1. Italy’s Political Decline
The French Invasions
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3. 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 ( )

4. Treaty of Lodi 1454 Milan and Naples into an alliance with Florence
Against
Venice and the Papal States

5. 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.

6. 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 ) invaded Italy in 1494.
Treaty of Lodi ended-Naples supported by Pope Alexander VI and Florence prepared to invade Milan

7. 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

8. 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

10. Giraloma Savonarola
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

11. Charles VIII to Naples
Arriving in Naples, Charles VIII easily took the government, as the King fled.

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

18. Pope Julius II
Suppressed the Borgias and put Romagna under Papal Authority
Warrior Pope
Erasmus
Julius excluded from heaven

19. 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

20. Niccolo Machiavelli
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”

21. 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.

22. Cesare Borgia
Machiavelli’s hero for what he and his father Alexander VI did in Romagna

23. Pope Leo X
Machiavelli hoped to see a strong ruler emerge from the Medici family

24. 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.

25. 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