CHAPTER III.

The age of the despots.

Salient Qualities of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries in
Italy—­Relation of Italy to the Empire and to the Church—­The
Illegitimate Title of Italian Potentates—­The Free Emergence of
Personality—­Frederick ii. and the Influence of his Example—­Ezzelino da
Romano—­Six Sorts of Italian Despots—­Feudal Seigneurs—­Vicars of the
Empire—­Captains of the People—­Condottieri—­Nephews and Sons of
Popes—­Eminent Burghers—­Italian Incapacity for Self-government in
Commonwealths—­Forcible Tenure of Power encouraged Personal Ability—­The
Condition of the Despot’s Life—­Instances of Domestic Crime in the
Ruling Houses—­Macaulay’s Description of the Italian
Tyrant—­Savonarola’s and Matteo Villani’s Descriptions of a Tyrant—­The
Absorption of Smaller by Greater Tyrannies in the Fourteenth
Century—­History of the Visconti—­Francesco Sforza—­The Part played in
Italian Politics by Military Leaders—­Mercenary Warfare—­Alberico da
Barbiano, Braccio da Montone, Sforza Attendolo—­History of the Sforza
Dynasty—­The Murder of Galeazzo Maria Sforza—­The Ethics of Tyrannicide
in Italy—­Relation of the Despots to Arts and Letters—­Sigismondo
Pandolfo Malatesta—­Duke Federigo of Urbino—­The School of Vittorino and
the Court of Urbino—­The Cortegiano of Castiglione—­The Ideals of the
Italian Courtier and the Modern Gentleman—­General Retrospect P. 99.

CHAPTER IV.

The republics.

The different Physiognomies of the Italian Republics—­The Similarity of their Character as Municipalities—­The Rights of Citizenship—­Causes of Disturbance in the Commonwealths—­Belief in the Plasticity of Constitutions—­Example of Genoa—­Savonarola’s Constitution—­Machiavelli’s Discourse to Leo X.—­Complexity of Interests and Factions—­Example of Siena—­Small Size of Italian Cities—­Mutual Mistrust and Jealousy of the Commonwealths—­The notable Exception of Venice—­Constitution of Venice—­Her wise System of Government—­Contrast of Florentine Vicissitudes—­The Magistracies of Florence—­Balia and Parlamento—­The Arts of the Medici—­Comparison of Venice and Florence in respect to Intellectual Activity and Mobility—­Parallels between Greece and Italy—­Essential Differences—­The Mercantile Character of Italian Burghs—­The ’Trattato del Governo della Famiglia’—­The Bourgeois Tone of Florence, and the Ideal of a Burgher—­Mercenary Arms P. 193.

CHAPTER V.

The Florentine historians.