Chapter 22: To the Victor Go the Spoils: (1514-1516)
In 1514 priests and bishops began reporting to Rome some discontent within various realms with Church actions and teaching. It appeared that “Istrianism”, long tolerated by the Doge of Venice, was gaining some support from outside that small province. Wurttemberg seemed to be the center of this dangerous influence at its university, where a Theology Professor, Martin Luther, began teaching some unconventional ideas. Several Cardinals were dispatched to refute Luther’s radical teachings but the debate seemed only to heighten the awareness of the new thinking.
Unable to reign in the innovations he began several years before, Pope Leo XI reluctantly scheduled a Church Council to meet regarding reform of the Church. Several of the previous Councils had roiled the church so significantly to nearly cause a permanent schism. To prevent that, Pope Leo XI decreed that the Council should meet in Siena, and selected his cousin Giulio to preside in his absence. For six months, bishops, cardinals and ambassadors from around Europe testily met to discuss reform. It was clear to Cardinal De Medici that the thirst for Reform was great and a document of twenty-two recommendations was given to the Pope.
Pope Leo XI publicly vowed to enact them in good faith, but privately was upset about the Council’s move against Papal Supremacy. Nevertheless, Pope Leo did take their advice and issued a Papal Bull taking a moderate line towards a code of conduct for all in the church. This included a ban on simony in Papal elections, ordering bishops to oversee their diocese with all diligence, and a tithe all churches for three years to fund a war against the Turks. Most reformers saw this as a positive first step, but many of the radicals, like Luther, decided to follow their own path and renounce ties with Rome.
At the same time, Cardinal Bibbiera returned from Seville with news on a peace agreement with Castile. King Juan V, would not offer any peace until the, “gift from that Portuguese swine Joao was dead, or he died, whichever came first.” The Pope’s beloved Hanno was not yet six years old and King Juan V was also a young man. It would be a long time before any agreement was reached. Angered by this minor setback, and annoyed that these radical ideas continued to find followers, the Pope lashed out in anger. His reaction could be best described by the 2006 Independent Theatrical Production of
Martin Luther: The Musical! Attack Naples!
General Legnago began the offensive in September 1515 by marching south with 8,000 troops towards Napoli itself. The loss of Abruzzi several years before had been a crippling blow to the Neapolitan finances. King Filippo could only muster 3,000 troops to defend Napoli and they were quickly defeated. Half the Papal force then chased Filippo towards Taranto. It did not take long for the sieges to capture both provinces.
Filippo sent a messenger to the Pope offering to cede Taranto and claims on Abruzzi, but the boy he sent was intercepted by General Legnago. The General knew Pope Leo would be likely to accept the separate peace, but he wanted to ensure that Sicily never threatened the Holy See again. With additional recruits, Papal forces reorganized into three groups of 3,000 men. General Legnago led the assault group on Calabria where Filippo I had retread to regroup. Wherever he marched Papal troops or allied forces awaited. By summer 1516, Calabria had fallen and all of Sicily was now under the authority of Pope Leo XI.
For all his effort, Eugenius Legnago was promoted to Marshall of the Papal Army. He advised Pope Leo XI to claim all of Sicily and more than double the size of Papal holdings. But like a few years before during the Corsican invasion, the Pope chose the advice of his Cousin and Chancellor who recommended that Leo should subjugate them as vassals. In a heated discussion over the future of Sicily, it is reported Pope Leo XI said to Marshall Legnago, “Damn it Gene, I’m the Pope not a Caesar.” The authenticity of the quote is questionable at best.
Furthermore Giulio De Medici came up with the idea to have Pope Leo’s widower brother, Guiliano, age 36, marry Filippo’s only child, Maria age 13, to ensure that a De Medici would rule the Kingdom later on. Pope Leo XI presided over the marriage later that year. Although Guiliano died later in the year, Maria gave birth to a son who she named Alfonso and he would eventually reign over Sicily as its first De Medici King.
To the north, Aragon had again abandoned any hope of maintaining a military presence in Ancona. With their Tuscan allies, Papal troops overran the garrison and captured the territory. Pope Leo XI’s father, Lorenzo De Medici, had coveted the lands of the Duke of Urbino for years before the Duke was overthrown by the Aragon monarchy. And as the head of the De Medici family, it was now theirs to own. Pope Leo appointed his nephew Lorenzo to be the new Duke of Urbino, and sent King Enric I a demand for the territory which was flatly rejected. The only way to make the Papal control legal would be to defeat Aragon soundly. No easy task and Pope Leo ordered Marshal Legnago to provide a plan at the earliest possible date.
Venice weakened by another lost war with France in 1510-1511, had little influence the war other than a naval blockade of Romagna and Roma. Only once did the Doge attempt a seaborne invasion, and that ended in total disaster. In December of 1516, the Doge offered, and the Pope accepted, a white peace. Now only the Iberian monarchs stood in the way.
