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HISTORICAL ABSTRACT. I15
Varano. Starts the same day to have an interview with Louis XII 1602.
at Milan : stays with the French Court in the neighbourhood [Pavia,
Genoa, Ast_] durmg August: leaves Asti, September 2: returns
to hnola, September Io, completely reconciled with Louis XII
('intrmsecamente riconciliato seco' ; Guicciardini) : he prepares
to attack Bologna, when a conspiracyof his captains is formed against
him. [Chief conspirators: the Orsini, Vitellozzo Vitelli, Giovan
Paolo Baglioni, Guidobaldo di Montefeltro of Urbmo, Oliverotto da
Fermo, Pandolfo Petruccl, and Giovanm Bentivogho of Bologna.]
Machiavelli, as early as September, notices Vitellozzo's growing distrust
of Cesare Borgia; the existence of the conspiracy is known at
Florence at beginning of October. Theconspirators se:ze the fortress
of San Leo in the Duchy of Urbmo before October 7, and, after some
preliminary meetings [September 25-3o], on October 9 hold a general
meeting at Magione ('dieta di falliti') close to Perugia. [Dieta
alia l_agione. The following took part in the Diet : the Cardinal
Orsini, Duke of Gravina, Paolo Orsini, Franciotto Orsini, Ermete
Bentivoglio, Ottaviano Fregoso, Anton da Venafro (for Pandolfo
Petrucci),Oliverotto da Fermo, Giovan Paolo Baglioni, andVitellozzo
Vitelli.] They resolve to raise an army for their common defence,
and to apply for aid to Florence. A general rising takes place
throughout Urbmo, and the conspirators become masters of the
Duchy. [See especially the letter of Giovan Paolo Baglioni of
October II, pubhshed by Passerini ; Opere, P. M. iv. 94 iT.]
Applications from Cesare Borgia and the Pope for ambassadors to be
sent to them are received at Florence as soon as the existence of the
conspiracy becomes known. Vittorio Soderini is appointed to go to
Rome [delayed by illness till December 7] : _aehiavelli is deputed
to visit Cesare Borgia, October 5. [' A Valentino etiam s' era dlsputato
prima assai se seli mandava ambasciadore pztbblico, e sendo
dubia la consulta, finalmente si concluse mandarvi (i. e. as mandatario)
Niccol6 Machiavelli, uno dci nostri cancellieri del Palazzo';
Parenti, cited by Tommasmi.] He is to try and retain the friendship
of Cesare Borgia, without committing the city to anything
definite, and to put him off with words, ff he demands aid : he is
also to obtain a safe-conduct for the Florentine merchants passing
through the states of Cesare Borgia. Reaches Imola October 7,
and has his first audience the same day. Cesare Borgia, to check
the conspirators, places the troops still left him under the command
of Mmhele Coriglia, a Spaniard [' Don Michelotto '], who advances
to Pergola, and thence to Fossombrone ; both places put to the sack,
October ii [Opere, P. M. iv.8o] : he is attacked by the Orsini and a
battle takes place on October 17 (v. Opere, P. M. iv. lO8) : Borgia's
troops are completely defeated, and Don Michelotto barely escapes
with his life: Ugo de Moncada taken prisoner. Cesare Borgia
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