Memoirs Of The Dukes Of Urbino - free ebook by James Dennistoun

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Memoirs Of The Dukes Of Urbino

James Dennistoun

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MEMOIRS OF THE DUKES OF URBINO

MEMOIRS OF THE DUKES OF URBINO

ILLUSTRATING THE ARMS, ARTS &amp; LITERATURE OF ITALY, 1440-1630 BY JAMES DENNISTOUN OF DENNISTOUN A NEW EDITION WITH NOTES BY EDWARD HUTTON &amp; OVER A HUNDRED ILLUSTRATIONS IN THREE VOLUMES. VOLUME ONE LONDON JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD NEW YORK JOHN LANE COMPANY MCMIX WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON, LTD., PRINTERS, PLYMOUTH WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON, LTD., PRINTERS, PLYMOUTH frontispiece JAMES DENNISTOUN OF DENNISTOUN From a medallion in the possession of his Nephew, James N. Dennistoun o

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INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

I T is surely unnecessary to make any apology for this second edition of the Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino . Notwithstanding all that has been done in the last fifty years by historians on the one hand, and by imaginative writers on the other, with the object of elucidating the history of that part of Central Italy which lies within the ancient confines of Umbria, or of appreciating the humanism of that Court which was once a pattern for the world, this book of James Dennistoun's remains the st

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MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR JAMES DENNISTOUN OF DENNISTOUN

MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR JAMES DENNISTOUN OF DENNISTOUN

J AMES DENNISTOUN of Dennistoun and Colgrain was descended from the ancient and noble Scots family of the Lords de Danzielstoun. The first of his house of which authentic records can be traced is Sir Hugh de Danzielstoun, witness to a charter from Malcolm Earl of Lennox, who lived during the reign of Alexander III of Scotland, who died in 1286. His son, Sir John de Danzielstoun, was the associate-in-arms of his patriotic brother-in-law, the Earl of Wigton, and of Sir Robert Erskine in the reigns

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CATALOGUE On THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1855 AT ONE O’CLOCK PRECISELY

CATALOGUE On THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1855 AT ONE O’CLOCK PRECISELY

The total amount realised at the sale was £1398 15s. 6d....

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AUTHOR’S PREFACE (1851)

AUTHOR’S PREFACE (1851)

D URING nearly one hundred and ninety years, five Dukes of Urbino well and ably discharged the duties of their station, comparatively exempt from the personal immoralities of their age. The rugged frontier of their highland fief had, in that time, been extended far into the fertile March of Ancona, until it embraced a compact and influential state. Saving their subjects, by a gentle and judicious sway, from the wild ferments that distracted democratic communities, and from the yet more dire revo

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APPENDICES

APPENDICES

Note. —The Editor's notes are marked with an asterisk....

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MEMOIRS OF THE DUKES OF URBINO CHAPTER I

MEMOIRS OF THE DUKES OF URBINO CHAPTER I

Topography of the Duchy of Urbino—Origin of the Italian communities—Their civil institutions and military system—Their principle of liberty—Political divisions of Romagna; opposed to modern speculations regarding centralization. T HE country which composed the Duchy of Urbino , and which nearly corresponds with the modern Legation of Urbino and Pesaro, is situated upon the eastern fall of Central Italy, between the 43rd and 44th parallels of north latitude. It stretches along the Adriatic, and e

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CHAPTER II

CHAPTER II

Origin of the Counts of Montefeltro, and of their sovereignty in Urbino and the surrounding country—Their early genealogy—Guido, Count of Urbino—Antonio, Count of Urbino. T HE first princely dynasty of Urbino affords examples of most of the phases of mediæval jurisdiction on which we have briefly touched in our introductory remarks. From the mists of the dark ages which brooded over the mountains of Central Italy, there emerged a race who gradually spread their paltry highland holding over a bro

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CHAPTER III

CHAPTER III

Guidantonio Count of Urbino—The Ubaldini—Oddantonio Count of Urbino—Is made Duke—His dissolute habits and speedy assassination. C OUNT GUIDANTONIO found himself, on his succession, hampered by debts incurred in purchasing another ample investiture in vicariate from Boniface IX., which cost him 12,000 golden florins. But prudence quickly retrieved these embarrassments, and not only enabled him to add materially to his territories and influence, but to raise his house to unprecedented distinction.

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CHAPTER IV

CHAPTER IV

The birth of Count Federigo—Condition of Italy—His marriage and only military service—The Malatesta, his inveterate foes—He takes S. Leo—Is invested with Mercatello. W ITH Federigo, successor of Duke Oddantonio, commences the proper subject of these volumes, but we are met by a preliminary difficulty as to his birth and parentage, which has baffled many of his biographers. It would be useless, as well as tedious, to enumerate and examine the host of conflicting and often inconsistent authorities

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CHAPTER V

CHAPTER V

Count Federigo succeeds to Urbino and acquires Fossombrone—His connection with the Sforza family, whereby he incurs excommunication—His campaign in the Maremma—Loses his eye in a tournament. I T was during the siege of Pesaro that Federigo heard of the horrible catastrophe, by which his brother Oddantonio, on the 22nd July, 1444, atoned the excesses of his brief sovereignty. But this assassination, the result of a sudden outbreak, indicated no general disloyalty to the race of Montefeltro. The v

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CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VI

Count Federigo enters the Neapolitan service—His two campaigns in Tuscany—Fall of Constantinople—Peace of Lodi—Nicholas V.—The Count’s fruitless attempt at reconciliation with Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta; followed by new feuds with him—Death of his Countess Gentile. T HE establishment of Francesco Sforza as Duke of Milan had virtually settled the affairs of Lombardy, for although the Emperor and the French King refused to recognise his rights to the Visconti succession, they deferred their res

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CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VII

Count Federigo’s domestic life—His second marriage—New war for the Angevine succession to Naples—Battle of San Fabbiano—Conclusion of the war—Humiliation of the Malatesta. T HOSE readers who have thus far followed our narrative of Count Federigo's military career may perhaps regret that its somewhat limited and monotonous interest should not have been varied by glimpses of his domestic life. A prince whose engagements were observed with rare fidelity, whose chivalrous honour was happily combined

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CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER VIII

Count Federigo’s home administration and court—Description of his palace and library at Urbino—His other palaces—The resources of his state. T HE three years and a half which had now passed since the Count's marriage had been spent by him almost entirely in active service. During his long absences, the state was in a great measure administered by Countess Battista, who, notwithstanding her youth, is said to have held the reins of government with admirable firmness and good sense, as well as with

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CHAPTER IX

CHAPTER IX

Count Federigo’s varied engagements—Battle of La Molinella—Death and character of his enemy Malatesta—Affairs of Rimini. I T was to the Pontiff's anxiety for his favourite project against the Infidel, that the Malatesta owed the shadow of sovereignty still left them. He inherited from Nicholas V. the design of a holy war; but though the ten years passed since the peace of Lodi had united the Italian powers for that purpose, the cross had not yet been raised against the aggressive and triumphant

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CHAPTER X

CHAPTER X

Birth of Prince Guidobaldo—Count Federigo captures Volterra—Is again widowed—Receives the Garter and the Ermine—Is made Duke of Urbino—His patronage of learned men. E LEVEN years had now gone by since the marriage of Federigo, and had given him eight daughters. Although the laws of succession were neither well defined nor rigorously adhered to among Italian feudatories, a general desire to see the sovereignty secured in the line of one so justly beloved was felt throughout his state. For an obje

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CHAPTER XI

CHAPTER XI

The Duke of Milan assassinated—Count Girolamo Riario—The Pazzi conspiracy—Duke Federigo’s campaigns in Tuscany—Progress of the Turks. T HE mediæval history of Italy is too frequently traced in characters of blood, and the period which we have now reached, although generally regarded as one of comparative tranquillity, was signalised by conspiracies systematically matured, and by murders perpetrated in high places with revolting barbarity. It matters little that they were instigated by political

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CHAPTER XII

CHAPTER XII

The war of Ferrara, and death of Duke Federigo—His character and portraits. T HE sparks of discord, though smothered, were still smouldering in many quarters. Sixtus, whose restless ambition was stirred by schemes of nepotism for his unscrupulous nephew of Forlì, forgot not that Ferdinand had baulked him of full vengeance upon the Medici, and brooded over that monarch's threat of letting the Infidel march upon his capital. He also calculated that, in the scramble of a general war, some pickings

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CHAPTER XIII

CHAPTER XIII

The early promise of Duke Guidobaldo I.—Count Girolamo Riario assassinated—The Duke’s marriage—Comparative quiet of Italy. I N the life of Duke Federigo we have seen personal merit accompanied by a remarkable continuance of good fortune. The mystery of his birth was no bar to his enjoying unquestioned a sovereignty to which he could not have established any clear right. The popular outbreak which had cut off his predecessor shook not the stability of his dynasty. To the fief he thus peaceably ac

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CHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER XIV

State of the papacy at the accession of Alexander VI.—His election, character, and children—The aspect of Italy at the close of her golden age—The disputed succession of Naples reopened—Character and views of Charles VIII.—Proposed league to oppose him frustrated—State of the Roman Campagna—The old and new military systems in Italy. T HE spiritual sway of the papacy at this time enjoyed great advantages over its temporal dominion. Although the former had necessarily been more permanent and influ

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CHAPTER XV

CHAPTER XV

Italy ill prepared for the French Invasion—Duke Guidobaldo sent against the Orsini—Lucrezia Borgia’s second marriage—Descent of Charles VIII.—He reaches Naples and retreats—Battle of the Taro—The Duke engaged in the Pisan war—Is taken prisoner by the Orsini and ransomed. T HE preceding rapid sketch may show the materials of which the invading hosts were composed, and the nature of the approaching danger. Its imminence appalled even those powers who, like Sforza, thought more of their own ends th

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CHAPTER XVI

CHAPTER XVI

The crimes and ambition of the Borgia—Murder of the Duke of Gandia—Duke Guidobaldo’s expeditions against Perugia and Tuscany—He adopts Francesco Maria della Rovere as his heir—Louis XII. succeeds to Charles VIII., and to his views upon Italy—Cesare Borgia created Duke Valentino—Duke Guidobaldo at Venice. T IME was meanwhile maturing the crimes of the Borgia, whose sinister influence upon the destiny of Guidobaldo was about to be signally manifested. So far from regarding his spurious progeny wit

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CHAPTER XVII

CHAPTER XVII

The condition of Romagna—Cesare Borgia overruns and seizes upon it—The spirit of his government—Naples invaded by Louis, and handed over to Spain—Lucrezia Borgia’s fourth marriage. T HE French conquests in Lombardy having been achieved, Valentino now urged Louis to perform certain secret stipulations which had for their object his establishment in Romagna and La Marca as a sovereign prince. The scene of our narrative must, therefore, for a time be laid in that country; and it may be well, though

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CHAPTER XVIII

CHAPTER XVIII

Duke Guidobaldo’s retired life—Cesare Borgia surprises and seizes Urbino—The Duke’s flight—The diet of La Magione—Rising in the Duchy, and his return—He again retires. O UR attention has been long distracted from our mountain duchy, whose lord sought, in the peaceful retreat of his elegant court and happy home, to isolate himself from intrigues alien to his tastes and perilous to his welfare. The notices we shall gather of his social circle towards the close of his life would doubtless apply, in

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APPENDICES

APPENDICES

(Pages 37 , 40 ) POETRY OF THE FAMILY OF MONTEFELTRO W E shall here collect a few literary remains of personages connected with the family of Montefeltro, to whom we have alluded in early chapters of this work. They can scarcely now be considered of general interest, but they indicate and test that cultivation of letters among princely houses to which we have often pointed, and, coming from sources not generally accessible, will be welcome to literary antiquarians. The authors of whom we are to

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VII.

VII.

ILLUSTRISSIMÆ PRÆCLARISSIMÆQUE DOMINÆ BAPTISTÆ DE MALATESTIS [LITERA], AD SANCTISSIMUM DOMINUM PAPAM MARTINUM V., PRO SERENISSIMA EJUS SORORE DOMINA CLEOPHE, BASILISSA, NUPTA FILIO IMPERATORIS CONSTANTINOPOLITANI, QUÆ A VIRO SUO COGEBATUR SEQUI OPINIONEM GRÆCORUM. Paveo equidem, Beatissime Pater, nec mediocriter vereor, cum inscia muliercula sim, tuæ Celsitudinis aures inquietare incomptis eloquiis meis. Sed diuturnæ ac incredibiles angustiæ, illius videlicet fidelis ancillæ tuæ serenissimæ soro

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APPENDIX II

APPENDIX II

( Page 48 , note 1 ) INVENTORY OF ARTICLES TAKEN BY BRIGIDA SUEVA DI MONTEFELTRO, ALIAS SISTER SERAFINA, INTO THE CONVENT OF CORPUS DOMINI I give to Victoria de Monaldin a pair of used crimson brocade sleeves; to Francesco of Cagli, an old crimson damask petticoat; to Fra di Messer Benedicto, a little cloak of white damask, which I promised a good while since. Another brown mantle [ camura ] I have given to my nurse. Also two small towels striped with gold and silk, which our mother has asked of

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APPENDIX IV

APPENDIX IV

( Pages 85-6 ) INSTRUMENT CONTAINING THE CONCESSIONS DEMANDED BY THE CITIZENS AND ACCEDED TO BY COUNT FEDERIGO ON BEING CHOSEN AS THEIR SEIGNEUR; TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN ORIGINAL IN THE COMMUNAL ARCHIVES OF URBINO I N the name of God, amen; to the honour and worship of the indivisible Trinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and his mother the glorious Virgin, of the blessed Crescentius, and of the whole triumphant heavenly host. These underwritten are certain articles, conditions, and concessions ma

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APPENDIX V

APPENDIX V

( Page 161 ) DEVICES AND MOTTOES OF THE DUKES OF URBINO A GREAT deal of ingenuity, and no small amount of learning, were expended in Italy on the invention of impresi , or allegorical emblems used by personages of high station or celebrity, somewhat as crests and mottoes are in modern heraldry. The same quaint fashion of devises or badges prevailed to a less degree in France, and found some favour even in England during the days of euphuism, but, being better suited to the pedantic conceits and

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APPENDIX VI

APPENDIX VI

(Pages 166 , 212 ) THE ILLUMINATED MSS. IN THE URBINO LIBRARY I T would far exceed our limits to describe these in detail, but we shall mention four MSS. of especial interest now at the Vatican. 1. The Hebrew Bible , alleged to have been taken at Volterra (see p. 212 ), is the most ponderous volume I have met with. The boards are 23 inches by 16, and the 979 leaves of stout parchment form a thickness of nearly a foot. It has been lately bound in crimson morocco—a wonderful triumph of mechanical

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APPENDIX VII

APPENDIX VII

( Page 224 ) DUKE FEDERIGO OF URBINO A KNIGHT OF THE GARTER P AOLO CORTESIO tells us that, when some sycophants, after the Volterra expedition, assured the Duke that no name was more glorious or more widely famous, he exclaimed, "How so, since no one in Spain or France ever heard of me? Think you that it has ever crossed the Alps?" Notwithstanding this modest reproof, it is certain that fame was then carrying his renown even to the " Penitus toto divisos orbe Britannos," and that within about tw

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III. The Naval Armament.

III. The Naval Armament.

Allowing to each man-at-arms and lance two followers, and to each gentleman one, the total force would amount to nearly 90,000 men, 1200 pieces of artillery, and 459 sail. To this there falls to be added, besides the usual attendance of servants and sutlers, an immense retinue attached to the luxurious court of Charles, of which no enumeration is attempted....

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APPENDIX IX

APPENDIX IX

( Page 354 ) THE BATTLE OF THE TARO, IN 1495 T HE battle of Fornovo bears so little upon the proper subject of our narrative, that we have but rapidly noted its issue. It may be well, however, now to examine in greater detail the circumstances leading to a result so opposite from that which the ordinary chances of war would have inferred, and to consider how far the fortune of that field tried the comparative superiority of French and Italian prowess. We are in possession of contemporary stateme

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APPENDIX X

APPENDIX X

( Page 375 ) THE ARRIVAL OF DUKE VALENTINO AT THE FRENCH COURT B RANTOME [315] has preserved, from an unedited rhyming chronicle, the following curious account of this upstart's entry, on the 18th of December, 1498, into Chinon, where Louis then held his court:— "First came eighty most beautiful mules, laden with trunks, portmanteaus, and packages, with red cloths whereon were the Duke's armorial bearings. Then eighty more mules, whose cloths were party-coloured red and yellow, for they bore the

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APPENDIX XI

APPENDIX XI

( Page 385 ) DESPATCH OF SER BENEDETTO TREVISANO, ENVOY OF VENICE AT THE COURT OF LOUIS XII., DETAILING THE ENTRY INTO LYONS OF LUDOVICO DUKE OF MILAN, THE 2 nd OF MAY, 1500 Most serene Prince and excellent Lord [Doge], T HIS day, at half-past four o'clock, the Lord Louis was brought into the city in the following manner. First, there came twelve town serjeants on foot, who prevented the very dense crowd from shouting; next the governor of the city with the provost-marshal on horseback, followed

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APPENDIX XII

APPENDIX XII

( Page 391 )...

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APPENDIX XIII

APPENDIX XIII

( Page 398 ) T HE following narrative from Sanuto's Diaries of the Marriage Festivities of the Princess of Ferrara gives an ample idea of the pageants often alluded to in our volumes. ORDER OF THE POMPS AND SPECTACLES FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LADY LUCREZIA BORGIA, ON HER COMING TO HER HUSBAND AT FERRARA, THE LAST DAY OF JANUARY, 1502. First, the bridegroom Don Alfonso went to meet his bride at Malalbergo. Then, on the 1st of February, the most illustrious Lady Marchioness of Mantua went in the bu

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DESCENT OF THE ORSINI, as connected with URBINO.

DESCENT OF THE ORSINI, as connected with URBINO.

From Litta....

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TABLES SHOWING THE DISPUTED SUCCESSION TO THE CROWN OF NAPLES.

TABLES SHOWING THE DISPUTED SUCCESSION TO THE CROWN OF NAPLES.

From Le Sage, &amp;c....

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DESCENT OF THE BORGIA, as connected with URBINO

DESCENT OF THE BORGIA, as connected with URBINO

From Moreri, &amp;c. [H]...

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DESCENT OF THE VITELLI of Città di Castello, as connected with URBINO

DESCENT OF THE VITELLI of Città di Castello, as connected with URBINO

From Litta...

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CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE

Note .—The Editor's notes are marked with an asterisk....

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CHAPTER XIX

CHAPTER XIX

The massacre of Sinigaglia—Death of Alexander VI.—Narrow escape of Cesare Borgia. T HE principal object of the new combination having been attained by the submission of Urbino, followed by that of Camerino, Borgia hastened to anticipate the suspicions of his allies by sending the French succours back to Milan. He however retained a body of troops, and proposed that the chiefs should co-operate with him in reducing Sinigaglia, which was held by the late Prefect's widow. Accordingly, Paolo Orsini,

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CHAPTER XX

CHAPTER XX

Duke Guidobaldo restored—The election of Julius II.—The fall of Cesare Borgia—The Duke’s fortunate position—Is made Knight of the Garter—The Pope visits Urbino. W HILST Valentino and his partizans thus had their hands full at Rome, Romagna and his recent conquests threw off his rule. His officers had concealed the first news of the tragedy at the Vatican, but, on the 22nd of August, authentic intelligence of the death of Alexander and the illness of his son having reached Urbino, through some em

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CHAPTER XXI

CHAPTER XXI

The Court of Urbino, its manners and its stars. T HE taste for philosophy, letters, and arts, and the patronage of their professors which Cosimo de' Medici and his son Lorenzo the Magnificent had introduced among the merchant-rulers of Florence, were, as we have already seen, adopted by several petty sovereigns of the Peninsula, but chiefly by those in the district of Romagna. [26] Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta was the first to engraft these fruits of peace upon a military despotism, which his r

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CHAPTER XXII

CHAPTER XXII

Emilia Pia—The Cortegiano —Death of Duke Guidobaldo, succeeded by Francesco Maria della Rovere. S UCH were the eminent men, with whom Guidobaldo is described in the Cortegiano as living in easy but dignified familiarity, joining their improving and amusing conversation, or admiring their dexterity in exercises which his broken constitution no longer permitted him to share. Thus passed the days in the palace; and, when the Duke was constrained by his infirmities to seek early repose, the evenings

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CHAPTER XXIII

CHAPTER XXIII

The revival of letters in Italy—Influence of the princes—Classical tastes tending to pedantry and paganism—Greek philosophy and its effects—Influence of the Dukes of Urbino. W HEN writing upon Italy of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, a prominent place must be allotted to letters and arts. At Urbino in particular, their progress was then great, their influence proverbial; and our next eight chapters will contain notices of them which would have interrupted the continuity of our previous na

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CHAPTER XXIV

CHAPTER XXIV

Count Guidantonio a patron of learned men—Duke Federigo—The Assorditi Academy—Dedications to him—Prose writers of Urbino—Gentile Becci, Bishop of Arezzo—Francesco Venturini—Berni of Gubbio—Polydoro di Vergilio—Vespasiano Filippi—Castiglione—Bembo—Learned ladies. T HE reputation long enjoyed by the house of Montefeltro as patrons of letters and arts can scarcely be traced further back than Federigo, second Duke of Urbino. Yet the few memorials that remain of his father, Count Guidantonio, throw s

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CHAPTER XXV

CHAPTER XXV

Poetry under the Montefeltri—Sonnets—The Filelfi—Giovanni Sanzi—Porcellio Pandonio—Angelo Galli—Federigo Veterani—Urbani Urbinate—Antonio Rustico—Naldio—Improvisatori—Bernardo Accolti—Serafino d’Aquila—Agostino Staccoli—Early comedies— La Calandra —Corruption of morals—Social position of women. W ERE the lettered court of Duke Federigo to be judged by its minstrels, a harsh sentence might perhaps be awarded. Nor would this be quite fair. Their cold and common-place ideas, their rude and vapid ve

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CHAPTER XXVI

CHAPTER XXVI

Mediæval art chiefly religious—Innovations of Naturalism, Classicism, and Paganism—character and tendencies of Christian painting ill understood in England—influence of St. Francis—Mariolatry. I N order to comprehend the peculiar tendency which painting assumed in Umbria, it will be necessary briefly to examine the principles and history of what is now generally known under the denomination of Christian art . [*102] Until after the revival of European civilisation, painting had scarcely any othe

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CHAPTER XXVII

CHAPTER XXVII

The Umbrian school of painting, its scholars and influence—Fra Angelico da Fiesole—Gentile da Fabriano—Pietro Perugino—Artists at Urbino—Piero della Francesca—Fra Carnevale—Francesco di Giorgio. T HE Umbrian art, of which we have attempted to trace the origin, has not hitherto met with the notice which it merits. Lanzi allowed it no separate place among the fourteen schools under which he has arranged Italian painting, and, by scattering its most important names, has lost sight of certain charac

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CHAPTER XXVIII

CHAPTER XXVIII

Giovanni Sanzi of Urbino—His son the immortal Raffaele—Early influences on his mind—Paints at Perugia, Città di Castello, Siena, and Florence—His visits to Urbino, and works there. W ITH Giovanni Sanzi [*161] we have already made acquaintance as an epic poet. The patient labour of the Abbé Pungeleoni, and the critical acumen of Passavant, have amply refuted Malvasia's spiteful, and Lanzi's careless but often quoted assertions, that the father of Raffaele was an obscure potter, or, at best, an in

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CHAPTER XXIX

CHAPTER XXIX

Raffaele is called to Rome, and employed upon the Stanze—His frescoes there—His other works—Change in his manner—Compared with Michael Angelo—His death, character, and style. T HE letter alluded to at the close of our preceding chapter may be regarded as the matured result of Raffaele's careful study of the Tuscan masters, and an index of his resolution to rival the admired cartoons which had recently placed Da Vinci and Buonarroti at the head of living artists. Another scene was, however, reser

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CHAPTER XXX

CHAPTER XXX

Timoteo Viti—Bramante—Andrea Mantegna—Gian Bellini—Justus of Ghent—Medals of Urbino. H AVING thus traced the advance of painting in the duchy of Urbino, from Oderigi da Gubbio, the friend of Dante, to Raffaele Sanzio, its facile princeps , it might be well to pause, and leave its rapid descent under a new dynasty of dukes to be followed in a future portion of our work. Yet there are still some native names, belonging to the better period both by date and by merit. Of these the principal was Timo

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CHAPTER XXXI

CHAPTER XXXI

Birth and elevation of Sixtus IV.—Genealogy of the Della Rovere family—Nepotism of that pontiff—His improvements in Rome—His patronage of letters and arts—His brother Giovanni becomes Lord of Sinigaglia and Prefect of Rome—His beneficent sway—He pillages a papal envoy—Remarkable story of Zizim or Gem—Portrait of Giovanni—The early character and difficulties of Julius II.—Estimate of his pontificate. O N the 21st of July, 1414, in the village of Celle, upon the Ligurian coast, near Savona, there

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CHAPTER XXXII

CHAPTER XXXII

Youth of Duke Francesco Maria I.—The League of Cambray—His marriage—His first military service—The Cardinal of Pavia’s treachery—Julius II. takes the field. T O the family della Rovere, whom we have traced in the preceding chapter , an heir was born on the 25th of March, 1490. His father, the Lord Prefect, acknowledged his arrival to be a divine blessing, and, as then usual, testified gratitude by the selection of his baptismal names. St. Francis was the established tutelary saint of the family,

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CHAPTER XXXIII

CHAPTER XXXIII

The Duke routed at Bologna from the Cardinal of Pavia’s treason, whom he assassinates—He is prosecuted, but finally absolved and reconciled to the Pope—He reduces Bologna—Is invested with Pesaro—Death of Julius II. I N December the Duke of Urbino returned the challenge to a general engagement, which Chaumont had boastfully given him a few months before, and, after carrying some places of minor importance, encamped before Mirandola. To the surprise and no small scandal of all, the Pontiff, scarce

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CHAPTER XXXIV

CHAPTER XXXIV

Election of Leo X.—His ambitious projects—Birth of Prince Guidobaldo of Urbino—The Pontiff’s designs upon that state, which he gives to his nephew—The Duke retires to Mantua. T HE Duke's influence, as head of the della Rovere family, was paramount in the conclave, composed as it was of relations, friends, and creatures of the late Pope in overwhelming majority. The election was therefore to a great degree in his hands, and when it fell upon the Cardinal de' Medici, he rejoiced in the elevation o

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CHAPTER XXXV

CHAPTER XXXV

The Duke returns to his state—His struggle with the usurper—His victory at Montebartolo. M EANWHILE the fatal wars originating in the League of Cambray were finally concluded, by a treaty offensive and defensive, between the young monarchs of France and Spain, guaranteeing their respective Italian possessions, which was signed at Nogon on the 13th of August, and was followed by that of London on the 29th of October, to which the Pope, the Emperor, Charles V., and Henry VIII., were parties. A gen

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CHAPTER XXXVI

CHAPTER XXXVI

Continuation of the ruinous contest—The Duke finally abandons it—Death of Lorenzo de’ Medici—Charles V. elected Emperor. A BOUT this time a serious conspiracy against Leo was discovered. The prime mover in it was Alfonso Petrucci, Cardinal of Siena, whose property having been confiscated, and his family ruined by the Pontiff, he burned for revenge, and induced one Battista, a famous surgeon of Vercelli, along with the Pope's valet, to enter into his views. Leo being ill of fistula, it was arrang

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CHAPTER XXXVII

CHAPTER XXXVII

Death of Leo X.—Restoration of Francesco Maria—He enters the Venetian service—Louis XII. invades the Milanese—Death of Bayard—The Duke’s honourable reception at Venice—Battle of Pavia. N EWS of the evacuation of Milan by the French reached Leo X. at his hunting-seat of La Magliana, five miles down the Tiber from Rome. Though not quite well, he hurried to his capital on the 24th of November, to witness the bonfires and rejoicings at their discomfiture, and on the morning of the 1st of December wa

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CHAPTER XXXVIII

CHAPTER XXXVIII

New league against Charles V.—The Duke’s campaign in Lombardy—His quarrels with Guicciardini—Rome pillaged by the Colonna—The Constable Bourbon advances into Central Italy—The Duke quells an insurrection at Florence. T HE papal policy since the accession of Julius had been directed to two leading objects. The first was to prevent any ultramontane power from attaining a decided preponderance in Europe; the second, to recover Italy from the barbarians, and restore its Neapolitan and Milanese state

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APPENDIX I

APPENDIX I

(Pages 33 , 34 ) PORTRAITS OF CESARE BORGIA T HE same extremes of reprobation and flattery which alternate in notices of the Duke Valentino puzzle us as to his personal appearance. Giovio, the ardent collector of historical portraits, while describing those which he had brought together, thus comments upon that of Borgia:—"He is said to come of a plague-stricken stock and of corrupted blood; for a livid rush overspread his face, which was full of pimples shedding matter. His eyes, too, were deep

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APPENDIX II

APPENDIX II

(Page 34 ) DUKE GUIDOBALDO I. OF URBINO A KNIGHT OF THE GARTER T HE loss of all early records of the Order, in consequence of their having long been entrusted to the private and insecure custody of its successive officers, has already placed us at disadvantage in noticing the admission of Duke Federigo, but from various sources we are enabled to glean much more satisfactory notices as to the election and installation of his son to this honourable knighthood. The chapter at which he was chosen is

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APPENDIX III

APPENDIX III

(Page 138 ) GIOVANNI SANZI’S MS. CHRONICLE OF FEDERIGO DUKE OF URBINO C ONSIDERING the importance of Sanzi's Rhyming Chronicle of Duke Federigo to the literary history of Urbino, and the almost total neglect in which it has hitherto lain, we shall here describe with some minuteness the only copy of it known to exist. It is a large and thick folio volume, No. 1305 of the Ottoboniana MSS. in the Vatican Library, written on paper in a firm Italian hand of the fifteenth century, expressly for the Du

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APPENDIX IV

APPENDIX IV

(Page 138 ) EPITAPH OF GIOVANNI DELLA ROVERE T HE inscription upon the humble headstone of the sovereigns of Sinigaglia in the nave of Sta. Maria delle Grazie, runs thus:—...

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APPENDIX V

APPENDIX V

(Page 348 ) REMISSION AND REHABILITATION OF DUKE FRANCESCO MARIA I. IN 1511-13. H AVING no wish to overload these pages with a papal bull, either in its barbarous Latinity or in a crabbed translation, we shall content ourselves with abbreviating the formal record of the investigation and sentence of absolution, dated the 9th of December, 1511, by which the Duke of Urbino was acquitted of the slaughter of the Cardinal of Pavia. Julius, in that document, sets forth that, after reducing Bologna to

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APPENDIX VI

APPENDIX VI

(Page 392 ) LETTER FROM CARDINAL WOLSEY TO LORENZO DE’ MEDICI T HE following letter has been lately printed by the Marchese Caponi, in the Archivio Storico Italiano , vol. I., p. 472, from the original in his possession:— To the most illustrious and most excellent Prince our Lord Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino, dear to us as a brother. Most illustrious and most excellent Lord Duke, dear to us as a brother, The Signor Adriano, your Excellency's servant, has delivered your most courteous and k

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GENEALOGICAL TABLES

GENEALOGICAL TABLES

From Les Généaologies Souveraines ....

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CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE

Note .—The Editor's notes are marked with an asterisk....

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CHAPTER XXXIX

CHAPTER XXXIX

Causes which led to the sack of Rome—The assault—Death of Bourbon—Atrocities of his soldiery—The Duke of Urbino’s fatal delays—The Pontiff’s capitulation and escape—Policy of the Emperor. O UR narrative of little interesting campaigns has now brought us to an event unparalleled in the horrors of modern warfare, by which the laws of nature, the dictates of humanity, the principles of civilisation were alike outraged. The sack of Rome inflicted a dire retribution for the restless shuffling that ha

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CHAPTER XL

CHAPTER XL

The Duke’s mischievous policy—New league against Charles V.—A French army reaches Naples—The Duke’s campaign in Lombardy—Peace restored—Siege of Florence—Coronation of the Emperor at Bologna—The independence of Italy finally lost—Leonora Duchess of Urbino—The Duke’s military discourses. W E must now return to the confederate camp at Isola, which the Duke of Urbino broke up, after having eased his conscience by sending to Francis I. the explanation of his views to which we have referred. The gene

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CHAPTER XLI

CHAPTER XLI

Italian militia—The Camerino disputes—Death of Clement VII.—Marriage of Prince Guidobaldo—Proposed Turkish crusade under the Duke—His death and character. T HREE nearly contemporary events had lately combined to extinguish the nationality of Italy, and those liberties which, shared in ample or more sparing measure by her many states, had till now crowned her military glories with intellectual renown. In the sack of Rome the power of the Keys had been shaken, the prestige of the papal city had pa

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CHAPTER XLII

CHAPTER XLII

Succession of Duke Guidobaldo II.—He loses Camerino and the Prefecture of Rome—The altered state of Italy—Death of Duchess Giulia—The Duke’s remarriage—Affairs of the Farnesi. T HE course of our narrative seems to offer a not altogether fanciful analogy to that of the Tiber. Issuing from the rugged Apennines, this, with puny rill, is gradually recruited from their many valleys until it has gained the force and energy of a brawling torrent, and has absorbed a goodly portion of the Umbrian waters.

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CHAPTER XLIII

CHAPTER XLIII

The Duke’s domestic affairs—Policy of Paul IV.—The Duke enters the Spanish service—Rebellion at Urbino severely repressed—His death and character—His children. T HIS somewhat barren portion of our narrative may be appropriately enlivened by the marriage of Princess Elisabetta, sister of Guidobaldo, to Alberico Cibò, Prince of Massa. The bride left Urbino on the 26th of September, accompanied by the Duke and Duchess, and remained at Castel Durante for two days. She was convoyed for some miles far

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CHAPTER XLIV

CHAPTER XLIV

Autobiography of Duke Francesco Maria II.—His visit to the Spanish Court—His studious habits—His marriage—Is engaged in the naval action of Lepanto—Succeeds to the dukedom. I N following the history of his father, we have details of the early life of Francesco Maria. Upon these we now turn back, and shall avail ourselves to the utmost of the Memoirs he has left behind him, which, though brief and incomplete, afford a valuable illustration of his character, and an interesting addition to our few

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CHAPTER XLV

CHAPTER XLV

The unsatisfactory results of his marriage—He separates from the Duchess—His court and habits—Death of the Duchess—He remarries. H AVING thus thrown together all that the Duke has thought fit to detail regarding the principles of his government and the early events of his reign, we now proceed to narrate in their order, from his Diary and from other sources, the few incidents afforded by those peaceful and monotonous pursuits wherein many subsequent years were passed. The first of these was of a

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CHAPTER XLVI

CHAPTER XLVI

Birth of Prince Federigo—The Duke’s retired habits and aversion to business—His constitution-making experiments—His instructions to his son—The Prince’s unfortunate education and character. A LTHOUGH the patriotism and loyalty of his people had been gratified by the gracious manner in which he had assented to their eager desire for his marriage, yet was there wanting somewhat to the full fruition of their cherished hopes. The health of the Duchess was watched with anxiety, and when months had pa

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CHAPTER XLVII

CHAPTER XLVII

The Prince’s marriage—The Duke entrusts to him the government and retires to Castel Durante—His dissolute career and early death—Birth of his daughter Vittoria—The Duke rouses himself—He arranges the devolution of his state to the Holy See—Papal intrigues. T HE anxiety of Francesco Maria for continuance of his line, and for the maintenance of his state against the risk of a minority, led him to select a match of policy for his son while yet a mere infant. In October, 1608, he sent a confidential

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CHAPTER XLVIII

CHAPTER XLVIII

Vittoria Anderson VITTORIA DELLA ROVERE, GRAND DUCHESS OF TUSCANY From the picture by Sustermans in the Pitti Gallery, Florence These plaintive notes might still [1859] find not a few echoes along the papal coasts of the Adriatic—the focus of Italian discontent,—over-taxation to maintain a distant government being ever the burden of their song. But the question is not, in truth, one of financial administration. However open to stricture the fiscal details may be, when tested by sound principles,

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CHAPTER XLIX

CHAPTER XLIX

Italian literature subject to new influences—The academies—Federigo Comandino—Guidobaldo del Monte—The Paciotti—Leonardi—Muzio Oddi—Bernardino Baldi—Girolamo Muzio—Federigo Bonaventura. “F OR a long lapse of years, Italy had been an organised body of highly civilised states, different in their origin, laws, and constitutions, divided by local jealousies and opposite interests, constantly engaged in their endeavours to establish a political equilibrium by the manœuvres of a wary and even unprinci

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CHAPTER L

CHAPTER L

Italian versification—Ariosto—Pietro Aretino—Vittoria Colonna—Laura Battiferri—Dionigi Atanagi—Antonio Galli—Marco Montano—Bernardo Tasso. T HE liquid vocables of the Italian language flow in melody with a facility perilous to genius, fatal to mediocrity: its stream is equally apt to dilute Castalian inspiration, or to quench poetic fire. Hence the poets of Italy are far outnumbered by its versifiers; and hence among the laureates of Urbino we find but few historic names. But, in absence of nati

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CHAPTER LI

CHAPTER LI

"Most magnificent and most reverend, "In consequence of deaths and other circumstances, we find ourselves so ill provided with persons of such quality as was Albergato, that we must find some one as soon as may be. And recollecting the Cavaliere Guarino, who was known and entertained by us many years ago, we should be well pleased could we have him, provided his health be equal to his duties, not indeed for long journeys, but for attending upon our person, and accompanying us both in the carriag

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CHAPTER LII

CHAPTER LII

The decline of Italian art: its causes and results—Artists of Urbino—Girolamo della Genga, and his son Bartolomeo—Other architects and engineers. T HE zenith of Italian art, especially of Italian painting, was attained between 1490 and 1520. That brief span, scarcely a generation of human life, not only embraced the entire artistic life of Raffaele and witnessed the finest efforts of Leonardo, Luini, Bellini, Giorgione, Francia, Ghirlandaio, Fra Bartolomeo, Sodoma, Perugino, Pinturicchio, Spagna

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CHAPTER LIII

CHAPTER LIII

Taddeo Zuccaro—Federigo Zuccaro—Their pupils—Federigo Baroccio and his pupils—Claudio Ridolfi—Painters of Gubbio. I T was just after the fatal sack of Rome had dispersed the goodly company of painters, who, reared by Raffaele, and linked together by the recollection of his genius and his winning qualities, gave promise of long maintaining in the Christian capital that manner which he had brought to perfection,—that there was born to Ottaviano Zuccaro, or Zucchero, an indifferent artist of S. Ang

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CHAPTER LIV

CHAPTER LIV

Foreign artists patronised by the dukes Della Rovere—The tomb of Julius II. by Michael Angelo—Character and influence of his genius—Titian’s works for Urbino—Palma Giovane—Il Semolei—Sculptors at Urbino. I T would occupy a full chapter were we to trace the history of what Julius II. meant to have been his tomb, from the chisel of Michael Angelo Buonarroti; yet the subject is too illustrative of that Pontiff's grandiose spirit, and of the artist's unfulfilled aspirations, as well as too intimatel

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CHAPTER LV

CHAPTER LV

Of the manufacture of majolica in the Duchy of Urbino. T HE influence of beauty upon arts usually considered as mechanical, and the exercise of creative talent upon substances of a common or trifling character, are equally proofs of a pervading refinement. It was accordingly a striking feature of Italy in her golden days, that nearly every sort of handiwork felt that influence, and in its turn served to maintain public taste at an elevated standard. To uncultivated or unobservant minds it may se

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APPENDIX I

APPENDIX I

T HERE are several brieves preserved in the Archivio Diplomatico at Florence, affording evidence of the Pope's feeble and inconsistent policy. His missive, announcing to the Duke the truce with Lannoy, was dated the 16th of March, and was followed by one of the 20th of April, which we shall here translate:— To our beloved Son, the noble Francesco Maria, Duke of Urbino, Captain-general of the Venetians. Beloved Son, health and apostolic benediction! We have written but once to your nobility since

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APPENDIX II

APPENDIX II

Most illustrious Lords of the League, Let your most illustrious Lordships speed on quickly without loss of time, seeing by these presents that the enemy have carried the Borgo, though our Lord and all Rome were well fortified. Monsignor de Bourbon is dead of an arquebus-shot below the abdomen, and a man has just come in who happened to aid in carrying off his body. More than three thousand of the enemy have fallen. Let your Lordships, then, press on, for the enemy are in the utmost disorder; qui

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APPENDIX III

APPENDIX III

W E print this document with hesitation, and solely from its being the Duke's own and formal defence against very serious charges; which, however, it leaves untouched. It is a futile attempt to evade these by feeble and puling recrimination; to distract attention from their true merits by circumlocutions and reiterations, which our version has somewhat condensed. The original is one unbroken sentence, rudely constructed, apparently of purpose to mystify the reader. By your Sublimity's letters to

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APPENDIX IV

APPENDIX IV

O N his arrival at Madrid, in March, 1525, Castiglione found the Emperor and his ministers much disposed for peace; but matters soon assumed a totally different aspect, on news of the victory of Pavia, which, by annihilating the army of Francis, and leaving him a prisoner, established the supremacy of Charles, and placed him in a position to dictate terms. This event modified the policy of the Italian princes, and especially that of the Pope, who, naturally irresolute, knew not what part to take

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APPENDIX V

APPENDIX V

33 ships, each carrying from 1500 to 4500, or from 6400 to 7000 souls. Those carrying 700 remain for the westward. 9 large barks, part of them left for the westward, and partly taken for his Highness' effects and for artificial fireworks. The division of the great galleys to be taken on or left behind is not yet made, not knowing the amount of duty required, nor the eighty paid by the court. His Highness has resolved that Doria shall accompany his galleys to the Levant, and assist in the transpo

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APPENDIX VI

APPENDIX VI

“T HIS Corona is called the Corona of the bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consists of ten Ave Marias and one Pater Noster. Every person possessing this Corona shall obtain the remission of all his sins and plenary indulgence. "Each time that he shall take it up in full faith, and look upon it, saying, 'Lord Jesus Christ, I pray thee by the merit of thy most holy Passion, have mercy on my soul and my weighty sins,' he shall obtain remission thereof; and whoever daily looks upon it and kisses

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APPENDIX VII

APPENDIX VII

W E have here collected the various inscriptions in memory of the sovereigns of Urbino and their consorts, so far as these have come to our knowledge. Several are taken from Giunta, Abozzamento della Città di Urbino, a MS. in the Albani Library at Rome; or from Lazzari, Dizionario dei Pittori di Urbino , where not unfrequent errors occur: others from the originals. On a pavement tombstone in the old church of S. Donato, close to the Zoccolantine Monastery near Urbino, is a sculptured effigy in t

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APPENDIX VIII

APPENDIX VIII

I T would be interesting could we, in concluding this work, offer some details as to the statistics of Urbino under its native princes. But although, under the genial sun and favouring circumstances of Italy, man has in various ages advanced beyond his fellows in mental culture and social development, the science of maturing the capabilities of his position, and of marking their progression, is of modern growth. The duties of rulers and subjects consisted until lately in defence of the common we

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APPENDIX X

APPENDIX X

Most illustrious and most excellent Lord Duke, To your most illustrious Lordship have recourse these devoted petitioners, Mo. Bernardin Gagliardino and Co., Mo. Girolamo Lanfranchi, Mo. Rinaldo and Co., all makers of vases and bottles, citizens and inhabitants of Pesaro; Mo. Piermateo, and Mo. Bartolomeo Pignattari, citizens and indwellers of Pesaro; and all the others who inhabit the county of Pesaro;—setting forth how they find themselves continually, from year's end to year's end, subject to

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APPENDIX XI

APPENDIX XI

To the most illustrious and most reverend Lord, my singular Lord and patron, the Lord Cardinal of Urbino in Ravenna. Most illustrious and most reverend Lord, my singular Lord and patron, On arriving at Urbino, I ordered of Mo. Horatio [Fontana], vasaro , the service [ credenza ] commissioned by your most affectionate and most reverend Lordship, for the most illustrious Monsignore Farnese. And, as there will be so many vases done with grotesques, in addition to the white ones (as per inclosed lis

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APPENDIX XII

APPENDIX XII

T HE extent and value of the works of arts amassed by a series of sovereigns, who, during nearly two centuries, were continuously patrons of arts in its best days, cannot be uninteresting topics of inquiry, and fall within the scope of these volumes, as an important test of the knowledge and taste of the collectors. The beautiful objects which Castiglione and others include among the attractions of the palace at Urbino have thus acquired an almost classic importance, and to identify them with th

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DENNISTOUN’S LIST OF AUTHORITIES FOR THE WORK.

DENNISTOUN’S LIST OF AUTHORITIES FOR THE WORK.

T HE following List, though by no means containing all the books which have been looked into or consulted (especially numerous periodicals), will afford a general idea of the authorities upon which this work has been founded. The MSS. specially noted are, however, but a small portion of what has been examined, in a variety of Archives, and in the Vatican, Minerva, Angelica, Gerusalemme, S. Lorenzo in Lucina, and Albani libraries at Rome; in those of the Borbonica and S. Angelo in Nilo at Naples;

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GENEALOGICAL TABLE

GENEALOGICAL TABLE

Varana descent Morning Post. —"The work possesses all the interest of a thrilling historical romance, the scenes of which are described by the characters themselves, in the language of the time, and forms a valuable contribution to existing Stuart literature." Western Morning News. —"Mr. Fea has shown great industry in investigating every possible fact that has any bearing on his subject, and has succeeded in thoroughly establishing the incidents of that romantic escape." Standard. —"... throws

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