In the Enemy's Court
In November,1479, as the war raged and the Napolese and Papal armies were being valiantly resisted at the small town of Colle, just thirty miles south of Florence, Lorenzo sent the following letter to the Signoria;
"In the dangerous circumstances in which our city is placed, the time for deliberation is past. Action must be taken ... I have decided, with your approval, to sail for Naples immediately, believing that as I am the person against whom the activities of our enemies are chiefly directed, I may, perhaps, by delivering myself into their hands, be the means of restoring peace to our fellow citizens ... As I have had more honour and responsibility among you that any private citizen has had in our day, I am more bound than any other person to serve our country, even at the risk of my life. With this intention I now go. Perhaps God wills that this war, which began in the blood of my brother and of myself, should be ended by my means. My desire is that by my life or my death, my misfortune or my prosperity, I may contribute to the welfare of our city ... I go full of hope, praying to God to give me grace to perform what every citizen should at all times be ready to perform for his country. I commend myself humbly to your Excellencies of the Signoria. ~ Laurentius de' Medici"
When Filippo Valori read Lorenzo's letter to the assembled Signoria, not a single man was able to restrain their tears. Distrusting King Ferrente, they thought they would never see Lorenzo again. They pleaded with Lorenzo not to go to his enemy's court, or at the vary least to take bodyguards with him. Lorenzo was resolute however, and departed with only his personal servant.
Just before Christmas, 1479, at the age of twenty nine, Lorenzo de' Medici arrived at King Ferrente's court. He arrived with a flourish of largesse; He bought the freedom of a hundred galley slaves, presenting each a suit of smart clothes and ten Florins; He provided handsome dowries for several poor girls; He donated large sums to various charities. For ten weeks, Lorenzo met daily with the King of Naples, sharing their common love of falconry, hunting, and the study of the history of the Roman Empire. Lorenzo reminded Ferrente repeatedly that the rulers in classic times only achieved greatness in times of peace, never in times of war.
Lorenzo's diplomatic approaches worked, for in March of 1480, he returned to Florence with a favourable peace treaty and the friendship and alliance of the Kingdom of Naples. He was greeted as a hero and proclaimed; "Lorenzo, il magnifico"- Lorenzo the magnificent. His courage and diplomatic skills were hailed through out Italy and for the remainder of Pope Sixtus IV's life, Lorenzo applied those skills all over Italy, settling conflicts and wars created by the Pontiff. In his lifetime, Lorenzo was estimated to have written 20,000 letters to various heads of state in his diplomatic efforts.
•
Pope Sixtus IV died on August 12, 1484. Lorenzo could take satisfaction that he had exacted his revenge on Sixtus for his involvement in the conspiracy by personally thwarting the Pope's efforts to expand the Papal empire.
Only one conspirator remained alive, and Lorenzo kept watch on him continuously.
Next: Final Vengeance