History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy

by Niccolo Machiavelli

Lorenzo, upon the count's affairs, he obtained an interview with

  Francesco and Jacopo de' Pazzi, when the latter gave his consent to

  their enterprise. They then discussed the means of carrying it into

  effect. Jacopo de' Pazzi was of opinion that it could not be effected

  while both the brothers remained at Florence; and therefore it would

  be better to wait till Lorenzo went to Rome, whither it was reported

  he had an intention of going; for then their object would be more

  easily attained. Francesco de' Pazzi had no objection to Lorenzo being

  at Rome, but if he were to forego the journey, he thought that both

  the brothers might be slain, either at a marriage, or at a play, or in

  a church. With regard to foreign assistance, he supposed the pope

  might assemble forces for the conquest of the fortress of Montone,

  being justified in taking it from Count Carlo, who had caused the

  tumults already spoken of in Sienna and Perugia.

  Still no definite arrangement was made; but it was resolved that

  Giovanni Batista and Francesco de' Pazzi should go to Rome and settle

  everything with the pontiff. The matter was again debated at Rome; and

  at length it was concluded that besides an expedition against Montone,

  Giovan Francesco da Tolentino, a leader of the papal troops, should go

  into Romagna, and Lorenzo da Castello to the Val di Tavere; that each,

  with the forces of the country, should hold himself in readiness to

  perform the commands of the archbishop de' Salviati and Francesco de

  Pazzi, both of whom were to come to Florence, and provide for the

  execution of their design, with the assistance of Giovanni Batista da

  Montesecco. King Ferrando promised, by his ambassador, to contribute

  all in his power to the success of their undertaking. Francesco de'

  Pazzi and the archbishop having arrived at Florence, prevailed upon

  Jacopo di Poggio, a well educated youth, but ambitious and very

  desirous of change, to join them, and two others, each of the name of

  Jacopo Salviati, one a brother, the other a kinsman, of the

  archbishop. They also gained over Bernardo Bandini and Napoleone

  Franzeni, two bold young men, under great obligations to the family of

  the Pazzi. Besides those already mentioned, they were joined by

  Antonio da Volterra and a priest named Stefano, who taught Latin to

  the daughter of Jacopo de' Pazzi. Rinato de' Pazzi, a grave and

  prudent man, being quite aware of the evils resulting from such

  undertakings, refused all participation in the conspiracy; he held it

  in abhorrence, and as much as possible, without betraying his kinsmen,

  endeavored to counteract it.

  The pope had sent Raffaello di Riario, a nephew of Count Girolamo, to

  the college of Pisa, to study canon law, and while there, had advanced

  him to the dignity of a cardinal. The conspirators determined to bring

  this cardinal to Florence, as they would thus be better able to

  conceal their design, since any persons requisite to be introduced

  into the city might easily be made to appear as a part of his retinue,

  and his arrival might facilitate the completion of their enterprise.

  The cardinal came, and was received by Jacopo de' Pazzi at his villa

  of Montughi, near Florence. By his means it was also intended to bring

  together Giuliano and Lorenzo, and whenever this happened, to put them

  both to death. They therefore invited them to meet the cardinal at

  their villa of Fiesole; but Giuliano, either intentionally or through

  some preventing cause, did not attend; and this design having failed,

  they thought that if asked to an entertainment at Florence, both

  brothers would certainly be present. With this intention they

  appointed Sunday, the twenty-sixth of April, 1478, to give a great

  feast; and, resolving to assassinate them at table, the conspirators

  met on the Saturday evening to arrange all proceedings for the

  following day. In the morning it was intimated to Francesco that

  Giuliano would be absent; on which the conspirators again assembled

  and finding they could no longer defer the execution of their design,

  since it would be impossible among so many to preserve secrecy, they

  determined to complete it in the cathedral church of Santa Reparata,

  where the cardinal attending, the two brothers would be present as

  usual. They wished Giovanni Batista da Montesecco to undertake the

  murder of Lorenzo, while that of Giuliano was assigned to Francesco

  de' Pazzi and Bernardo Bandini. Giovanni Batista refused, either

  because his familiarity with Lorenzo had created feelings in his

  favor, or from some other reason, saying he should not have resolution

  sufficient to commit such a deed in a church, and thus add sacrilege

  to treachery. This caused the failure of their undertaking; for time

  pressing, they were compelled to substitute Antonio da Volterra and

  Stefano, the priest, two men, who, from nature and habit, were the

  most unsuitable of any; for if firmness and resolution joined with

  experience in bloodshed be necessary upon any occasion, it is on such

  as these; and it often happens that those who are expert in arms, and

  have faced death in all forms on the field of battle, still fail in an

  affair like this. Having now decided upon the time, they resolved that

  the signal for the attack should be the moment when the priest who

  celebrated high mass should partake of the sacrament, and that, in the

  meantime, the Archbishop de' Salviati, with his followers, and Jacopo

  di Poggio, should take possession of the palace, in order that the

  Signory, after the young men's death, should voluntarily, or by force,

  contribute to their assistance.

  CHAPTER II

  Giuliano de' Medici slain--Lorenzo escapes--The archbishop

  Salviati endeavors to seize the palace of the Signory--He is taken

  and hanged--The enterprise of the conspirators entirely fails--

  Manifestations of the Florentines in favor of Lorenzo de' Medici--

  The conspirators punished--The funeral of Giuliano--The pope and

  the king of Naples make war upon the Florentines--Florence

  excommunicated--Speech of Lorenzo de' Medici to the citizens of

  Florence.

  The conspirators proceeded to Santa Reparata, where the cardinal and

  Lorenzo had already arrived. The church was crowded, and divine

  service commenced before Giuliano's arrival. Francesco de' Pazzi and

  Bernardo Bandini, who were appointed to be his murderers, went to his

  house, and finding him, they, by earnest entreaties, prevailed upon

  him to accompany them. It is surprising that such intense hatred, and

  designs so full of horror as those of Francesco and Bernardo, could be

  so perfectly concealed; for while conducting him to the church, and

  after they had reached it, they amused him with jests and playful

  discourse. Nor did Francesco forget, under pretense of endearment, to

  press him in his arms, so as to ascertain whether under his apparel he

  wore a cuirass or other means of defense. Giuliano and Lorenzo were

  both aware of the animosity of the Pazzi, and their desire to deprive

  them of the government; but they felt assured that any design would
be

  attempted openly, and in conjunction with the civil authority. Thus

  being free from apprehension for their personal safety both affected

  to be on friendly terms with them. The murderers being ready, each in

  his appointed station, which they could retain without suspicion, on

  account of the vast numbers assembled in the church, the preconcerted

  moment arrived, and Bernardo Bandini, with a short dagger provided for

  the purpose, struck Giuliano in the breast, who, after a few steps,

  fell to the earth. Francesco de' Pazzi threw himself upon the body and

  covered him with wounds; while, as if blinded by rage, he inflicted a

  deep incision upon his own leg. Antonio and Stefano, the priest,

  attacked Lorenzo, and after dealing many blows, effected only a slight

  incision in the throat; for either their want of resolution, the

  activity of Lorenzo, who, finding himself attacked, used his arms in

  his own defense, or the assistance of those by whom he was surrounded,

  rendered all attempts futile. They fled and concealed themselves, but

  being subsequently discovered, were put to death in the most

  ignominious manner, and their bodies dragged about the city. Lorenzo,

  with the friends he had about him, took refuge in the sacristy of the

  church. Bernardo Bandini, after Giuliano's death, also slew Francesco

  Nori, a most intimate friend of the Medici, either from some previous

  hatred or for having endeavored to render assistance to Giuliano; and

  not content with these murders, he ran in pursuit of Lorenzo,

  intending, by his own promptitude, to make up for the weakness and

  inefficiency of the others; but finding he had taken refuge in the

  vestry, he was prevented.

  In the midst of these violent and fearful deeds, during which the

  uproar was so terrible, that it seemed almost sufficient to bring the

  church down upon its inmates, the cardinal Riario remained close to

  the altar, where he was with difficulty kept in safety by the priests,

  until the Signory, upon the abatement of the disturbance, could

  conduct him to their palace, where he remained in the utmost terror

  till he was set at liberty.

  There were at this time in Florence some people of Perugia, whom party

  feuds had compelled to leave their homes; and the Pazzi, by promising

  to restore them to their country, obtained their assistance. The

  Archbishop de' Salviati, going to seize the palace, together with

  Jacopo di Poggio, and the Salviati, his friends, took these Perugini

  with him. Having arrived, he left part of his people below, with

  orders that when they heard a noise they should make themselves

  masters of the entrance, while himself, with the greater part of the

  Perugini, proceeded above, and finding the Signory at dinner (for it

  was now late), was admitted after a short delay, by Cesare Petrucci,

  the Gonfalonier of Justice. He entered with only a few of his

  followers, the greater part of them being shut up in the cancelleria

  into which they had gone, whose doors were so contrived, that upon

  closing they could not be opened from either side, without the key.

  The archbishop being with the gonfalonier, under pretense of having

  something to communicate on the part of the pope, addressed him in

  such an incoherent and hesitating manner, that the gonfalonier at once

  suspected him, and rushing out of the chamber to call assistance,

  found Jacopo di Poggio, whom he seized by the hair of the head, and

  gave into the custody of his attendants. The Signory hearing the

  tumult, snatched such arms as they could at the moment obtain, and all

  who had gone up with the archbishop, part of them being shut up, and

  part overcome with terror, were immediately slain or thrown alive out

  of the windows of the palace, at which the archbishop, the two Jacopi

  Salviati, and Jacopodi Poggio were hanged. Those whom the archbishop

  left below, having mastered the guard and taken possession of the

  entrance occupied all the lower floors, so that the citizens, who in

  the uproar, hastened to the palace, were unable to give either advice

  or assistance to the Signory.

  Francesco de' Pazzi and Bernardo Bandini, perceiving Lorenzo's escape,

  and the principal agent in the enterprise seriously wounded, became

  immediately conscious of the imminent peril of their position.

  Bernardo, using the same energy in his own behalf that had served him

  against the Medici, finding all lost, saved himself by flight.

  Francesco, wounded as he was, got to his house, and endeavored to get

  on horseback, for it had been arranged they should ride through the

  city and call the people to arms and liberty; but he found himself

  unable, from the nature of his wound, and, throwing himself naked upon

  his bed, begged Jacopo de' Pazzi to perform the part for which he was

  himself incapacitated. Jacopo, though old and unaccustomed to such

  business, by way of making a last effort, mounted his horse, and, with

  about a hundred armed followers, collected without previous

  preparation, hastened to the piazza of the palace, and endeavored to

  assemble adherents by cries of "people," and "liberty"; but the

  former, having been rendered deaf by the fortune and liberty of the

  Medici, the latter was unknown in Florence, and he found no followers.

  The signors, who held the upper part of the palace, saluted him with

  stones and threats. Jacopo, while hesitating, was met by Giovanni

  Seristori, his brother-in-law, who upbraided him with the troubles he

  had occasioned, and then advised him to go home, for the people and

  liberty were as dear to other citizens as to himself. Thus deprived of

  every hope, Lorenzo being alive, Francesco seriously wounded, and none

  disposed to follow him, not knowing what to do, he resolved, if

  possible, to escape by flight; and, accompanied by those whom he had

  led into the piazza, left Florence with the intention of going into

  Romagna.

  In the meantime the whole city was roused to arms, and Lorenzo de'

  Medici, accompanied by a numerous escort, returned to his house. The

  palace was recovered from its assailants, all of whom were either

  slain or made prisoners. The name of the Medici echoed everywhere, and

  portions of dead bodies were seen borne on spears and scattered

  through the streets; while everyone was transported with rage against

  the Pazzi, and pursued them with relentless cruelty. The people took

  possession of their houses, and Francesco, naked as they found him,

  was led to the palace, and hanged beside the archbishop and the rest.

  He could not be induced, by any injurious words or deeds, to utter a

  syllable, but regarding those around with a steady look, he silently

  sighed. Guglielmo de' Pazzi, brother-in-law to Lorenzo, fled to the

  latter's house, and by his innocence and the intercession of his wife,

  Bianca, he escaped death. There was not a citizen of any rank whatever

  who did not, upon this occasion, wait upon Lorenzo with an offer of

  his services; so great were the popularity and good fortune which this

  family had acquired by their liberality and prudence. Rinato de' Pazzi

 
; was at his villa when the event took place, and on being informed of

  it, he endeavored to escape in disguise, but was arrested upon the

  road and brought to Florence. Jacopo de' Pazzi was taken while

  crossing the mountains of Romagna, for the inhabitants of these parts

  having heard what had occurred, and seeing him in flight, attacked and

  brought him back to the city; nor could he, though he frequently

  endeavored, prevail with them to put him to death upon the road.

  Jacopo and Rinato were condemned within four days after the murder of

  Giuliano. And though so many deaths had been inflicted that the roads

  were covered with fragments of human bodies, not one excited a feeling

  of regret, except that of Rinato; for he was considered a wise and

  good man, and possessed none of the pride for which the rest of his

  family were notorious. As if to mark the event by some extraordinary

  circumstance, Jacopo de' Pazzi, after having been buried in the tomb

  of his ancestors, was disinterred like an excommunicated person, and

  thrown into a hole at the outside of the city walls; from this grave

  he was taken, and with the halter in which he had been hanged, his

  body was dragged naked through the city, and, as if unfit for

  sepulture on earth, thrown by the populace into the Arno, whose waters

  were then very high. It was an awful instance of the instability of

  fortune, to see so wealthy a man, possessing the utmost earthly

  felicity, brought down to such a depth of misery, such utter ruin and

  extreme degradation. It is said he had vices, among which were gaming

  and profane swearing, to which he was very much addicted; but these

  seem more than balanced by his numerous charities, for he relieved

  many in distress, and bestowed much money for pious uses. It may also

  be recorded in his favor, that upon the Saturday preceding the death

  of Giuliano, in order that none might suffer from his misfortunes, he

  discharged all his debts; and whatever property he possessed belonging

  to others, either in his own house or his place of business, he was

  particularly careful to return to its owners. Giovanni Batista da

  Montesecco, after a long examination, was beheaded; Napoleone Franzesi

  escaped punishment by flight; Giulielmo de' Pazzi was banished, and

  such of his cousins as remained alive were imprisoned in the fortress

  of Volterra. The disturbances being over, and the conspirators

  punished, the funeral obsequies of Giuliano were performed amid

  universal lamentation; for he possessed all the liberality and

  humanity that could be wished for in one of his high station. He left

  a natural son, born some months after his death, named Giulio, who was

  endowed with that virtue and felicity with which the whole world is

  now acquainted; and of which we shall speak at length when we come to

  our own times, if God spare us. The people who had assembled in favor

  of the Pazzi under Lorenzo da Castello in the Val di Tavere, and under

  Giovan Francesco da Tolentino in Romagna, approached Florence, but

  having heard of the failure of the conspiracy, they returned home.

  The changes desired by the pope and the king in the government of

  Florence, not having taken place, they determined to effect by war

  what they had failed to accomplish by treachery; and both assembled

  forces with all speed to attack the Florentine states; publicly

  declaring that they only wished the citizens to remove Lorenzo de'

  Medici, who alone of all the Florentines was their enemy. The king's

  forces had already passed the Tronto, and the pope's were in Perugia;

  and that the citizens might feel the effect of spiritual as well as

  temporal weapons, the pontiff excommunicated and anathematized them.

  Finding themselves attacked by so many armies, the Florentines

  prepared for their defense with the utmost care. Lorenzo de' Medici,

  as the enemy's operations were said to be directed against himself

  alone, resolved first of all to assemble the Signory, and the most

  influential citizens, in the palace, to whom, being above three