History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy: From the Earliest Times to the Death of Lorenzo the Magnificent
Niccolo Machiavelli · en
Affairs of the pope--He is reconciled to Niccolo Vitelli--Discords
between the Colonnesi and the Orsini--Various events--The war
of Serezana--Genoa occupied by her archbishop--Death of Sixtus
IV.--Innocent VIII. elected--Agostino Fregoso gives Serezana to the bank
of St. Giorgio--Account of the bank of St. Giorgio--War with the
Genoese for Serezana--Stratagem of the Florentines to attack Pietra
Santa--Difficulties and final surrender of Pietra Santa--The Lucchese
lay claim to Pietra Santa--The city of L'Aquila revolts against the king
of Naples--War between him and the pope--The Florentines take the king's
party--Peace between the pope and the king.
During these events in Lombardy, the pope sent Lorenzo to invest Citta
di Castello, for the purpose of expelling Niccolo Vitelli, the place
having been abandoned to him by the League, for the purpose of inducing
the pontiff to join them. During the siege, Niccolo's troops were
led out against the papal forces and routed them. Upon this the pope
recalled the Count Girolamo from Lombardy with orders first to recruit
his army at Rome, and then proceed against Citta di Castello. But
thinking afterward, that it would be better to obtain Niccolo Vitello
as his friend than to renew hostilities with him, an arrangement was
entered into by which the latter retained Citta di Castello, and the
pope pacified Lorenzo as well as he could. He was induced to both these
measures rather by his apprehension of fresh troubles than by his love
of peace, for he perceived dissensions arising between the Colonessi and
the Orsini.
In the war between the king of Naples and the pope, the former had
taken the district of Tagliacozzo from the Orsini, and given it to the
Colonnesi, who had espoused his cause. Upon the establishment of peace,
the Orsini demanded its restoration by virtue of the treaty. The pope
had frequently intimated to the Colonnesi that it ought to be restored;
but they, instead of complying with the entreaties of the Orsini, or
being influenced by the pope's threats, renewed hostilities against the
former. Upon this the pontiff, unable to endure their insolence, united
his own forces with those of the Orsini, plundered the houses they
possessed in Rome, slew or made prisoners all who defended them, and
seized most of their fortresses. So that when these troubles were
composed, it was rather by the complete subjugation of one party than
from any desire for peace in the other.