The Duke of Milan assassinated--Count Girolamo Riario--The Pazzi conspiracy--Duke Federigo's campaigns in Tuscany--Progress of the Turks 233 CHAPTER XII The war of Ferrara, and the death of Duke Federigo--His character and portraits 258 BOOK THIRD OF GUIDOBALDO DI MONTEFELTRO, THIRD DUKE OF URBINO CHAPTER XIII The early promise of Duke Guidobaldo I.--Count Girolamo Riario assassinated--The Duke's marriage--Comparative quiet of Italy 295 CHAPTER XIV State of the papacy at the election of Alexander VI.--His election, character, and children--The aspect of Italy at the close of her golden age--The disputed succession of Naples reopened--Character and views of Charles VIII.--Proposed league to oppose him frustrated--State of the Roman Campagna--The old and new military systems in Italy 315 CHAPTER XV Italy ill prepared for the French invasion--Duke Guidobaldo sent against the Orsini--Lucrezia Borgia's second marriage--Descent of Charles VIII.--He reaches Naples and retreats--Battle of the Taro--The Duke engaged in the Pisan war--Is taken prisoner by the Orsini and ransomed 341 CHAPTER XVI The crimes and ambition of the Borgia--Murder of the Duke of Gandia--Duke Guidobaldo's expeditions against Perugia and Tuscany--He adopts Francesco Maria della Rovere as his heir--Louis XII. succeeds to Charles VIII., and to his views upon Italy--Cesare Borgia created Duke Valentino--Duke Guidobaldo at Venice 363 CHAPTER XVII The condition of Romagna--Cesare Borgia overruns and seizes upon it--The spirit of his government--Naples invaded by Louis, and handed over to Spain--Lucrezia Borgia's fourth marriage 379 CHAPTER XVIII Duke Guidobaldo's retired life--Cesare Borgia surprises and seizes Urbino--The Duke's flight--The diet of La Magione--Rising in the Duchy, and his return--He again retires 399 APPENDICES I. Poetry of the family of Montefeltro 427 II. Inventory of articles taken by Brigida Sueva di Montefeltro, _alias_ Sister Serafina, into the Convent of Corpus Domini 433 III. Poetry of Ottaviano degli Ubaldini 436 IV. Instrument containing the concessions demanded by the citizens and acceded to by Count Federigo, on being chosen as their Seigneur 438 V. Devices and mottoes of the Dukes of Urbino 443 VI. The illuminated MSS. in the Urbino Library 446 VII. Duke Federigo of Urbino a Knight of the Garter 450 VIII. The army of Charles VIII., in 1493 460 IX. The battle of the Taro, in 1495 463