188 - The Italian Wars 10: Medici at home, Milan back and forth and kings and emperors dying (1513 - 1516)
A History of Italy28 Apr 2025

188 - The Italian Wars 10: Medici at home, Milan back and forth and kings and emperors dying (1513 - 1516)

In this episode, we pick up the story of the Medici family as they return to Florence, armed with the great news of Giovanni de' Medicibecoming Pope Leo X. We dive into:

  • How the Medici family subtly regained power in Florencewithout taking formal positions, carefully balancing loyalty and governance.
  • The undoing of Savonarola's reforms and the reinstatement of Machiavelli.
  • Florence’s evolving political culture: from fierce Republican ideals to the tentative acceptance of centralized rule.
  • The clumsy anti-Medici plot by two young Florentines, Bosconi and Caponi, and its swift failure.
  • Pope Leo X’s (formerly Giovanni de' Medici) plunge into the complex international diplomacy of the early 1500s and the continuation of the Italian Wars.
  • The battles of Novara (1513) and Marignano (1515), marking a significant shift in power as France reclaimed Milan under Francis I.
  • Venice’s strategic gains and the Treaty of Noyon, closing one chapter of existential threat for the Republic.
  • The papacy’s pragmatic maneuvering under Pope Leo X despite being on the losing side of the Milan conflict.
  • Leo's "pet project": securing the Duchy of Urbino for his nephew Lorenzo de' Medici, amidst local resistance and messy warfare.
  • The rise of Catherine de' Medici, a future powerhouse figure in European history, born from a strategic marriage alliance.
  • Florence’s further ambitions in Tuscany, including their growing influence over Siena.
  • The birth of young Charles V, and the looming prospect of imperial dominance over Italy once again.
  • Closing reflections: was peace finally within reach for Italy? Or was a bigger storm, like the Protestant Reformation, quietly brewing?

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