The Medici Popes (Leo X and Clement Vii) by Herbert M

www.cristoraul.org THE MEDICI POPES (LEO X AND CLEMENT VII) BY HERBERT M. VAUGHAN 1 www.cristoraul.org LEO X, CARDINAL GIULIO DE' MEDICI (CLEMENT VII) AND CARDINAL DE' ROSSI 2 www.cristoraul.org ALTHOUGH the names of the two great Popes of the House of Medici loom large in the annals of the Italian Renaissance, yet the private side of their lives and conduct has naturally been dwelt upon with less insistence by the papal historian than the leading part they took in the development of Italian politics or in the course of the Reformation throughout Europe. Even in William Roscoe’s elaborate biography of Leo X, the figure of that famous pontiff is largely overshadowed by the momentous episodes of his reign both within and without Italy; “one cannot see the wood for the intervening trees!” In the present volume, therefore, I have made the attempt of presenting to the reader a purely personal study, from which I have excluded, so far as was practicable, all reference to the burning theological questions of the Reformation, and have also avoided any undue amount of dissertation on the tortuous and complicated policy pursued by these Popes of the House of Medici. For I hope that a simple account of the personal career and character of Leo X (with whom of necessity my work chiefly deals) will prove of some value to the historical student of the Renaissance, who may thereby become better able to comprehend the varying part played by the former of the two Medicean pontiffs in the political and religious struggles during the opening decades of the sixteenth century. The earliest, and indeed only contemporary life of any importance of Giovanni de’ Medici, Pope Leo X, is the Vita Leonis X of Paolo Giovio, Bishop of Nocera, himself a member of Leo’s own brilliant court in Rome, and therefore a person well qualified to undertake such a task. The work of Giovio, or Jovius, which was first published at Florence in 1549, is written in Latin, and though it has been rendered into Italian and French, it has never, so far as I am aware, been translated into English. Giovio’s Life, which is divided into four books, is a most meagre and disappointing narrative, scarcely a biography at all in the modern sense of the term, for it principally consists of a long rambling account of contemporary politics, albeit the Fourth Book contains a large number of intimate details concerning the Pope, which have often been utilised by succeeding writers. Poor and unsatisfactory as was Giovio’s Life, this work remained for over 250 years the sole biography of the great Medicean pontiff until 1797, when there appeared an enlarged Leonis X Vita from the pen of the learned Monsignore Angelo Fabroni of Pisa. This biography, which was published in Latin and has never been translated, contains a fuller account, together with a copious Appendix of original Documents discovered and given to the world by Fabroni himself. His work was followed eight years later by the justly celebrated biography from the pen of William Roscoe of Liverpool, who based his study on Fabroni’s researches. Roscoe’s The Life and Pontificate of Leo X was soon translated into Italian, and published in 1817 by Count Luigi Bossi of Milan, whose splendid edition in twelve volumes constitutes the best and fullest Life of this Pope in existence. Amongst more recent volumes on the same subject, the carefully compiled Leo X of Professor Ludwig Pastor, published in 1906, may be mentioned. Free use has been made in the ensuing work of these various biographies, together with their voluminous Appendices. 3 www.cristoraul.org I have treated of Giulio de’ Medici, Pope Clement VII, in a less detailed manner, for two reasons: first, because his life before obtaining the tiara is closely bound up with, and consequently covered by, the career of his more distinguished cousin, Leo X; and second, because his private biography offers far less of general interest. Special attention has been drawn throughout the book to the various existing works of art in Florence and Rome which are connected with the personal history, or are due to the bountiful patronage of these two Medicean pontiffs. In accordance with the title chosen for this work, I have also added a brief account of the later Popes, Pius IV and Leo XI, both of whom bore the historic name of Medici, although their connection with the senior branch of the great Florentine House was exceedingly remote. In case it may be remarked that an undue proportion of space has been bestowed on the early years of Leo X (and thereby also on those of his near kinsman and contemporary, Clement VII), I would reply that far less is generally known of the youthful struggles and adventures of Cardinal Giovanni de’ Medici than of the pomp and power of his pontificate; and that some acquaintance with the story of Leo X’s early poverty and insignificance is essential to a clearer understanding of his subsequent conduct as Supreme Pontiff. The vast and ever-increasing mass of material reflecting on the life, public and private, of the Medici Popes has rendered my task of selection and rejection peculiarly difficult; indeed, an adequate and comprehensive account of the reign of Leo X alone would afford occupation for a lifetime, as every historian is well aware. Yet I think that from the pages of this book the reader will contrive to obtain a tolerably accurate glimpse into the personality of those two great Popes, whose deeds and influence for good or evil did so much to shape the course of the political, religious, intellectual and artistic development of Europe during the early stages of the Reformation. 4 www.cristoraul.org CONTENTS CHAPTER I Childhood and Youth in Florence Aspect of Florence under the Medici—Birth of Giovanni de’ Medici—His parents—His childhood and education—He is destined for the Church—Quarrel between Politian and Clarice de’ Medici—Giovanni de’ Medici receives the tonsure—He is given preferment in the Church—Lorenzo de’ Medici is anxious to obtain a Cardinal’s hat for Giovanni—His efforts in Rome—Condition of Italian politics—Accession of Pope Innocent VIII.—Giovanni is nominated a Cardinal Deacon—He is sent to the University of Pisa—Bernardo Dovizi of Bibbiena—Giovanni receives the scarlet hat in public—Rejoicings in Florence— Giovanni sets out for Rome—His reception by Innocent VIII.—Letter of Lorenzo de’ Medici to his son Giovanni—Death of Lorenzo. CHAPTER II Misfortune and Exile Effects of Lorenzo’s death upon the politics of Florence and of Italy—Piero de’ Medici succeeds his father—Lorenzo’s three sons and their respective characters—Arrival of the Cardinal in Florence—State of Europe in the year 1492—Death of Innocent VIII and election of Roderigo Borgia as Alexander VI— Giovanni returns to Florence—Sermons and influence of Savonarola in Florence— Critical condition of Italian politics—Ludovico Sforza invites Charles VIII of France into Italy—Attitude of the Medici—Piero’s foolish conduct—The Medici are expelled from Florence—Bravery of the Cardinal—His flight to Bologna—Entry of King Charles VIII into Florence—Position of the Cardinal and his brothers—Giulio de’ Medici joins his cousin, the Cardinal—Together they travel in Germany and France—Meeting at Savona of Giovanni and Giulio de’ Medici with Cardinal Della Rovere, afterwards Pope Julius II—Death of Alexander VI. and election of Pius III—Early death of Pius III and election of Julius II—Piero de’ Medici is drowned in the river Garigliano—His wife and family—His monument at Monte Cassino. CHAPTER III Rise to Power under Julius II Improved position of the House of Medici—Friendship of the Cardinal with the Papal nephew—The Cardinal’s mode of life in Rome— Character and policy of Julius II—Contrast between the Pope and the Cardinal—Campaigns of Julius—He is accompanied by Giovanni and Giulio de' Medici—Surrender of 5 www.cristoraul.org Perugia and Bologna to the Pope—The League of Cambrai—Loss of Bologna and murder of Cardinal Alidosi of Pavia—Giovanni de’ Medici is appointed Papal Legate of Bologna—Gaston de Foix—The battle of Ravenna—The Cardinal- Legate a prisoner of the French—He sends his cousin Giulio de’ Medici to Rome—The Cardinal and Giulio de’ Medici at Milan—Retreat of the French army—Escape of the Cardinal and his subsequent adventures—Importance of this episode in the Cardinal’s career. CHAPTER IV Return of the Medici to Florence The conference at Mantua—Julius wishes to restore the Medici to Florence—Efforts of the Cardinal and opposition of the Duke of Urbino to them—The Cardinal with the Spanish army of Cardona prepares to cross the Apennines into Tuscany—Public feeling in Florence—The Gonfalionere Soderini and Niccolò Machiavelli urge the citizens to defend their city against the Medici—Advance of the Cardinal towards Barberino—The Florentine Republic rejects Cardona’s offers—Siege and Sack of Prato—Conduct of the Cardinal thereat—Giuliano de’ Medici re-enters Florence—Flight of Soderini—The Cardinal returns to the city—He is practically master of Florence—Formation of the societies of the Diamond and the Bough—Death of Pope Julius II.—The Cardinal sets out for the conclave in Rome. CHAPTER V Leo Decimus Pontifex Maximus Last days of Julius II—The judgment of history upon him—His portrait by Raphael—The Conclave of March, 1513—Illness of Giovanni de’ Medici—He is elected Pope under the title of Leo X.—Rejoicings in Rome and Florence—The personal appearance of the new Pope—He is crowned in St.

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