June 14, 1503
Life placidly goes on: country is beginning to feel the effects of the recovery after the vast military occupation made by Ludovico the Moor. The efforts of our people have been compensated: Francesco II, wanting to relieve the masses, ordered Sir Romagnoli – the “massaro” appointed after Sir Bozzalino’s resigning – to purchase some 55.000 bushels of wheat for the nourishing of the population. The Marquis himself visited the province, proceeding to repair and refortify it.
The court is returning to its traditional activities: the suavity of Isabella’s lute and her excellent singing voice, too long imprisoned into the reading of decrees and verdicts during the military campaign of her husband the Marquis, are favouring again her guests and her relived joy has brought again sunshine into the old Palace. As sign of renaissance of the arts and, at the same time, as tribute to the youth fallen in the field of Lombardia, an ageing Andrea Mantegna has been committed to depict a picture of a dead Jesus Christ. During a visit to his studio, we got the honour of taking a look to the forming canvas. The scene is dramatic the body of Our Lord lays on a red stone; the top bottom view and the deep perspective give prominence to the nail open wounds under His feet. On the left Andrea is sketching some feminine characters, probably the Marys.
Everyone busy with the restoration of the previous welfare, none has spent a lot of time to follow the evolving diplomatic situation of Italic states. After the death of Agostino Barbango in September 1501, Leonardo Loredano was elected Doge of Venice. His foreign policy has proved very interesting, till now. In March 1503 he went to Florence, where he met Piero II Medici and the permanent representatives of Genoa and the Knights of Rhodes. Unexpectedly, a
“pact of friendship and for the freedom of Italic peoples” (as stated in the front-page) among them was signed, provoking the interest of someone in Mantua too, particularly of those who belong to the “Venetian” party and want foreign powers to stay out of the Alps.
In the meantime, Austria and Spain go on pursuing their respective plans of domination: in 1501 Fredrigo I was deposed by their “protectors” in Madrid and substituted with Ferrante III, but every kind of authority has vanished from that court: we would not be astonished if in few years Madrid directly appoints the King of Naples, or a simple governor after joining those provinces to its vast Empire – one should consider that the voyage of Amerigo Vespucci during the last year finally states that lands over the Atlantic are not Indies, but a New World, presently unnamed.
Maximilian I, frustrated by the loss of great part of Netherlands to France, is still at war with the Borgias, going behind his objective of controlling Northern Italy, well helped by his allies of the Great German Union and strenghtened by the vassalisation of Milan. Some signs of renewed diplomatic activity were stemmed during May 1502, when Francesco II – annoyed with the recurrent border violations of Ludovico the Moor – prohibited by decree to Milanese troops trespassing it
(revoke military access to Milan). Just in the same days Bavarians passed the Alps to rescue again Milan from the siege of Cesare Borgia.
The rest of past months did not reserve any particular internal event, apart a request of indemnity in September from the country-people for some damages caused by the passage of troops
(accepted request of indemnity: -4 stability, +1 centralisation). One month later, with a great demonstration in the surroundings of the city in the presence of Francesco II, fond of this new weapon, it came to an end a long training program started during the visit of Leonardo da Vinci in Mantua, aiming to spread the capability and confidence of our troops with using the great potential of artillery
(Land Tech 7).
Outside the borders of the Marquesate, Philibert II decided to end his war with Austria and Bohemia paying an heavy global tribute of 365 ducats, now leaving really alone Alexander VI in the struggle against Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I and his friends. In the meantime, precisely in September 1502, the Florentines after deposing Piero II Medici from power have elected as gonfalonier for life Piero Soderini, wishing to give greater stability to their republican institutions. His rule is proving wise: Florence is introducing a system of national militia in the place of foreign mercenaries, that proved to be completely disloyal during the fight with AlexanderVI, and is promoting the mentioned “pact of friendship” among Italic states, thanks to the co-operation of Genoan Philippe de Ravenstein and Venetian Leonardo Loredano.
Now, one year after the signing of that pact, the need for this embryo of alliance among Italic powers seems to be more and more indispensable: after forcedly annexing the county of Gelre in February, Maximilian I of Austria has unleashed an horde of German mercenaries through the Alps, against Cesare Borgia and the lands of Saint Peter: over 100.000 Lanzichenecchi (as they call them in Rome), coming from Austria, Bohemia, Bavary and Wurttemberg, were allowed to pass through Lombardia, finally reaching Emilia, where Maximilian I permitted them to pillage Italian cities for their compensation. German mercenaries have ravaged countryside before conquering all the forts defending that province on March 25, 1503. His son’s troops completely shattered, Alexander VI paid 7 ducats, probably the last token of his treasury, to end war at least against Bavarians, will it be enough to save him?