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J16 HISTORICAL ABSTRACT.
1502. continues to hold out at Imola; raises new troops and applies to
France for aid, whmh is at once supplied, and more than counterbalances
the success of the confederates, who vainly seek help
from Florence. On news of battle of Fossombrone, Machiavelli
obtains the safe-conduct for the Florentine merchants, October 21.
The fear of French forces arrived in the neighbourhood leads the
conspirators to negotiate for an agreement with Borgia: Paolo
Orsini at Imola, October 25, to settle the matter : agreement signed
by Paolo Orsini, October 28 ; difficulties arise with the other conspirators,
and the ratification is not made till the close of November.
Urbino and Camerino [which had rebelled before October 29;
Op. vi. 238] are to be restored to Cesare Borgia, the condottieri
to continue in his service as before (letter of October 3° ; Op. vi.
24I), to give hostages to the Pope, to assist in the recovery of
Urbino: finally, Cesare Borgia is not to be allowed to force the
conspirators 'a venire personahnente alla presenza sua, pifl ehe
a loro si paresse' (Op. ii. 394)--' Di tali capitoli infino alli putti se
ne debbono ridere.' Giovanni Bentivoglio negotiates for a separate
treaty on his own behalf, which is concluded, December 2 (Op. vi.
300). Machiavelli, as early as November 3, discovers that the real
object of Cesare Borgia is to avenge himself upon the eondottieri. On
November 28 Paolo Orsini goes to Urbino, which submits December
8, the Duke, Guidobaldo di Montefeltro, receiving permission to withdraw.
Antonio da San Savmo is appointed to administer justice in
the territory of Urbino, Ramiro d'Orco (de Lorqua) in the Romagna.
Cesare Borgia leaves for Forli, December io, and Machiavelli follows
him : thence moves to Cesena : on the i4th Machiavelhwrites from
Cesena in great uncertainty: on the 22nd Ramiro d' Orco is taken
prisoner by Borgia's orders, and murdered four days afterwards. [For
an explanation of Borgia's conduct, v. Prineipe, ch. vii.] The French
withdraw their troops from Cesare Borgia's service, December 22.
On December 26 Cesare Borgia leaves Cesena, advances towards
Sinigaglia, preceded by Vitellozzo Vitelli and the Orsini, who take
the town : the ruler Francesco Maria della Rovere [act. ii], together
with his mother Giovanna di Montefeltro, saved by Andrea Dona,
his tutor. On receipt of the news [December 28, at Pesaro] Cesare
Borgia advances rapidly and enters the town, December 31. Is met
by his captains, and takes them prisoner by treachery the same
day. [The Duke of Gravina, Paolo Orsini, Oliverotto da Fermo,
Vltellozzo Vitelli: the last two are strangled during the night of
December 3I-January i, i5o3. ] Vide T,egaztonea_lDuea Valelltiuo,
Op. vi. I85-333, lett. 1-43: the remaining letters were
written during January, 15o3. Opere, P. M. iv. 65-257. For the
main facts v. Guicciardini, St. d' Italia, lib. v. ch. iv ; Op. Ined. iii.
292 IT.