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hostilities； did not pursue his good fortune； and thus gave the pope
and his colleagues time to recover themselves。 They therefore
appointed the Count Francesco for their leader； and undertook to drive
Niccolo Fortebraccio from the territories of the church； and thus
terminate the war which had been commenced in favor of the pontiff。
The Romans； finding the pope supported by so large an army； sought a
reconciliation with him； and being successful； admitted his commissary
into the city。 Among the places possessed by Niccolo Fortebraccio；
were Tivoli； Montefiascone； Citta di Castello； and Ascesi； to the last
of which； not being able to keep the field； he fled； and the count
besieged him there。 Niccolo's brave defense making it probable that
the war would be of considerable duration； the duke deemed to
necessary to prevent the League from obtaining the victory； and said
that if this were not effected he would very soon have to look at the
defense of his own territories。 Resolving to divert the count from the
siege； he commanded Niccolo Piccinino to pass into Tuscany by way of
Romagna； and the League； thinking it more important to defend Tuscany
than to occupy Ascesi； ordered the count to prevent the passage of
Niccolo； who was already； with his army； at Furli。 The count
accordingly moved with his forces； and came to Cesena； having left the
war of La Marca and the care of his own territories to his brother
Lione； and while Niccolo Piccinino was endeavoring to pass by； and the
count to prevent him； Fortebraccio attacked Lione with great bravery；
made him prisoner； routed his forces； and pursuing the advantage of
his victory； at once possessed himself of many places in La Marca。
This circumstance greatly perplexed the count； who thought he had lost
all his territories； so； leaving part of his force to check Piccinino；
with the remainder he pursued Fortebraccio； whom he attacked and
conquered。 Fortebraccio was taken prisoner in the battle； and soon
after died of his wounds。 This victory restored to the pontiff all the
places that had been taken from him by Fortebraccio； and compelled the
duke of Milan to sue for peace； which was concluded by the
intercession of Niccolo da Esta； marquis of Ferrara； the duke
restoring to the church the places he had taken from her； and his
forces retiring into Lombardy。 Batista da Canneto； as in the case with
all who retain authority only by the consent and forces of another；
when the duke's people had quitted Romagna； unable with his own power
to keep possession of Bologna； fled； and Antonio Bentivogli； the head
of the opposite party； returned to his country。
All this took place during the exile of Cosmo； after whose return；
those who had restored him； and a great number of persons injured by
the opposite party； resolved at all events to make themselves sure of
the government； and the Signory for the months of November and
December； not content with what their predecessors had done in favor
of their party extended the term and changed the residences of several
who were banished； and increased the number of exiles。 In addition to
these evils； it was observed that citizens were more annoyed on
account of their wealth； their family connections or private
animosities； than for the sake of the party to which they adhered； so
that if these prescriptions had been accompanied with bloodshed； they
would have resembled those of Octavius and Sylla； though in reality
they were not without some stains； for Antonio di Bernardo Guadagni
was beheaded； and four other citizens； among whom were Zanobi dei
Belfratelli and Cosmo Barbadori； passing the confines to which they
were limited； proceeded to Venice； where the Venetians； valuing the
friendship of Cosmo de' Medici more than their own honor； sent them
prisoners to him； and they were basely put to death。 This circumstance
greatly increased the influence of that party； and struck their
enemies with terror； finding that such a powerful republic would so
humble itself to the Florentines。 This； however； was supposed to have
been done； not so much out of kindness to Cosmo； as to excite
dissensions in Florence； and by means of bloodshed make greater
certainty of division among the citizens； for the Venetians knew there
was no other obstacle to their ambition so great as the union of her
people。
The city being cleared of the enemies； or suspected enemies of the
state； those in possession of the government now began to strengthen
their party by conferring benefits upon such as were in a condition to
serve them； and the family of the Alberti； with all who had been
banished by the former government； were recalled。 All the nobility；
with few exceptions； were reduced to the ranks of the people； and the
possessions of the exiles were divided among themselves； upon each
paying a small acknowledgment。 They then fortified themselves with new
laws and provisos； made new Squittini； withdrawing the names of their
adversaries from the purses； and filling them with those of their
friends。 Taking advice from the ruin of their enemies； they considered
that to allow the great offices to be filled by mere chance of
drawing； did not afford the government sufficient security； they
therefore resolved that the magistrates possessing the power of life
and death should always be chosen from among the leaders of their own
party； and therefore that the /Accoppiatori/； or persons selected for
the imborsation of the new Squittini； with the Signory who had to
retire from office； should make the new appointments。 They gave to
eight of the guard authority to proceed capitally； and provided that
the exiles； when their term of banishment was complete； should not be
allowed to return； unless from the Signory and Colleagues； which were
thirty…seven in number； the consent of thirty…four was obtained。 It
was made unlawful to write to or to receive letters from them； every
word； sign； or action that gave offense to the ruling party was
punished with the utmost rigor； and if there was still in Florence any
suspected person whom these regulations did not reach； he was
oppressed with taxes imposed for the occasion。 Thus in a short time；
having expelled or impoverished the whole of the adverse party； they
established themselves firmly in the government。 Not to be destitute
of external assistance； and to deprive others of it； who might use it
against themselves； they entered into a league； offensive and
defensive； with the pope； the Venetians； and the duke of Milan。
CHAPTER II
Death of Giovanni II。Ren？of Anjou and Alfonso of Aragon aspire
to the kingdomAlfonso is routed and taken by the Genoese
Alfonso being a prisoner of the duke of Milan； obtains his
friendshipThe Genoese disgusted with the duke of Milan
Divisions among the GenoeseThe Genoese； by means of Francesco
Spinola； expel the duke's governorLeague against the duke of
MilanRinaldo degli Albizzi advises the duke to make war against
the FlorentinesHis discourse to the dukeThe duke adopts
measures injurious to the FlorentinesNiccolo Piccinino appointed
to command the duke's forcesPreparations of the Florentines
Piccinino routed before Barga。
The affairs of Florence being in this condition； Giovanna； queen of
Naples； died； and by her will appointed Ren？of Anjou to be her
successor。 Alfonso； king of Aragon； was at this time in Sicily； and
having obtained the concurrence of many barons； prepared to take
possession of the kingdom。 The Neapolitans； with whom a greater number
of barons were also associated； favored Ren？ The pope was unwilling
that either of them should obtain it； but desired the affairs of
Naples to be administered by a governor of his own appointing。
In the meantime Alfonso entered the kingdom； and was received by the
duke of Sessa； he brought with him some princes； whom he had engaged
in his service； with the design （already possessing Capua； which the
prince of Taranto held in his name） of subduing the Neapolitans； and
sent his fleet to attack Gaeta； which had declared itself in their
favor。 They therefore demanded assistance of the duke of Milan； who
persuaded the Genoese to undertake their defense； and they； to satisfy
the duke their sovereign； and protect the merchandise they possessed；
both at Naples and Gaeta； armed a powerful fleet。 Alfonso hearing of
this； augmented his own naval force； went in person to meet the
Genoese； and coming up with them near the island of Ponzio； an
engagement ensued； in which the Aragonese were defeated； and Alfonso；
with many of the princes of his suite； made prisoners； and sent by the
Genoese to the Filippo。
This victory terrified the princes of Italy； who； being jealous of the
duke's power； thought it would give him a great opportunity of being
sovereign of the whole country。 But so contrary are the views of men；
that he took a directly opposite course。 Alfonso was a