History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy: From the Earliest Times to the Death of Lorenzo the Magnificent
Niccolo Machiavelli · en
Braccio of Perugia, whom we have frequently mentioned as one of the
most distinguished warriors of Italy, left two sons, Oddo and Carlo; the
latter was of tender years; the former, as above related, was slain by
the people of Val di Lamona; but Carlo, when he came to mature age, was
by the Venetians, out of respect for the memory of his father, and the
hopes they entertained from himself, received among the condottieri of
their republic. The term of his engagement having expired, he did not
design to renew it immediately, but resolved to try if, by his own
influence and his father's reputation, he could recover possession of
Perugia. To this the Venetians willingly consented, for they usually
extended their dominion by any changes that occurred in the neighboring
states. Carlo consequently came into Tuscany, but found more
difficulties in his attempt upon Perugia than he had anticipated, on
account of its being allied with the Florentines; and desirous of doing
something worthy of memory, he made war upon the Siennese, alleging
them to be indebted to him for services performed by his father in the
affairs of that republic, and attacked them with such impetuosity as to
threaten the total overthrow of their dominion. The Siennese, ever ready
to suspect the Florentines, persuaded themselves that this outrage had
been committed with their cognizance, and made heavy complaints to the
pope and the king against them. They also sent ambassadors to Florence
to complain of the injuries they had suffered, and adroitly intimated,
that if Carlo had not been secretly supported he could not have made
war upon them with such perfect security. The Florentines denied all
participation in the proceedings of Carlo, expressed their most earnest
wish to do everything in their power to put a stop to them, and allowed
the ambassadors to use whatever terms they pleased in the name of
the Signory, to command him to desist. Carlo complained that the
Florentines, by their unwillingness to support him, had deprived
themselves of a most valuable acquisition and him of great glory; for he
could have insured them the possession of the whole territory in a
short time, from the want of courage in the people and the ineffectual
provision they had made for their defense. He then withdrew to his
engagement under the Venetians; but the Siennese, although delivered
from such imminent peril by the Florentines, were still very indignant
against them; considering themselves under no obligation to those who
had delivered them from an evil to which they had first exposed them.