A History of Milan Under the Sforza by Cecilia Ady

Author:Cecilia Ady
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pronoun

LODOVICO SFORZA AND THE FIRST FRENCH INVASION (1492-1498)

TO THE STUDENT OF Italian history the year 1492 may well seem the beginning of the end — the end, that is, of the independence of the native Italian States, and of the Sforza dynasty in Milan with the rest. Henceforth the Alps served no longer as the natural barrier between Italians and ultramontanes, but became, rather, the highway of European armies. The days of petty local wars and of the maintenance of the balance of power by means of leagues and counter leagues between the chief Italian States were at an end, and Italy was plunged into the vortex of European politics.

The aims which determined the diplomatic relations of Milan in 1492 were those which had been from the first the guiding principles of Sforza’s foreign policy. Il Moro, as his father and brother before him, concentrated his energies on the preservation of the Triple Alliance and on the continuance of friendly relations between Milan and France. Yet before the year was out the final breach in the Triple Alliance was already visible, while friendship with France was hurrying the ruler of Milan into a course of action which proved his ultimate destruction. When Gian Galeazzo received the investiture of Genoa, Il Moro was anxious to renew the league with France which had originated under Louis XI. The French ambassadors, however, insisted that Lodovico must first restore three cities which he had taken from the Marquis of Montferrat, with the result that the conclusion of the treaty was deferred for another year. Hence the quarrel between Charles VIII. and Maximilian, King of the Romans, over Anne of Brittany was particularly acceptable to Il Moro. “The Duke thinks,” wrote a Florentine ambassador to Lorenzo dei Medici, “that the King, now that he has quarrelled with Maximilian by rejecting his daughter, will more readily consent to renew the ancient league . he supposes that a big war will break out between France and the King of the Romans.”Charles VIII. had, indeed, no wish to see Milan on the side of his enemies, and in January, 1492, a fresh embassy crossed the Alps to conclude the desired alliance. Thereupon, Carlo da Barbiano, Count of Belgioioso, was despatched to the French Court as the permanent Milanese ambassador. With him went the Count of Caiazzo and Galeazzo San Severino, nominally in order that they might thank Charles VIII. for his friendly offices towards Milan, and assure him of the entire devotion of his new ally, really in order to strengthen the position of Il Moro at the French Court by a judicious dissemination of bribes. Lodovico had found himself obliged to yield on the question of the Montferrat cities, and this made him the more anxious to impress Charles with the value of the Milanese alliance. Hence Caiazzo received special injunctions to show the French King a letter from Henry VII. of England, warning the Milanese Government of the ambitions of Orleans, and inviting it to share with him in the war with France.

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