Italy’s Political Decline The French Invasions from 1494-1527
Concept of Balance of Power This system was designed to stop one state from taking territories from others Especially evident after 1454 when the Italian States signed the Treaty of Lodi which ended almost 50 years of war and inaugurated a relatively peaceful 40 year era in Italy (1454-1494)
Treaty of Lodi 1454 Milan and Naples into an alliance with Florence Against Venice and the Papal States
France v. Spain The growth of powerful monarchical states led to trouble for the Italians Italy soon became a battlefield for the great power struggle between the French and Spanish Monarchies. It was the breakdown of the Italian Balance of Power that encouraged the invasions and began the Italian wars.
Conflict Florence and Naples entered into an agreement to acquire Milanese territories, Milan called on France for support, and the French king Charles VIII (r. 1483-1498) invaded Italy in 1494. Treaty of Lodi ended-Naples supported by Pope Alexander VI and Florence prepared to invade Milan
Ludovico il Moro (Sforza) Feeling isolated, Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan foolishly invited the French to intervene in Italian politics. Milanese Despot Appealed to aid from the French Invited French to invade Italy and revive their dynastic claim to Naples France also had claims on Milan
Charles VIII of France 1483-1498 Responded quickly to Ludovicos call Crossed the Alps through Florence and the Papal States to Naples Brought an army of 30,000 men
Giraloma Savonarola 1452-1498 As Charles approached Florence the Medici ruler was thrown out in favor of savonarola Savonarola convinced the Florentines that the French Kings arrival was a long delayed and fully justified divine judgment for their immorality
Charles VIII to Naples Arriving in Naples, Charles VIII easily took the government, as the King fled.
End of Savonarola Savonarola’s moral rigor and anti-papal policies made it impossible for him to survive indefinitely He had a “bonfire of the vanities” where such things as ladies’ cosmetics, immoral books, offensive works of art, poetry celebrating human beauty were burned. He reorganized the government, convinced it to pass laws against same sex relations, adultery and drunkenness For a time Savonarola was wildly popular, eventually though people tired of his moral denunciations, and he was excommunicated by the Pope Savonarola was executed in May of 1498
New Italian Reality The French invasion began a new period in Italian and European power politics Italy became a focus of international ambitions and a battleground for foreign armies France would square off in a series of conflicts called the Habsburg-Valois wars.
Response to the French invasion of 1494 Charles VIII of France successes caused such alarm, both in Italy and elsewhere, that a league was formed against him. The Pope (Alex VI), Venice, some foreign powers and even Milan took part. (League of Venice)
League of Venice 1498 Made up of Spain (Ferdinand) which desired to gain territory in Italy and drive the French out, Venice, the Papal States and the holy roman emperor Joined later by Ludovico il Moro of Milan Pushed Charles the VIII out in 1498
Pope Alexander VI 1492-1503 Probably the most corrupt Pope of the time Saw that a French alliance could help him regain lost territory in Romagna Agreed to abandon the league of Venice Louis XII of France invaded Milan in 1499 Ludovico in jail Alexander VI and his son Cesare Borgia conquered Romagna
Pope Julius II 1503-1513 Suppressed the Borgias and put Romagna under Papal Authority Warrior Pope Erasmus Julius excluded from heaven
Francis I 1515-1547 France again invaded Italy in 1515 French massacred Swiss soliders Concordat of Bologna 1516 French King gained control over the French clergy France recognized Pope over Councils Pope received annates from France
Niccolo Machiavelli 1469-1527 Convinced that Italian political unity and independence were ends that justified any means Only a strong man could impose order on such a divided and selfish people “The Prince 1513”
The Prince Written to get into the good graces of the Medici who returned to lead Florence in 1512. Amoral work, focused on realities of human behavior not morality.
Cesare Borgia Machiavelli’s hero for what he and his father Alexander VI did in Romagna
Pope Leo X 1513-1521 Machiavelli hoped to see a strong ruler emerge from the Medici family
Sack of Rome 1527 By 1527 Spain controlled much of the Italian peninsula Pope Clement VII had given his support to the Kingdom of France in an attempt to reduce the power of the Holy roman Emperor in Italy. The HRE army defeated the French Army in Italy.
Sack of Rome continued Funds were not available to pay the HRE mercenaries On May 6, 1527 the mercenaries attacked Rome and the Vatican Charles V was embarrassed by the fact that he was powerless to stop his troops from sacking Rome This Event marked the end of the Roman Renaissance