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HISTORICAL ABSTRACT. I 17
lWaehiavelli marries Marietta di Ludovico Corsini [exact date un-1802.
certain].
Changes in the Constitution of _lorence.--The weakness and
inadequacy of the government, resulting from the short tenure of
the Magistracies, makes the necessity of some reform apparent to
all citizens alike. On August 26 a law is passed in the Consiglio
Maggiore appointing a Gonfaloniere for life : he is to be at least
fifty years old ; his sons, brothers and nephews ineligible for the
Signoria : he is not to engage in trade : salary 12oo ducats a year.
H_s position is essentially the same as that of the old Gonfaloniere
di Gmstizia who held office for only two months, but he has the
right of imtiative, and of voting in criminal cases. [Best account in
Gnicciardmi, St. Fior. ch. 25.]
Piero dl Tommaso Soderini is elected Gonfaloniere. [Soderini Sept. 22
continued to hold office till the restoration of the Medmi in 1512.
His policy throughout was to adhere to France: his election was
very acceptable to Louis XII : ' ad il re _ sommamente p_aciuta la
elezlone di Piero Soderim, facendone segni evidentlssimi d' allegrezza,
dmendo ehe si _ diputato uno uomo ehe teme Iddio, savlo
e amatore della sua patria.' Machiavelli says of the institution
itself, 'il qual ordine ha date tanta riputazione a codesta citt_, che
non _ uomo lo credesse.' (Opere, P. M. iv. 85.) Soderini at the time
of his election was the most popular man in Florence : v. Tommasini,
i. 235 IT.]
Affairs at Naplos.--At the beginning of the year disputes arise
between Spain and France about the debateable ground, the
Capitanate, Basilicate, Principality. Gonsalvo, on reeelpt of news
that the French have occupied places in the Capitanate and Basilicare,
marches north from Tarento: conference between the two
commanders, April I.
In July Louis XII goes to Asti to superintend the preparations
for war; appoints the Duke of Nemours commander m place of
d'Aubigny [among the officers Sire de la Pahce, Louis d'Ars, Ives
d'All_gre, Bayard] : orders war to be declared against the Spaniards
unless they abandon the Capitanate at once. Gonsalvo concentrates
his forces at Atella ; the French summon him to surrender
the Capitanate : he withdraws to Barleta, and distributes troops in
the adjacent towns.
On July 2 the French besiege Canosa, which capitulates.
D'Aubigny sent to overrun Calabria. Attacks upon Barleta [eft
Arte d. Guerra, bk. ii; Op. iv. 237]. Spanish troops under Don
Manuel de Benavides, which had united with others under Hugo de
Cardona, are destroyed by d'Aubigny at Terranova, Dec. 15.
The siege of Barleta continues : the French established at Canosa.
Cesare Borgia and the Pope.--[Machiavelli continues with Cesare 1503.