranked high in the city； but while
on his journey he died at Milan。 To relieve his surviving family and
pay a deserved tribute to his memory； he was honorably buried at the
public expense； provision was made for his sons； and suitable marriage
portions given to his daughters； and Guid' Antonio Vespucci； a man
well acquainted with pontifical and imperial affairs； was sent as
ambassador to the king in his stead。
The attack of Signor Roberto upon the Pisan territory； being
unexpected； greatly perplexed the Florentines； for having to resist
the foe in the direction of Sienna； they knew not how to provide for
the places about Pisa。 To keep the Lucchese faithful； and prevent them
from furnishing the enemy either with money or provisions； they sent
as ambassador Piero di Gino Capponi； who was received with so much
jealousy； on account of the hatred which that city always cherishes
against the Florentines from former injuries and constant fear； that
he was on many occasions in danger of being put to death by the mob；
and thus his mission gave fresh cause of animosity rather than of
union。 The Florentines recalled the marquis of Ferrara； and engaged
the marquis of Mantua； they also as earnestly requested the Venetians
to send them Count Carlo； son of Braccio； and Deifobo； son of Count
Jacopo； and after many delays； they complied； for having made a truce
with the Turks； they had no excuse to justify a refusal； and could not
break through the obligation of the League without the utmost
disgrace。 The counts； Carlo and Deifobo； came with a good force； and
being joined by all that could be spared from the army； which； under
the marquis of Ferrara； held in check the duke of Calabria； proceeded
toward Pisa； to meet Signor Roberto； who was with his troops near the
river Serchio； and who； though he had expressed his intention of
awaiting their arrival； withdrew to the camp at Lunigiana； which he
had quitted upon coming into the Pisan territory； while Count Carlo
recovered all the places that had been taken by the enemy in that
district。
The Florentines； being thus relieved from the attack in the direction
of Pisa； assembled the whole force between Colle and Santo Geminiano。
But the army； on the arrival of Count Carlo； being composed of
Sforzeschi and Bracceschi； their hereditary feuds soon broke forth；
and it was thought that if they remained long in company； they would
turn their arms against each other。 It was therefore determined； as
the smaller evil； to divide them； to send one party； under Count
Carlo； into the district of Perugia； and establish the other at
Poggibonzi； where they formed a strong encampment in order to prevent
the enemy from penetrating the Florentine territory。 By this they also
hoped to compel the enemy to divide their forces； for Count Carlo was
understood to have many partisans in Perugia； and it was therefore
expected； either that he would occupy the place； or that the pope
would be compelled to send a large body of men for its defense。 To
reduce the pontiff to greater necessity； they ordered Niccolo Vitelli；
who had been expelled from Citta di Castello； where his enemy Lorenzo
Vitelli commanded； to lead a force against that place； with the view
of driving out his adversary and withdrawing it from obedience to the
pope。 At the beginning of the campaign； fortune seemed to favor the
Florentines； for Count Carlo made rapid advances in the Perugino； and
Niccolo Vitelli； though unable to enter Castello； was superior in the
field； and plundered the surrounding country without opposition。 The
forces also； at Poggibonzi； constantly overran the country up to the
walls of Sienna。 These hopes； however； were not realized； for in the
first place； Count Carlo died； while in the fullest tide of success；
though the consequences of this would have been less detrimental to
the Florentines； had not the victory to which it gave occasion； been
nullified by the misconduct of others。 The death of the count being
known； the forces of the church； which had already assembled in
Perugia； conceived hopes of overcoming the Florentines； and encamped
upon the lake； within three miles of the enemy。 On the other side；
Jacopo Guicciardini； commissary to the army； by the advice of Roberto
da Rimino； who； after the death of Count Carlo； was the principal
commander； knowing the ground of their sanguine expectations；
determined to meet them； and coming to an engagement near the lake；
upon the site of the memorable rout of the Romans； by Hannibal； the
Carthaginian general； the papal forces were vanquished。 The news of
the victory； which did great honor to the commanders； diffused
universal joy at Florence； and would have ensured a favorable
termination of the campaign； had not the disorders which arose in the
army at Poggibonzi thrown all into confusion； for the advantage
obtained by the valor of the one； was more than counterbalanced by the
disgraceful proceedings of the other。 Having made considerable booty
in the Siennese territory； quarrels arose about the division of it
between the marquis of Mantua and the marquis of Ferrara； who； coming
to arms； assailed each other with the utmost fury； and the Florentines
seeing they could no longer avail themselves of the services of both；
allowed the marquis of Ferrara and his men to return home。
CHAPTER IV
The duke of Calabria routs the Florentine army at Poggibonzi
Dismay in Florence on account of the defeatProgress of the duke
of CalabriaThe Florentines wish for peaceLorenzo de' Medici
determines to go to Naples to treat with the kingLodovico
Sforza； surnamed the Moor； and his brothers； recalled to Milan
Changes in the government of that city in consequenceThe Genoese
take SerezanaLorenzo de' Medici arrives at NaplesPeace
concluded with the kingThe pope and the Venetians consent to the
peaceThe Florentines in fear of the duke of Calabria
Enterprises of the TurksThey take OtrantoThe Florentines
reconciled with the popeTheir ambassadors at the papal court
The pope's reply to the ambassadorsThe king of Naples restores
to the Florentines all the fortresses he had taken。
The army being thus reduced； without a leader； and disorder prevailing
in every department； the duke of Calabria； who was with his forces
near Sienna； resolved to attack them immediately。 The Florentines；
finding the enemy at hand； were seized with a sudden panic； neither
their arms； nor their numbers； in which they were superior to their
adversaries； nor their position； which was one of great strength；
could give them confidence； but observing the dust occasioned by the
enemy's approach； without waiting for a sight of them； they fled in
all directions； leaving their ammunition； carriages； and artillery to
be taken by the foe。 Such cowardice and disorder prevailed in the
armies of those times； that the turning of a horse's head or tail was
sufficient to decide the fate of an expedition。 Thi