I. Italy’s Political Decline: The French Invasions (1494-1527)

1. French king Charles VIII (r. 1483–1498) storms through Italy when invited by ruler of Milan in hopes of weakening Naples; later driven back out
2. Pope Alexander VI: corrupt member of Borgia family, children Cesare & Lucrezia
3. Louis XII (r. 1498–1515): allies with Alexander and takes Milan & part of Naples
4. Pope Julius II: “warrior pope” drives French out again
5. Francis I (r. 1515–1547): third French invasion
6. Leads to Italian political decline & Habsburg-Valois (Spanish-French) wars of first half 16th c., all French losses

2. Treaty of Lodi

1. Also known as the Peace of Lodi was a peace agreement between Milan,  

Naples, and Florence signed on April 9, 1454

3. Charles VIII’s March Through Italy

1. Charles VII is invited by Milan’s despot Ludovico il Moro in 1494
2. Charles VII conquers Papal States, Naples, and Florence
3. Florence is sparred destruction due to Savonarola pays tribute and explains to Florentine’s this is God’s payback for their Humanist immorality.
4. Savonarola attempts to establish a theocracy in Florence
5. 1495 League of Venice unites Venice, Milan, the Papal States, the Holy Roman Empire, and Spain against France.
6. 1498 Italian states take territory back and Savonarola is executed

4. Pope Alexander VI and the Borgia Family

1. Borgia Pope Alexander VI was probably the most corrupt Pope ever!
2. Promoted the political careers of his children Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia
3. Aligned papal policy with efforts of his family to secure Romagna’s political base.
4. Made deal with France King Louis XII in 1494 to “re-invade” Italy.
5. Abandoned Venice League (now weakened)
6. Cesare Borgia receives land grants and French military aid in Romagna.
7. 1499 Louis XII invades Milan (Ludovico il Moro put in prison…ironic?)
8. Pope Alexander VI awards his son Cesare the title “Duke of Romagna”

5. Pope Julius II

1. Cardina Giuliano della Rovere, opponent of Borgia family succeeded Alexander VI as Pope Julius II (1503-1513)
2. Suppressed Borgia’s and placed their land under papal jurisdiction
3. The “Warrior Pope”
   1. Drove the Venetians from Romagna
   2. Ridding Italy of the French invaders
   3. 1511 created the Holy League

6. Niccolo Machiavelli

1. Convinced by chaos of foreign invasions that Italian political unity & independence were ends justifying any means; concluded only a strongman could impose order on a divided & selfish people (Italians)
   1. Ends Justify the Means: It’s the result that matters NOT how the result is reached.
2. Admirer of Roman rulers & citizens

C.   Virtù: ability to act heroically & decisively for the good of one’s country

4. The Prince (1513): recommends temporary use of fraud & brutality to achieve Italian unity; hoped for strong ruler from the Medici family
   1. A book about power
   2. What is power?
   3. How to get power?
   4. How to maintain power?
5. Considered the first “political science” book written since antiquity.