Topography of the Duchy of Urbino—Origin of the Italian communities—Their civil institutions and military system—Their principle of liberty—Political divisions of Romagna; opposed to modern speculations regarding centralization
3
CHAPTER II
Origin of the Counts of Montefeltro, and of their sovereignty in Urbino and the surrounding country—Their early genealogy—Guido Count of Urbino—Antonio Count of Urbino
22
CHAPTER III
Guidantonio Count of Urbino—The Ubaldini—Oddantonio Count of Urbino—Is made Duke—His dissolute habits and speedy assassination
42
Book Second of Federigo DI Montefeltro, Count and Second Duke of Urbino
CHAPTER IV
The birth of Count Federigo—Condition of Italy—His marriage and early military service—The Malatesta his inveterate foes—He takes S. Leo—Is invested with Mercatello
61
CHAPTER V
Count Federigo succeeds to Urbino and acquires Fossombrone—His connection with the Sforza family, whereby he incurs excommunication—His campaign in the Maremma—Loses his eye in a tournament
85
CHAPTER VI
Count Federigo enters the Neapolitan service—His two campaigns in Tuscany—Fall of Constantinople—Peace of Lodi—Nicholas V.—The Count's fruitless attempt at reconciliation with Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, followed by new feuds with him—Death of his Countess Gentile
102
CHAPTER VII
Count Federigo's domestic life—His second marriage—New war for the Angevine succession to Naples—Battle of San Fabbiano—Conclusion of the war—Humiliation of the Malatesta
120
CHAPTER VIII
Count Federigo's home administration and court—Description of his palace and library at Urbino—His other palaces—The resources of his state
147
CHAPTER IX
Count Federigo's varied engagements—Battle of La Molinella—Death and character of his enemy Malatesta—Affairs of Rimini
177
CHAPTER X
Birth of Prince Guidobaldo—Count Federigo captures Volterra—Is again widowed—Receives the Garter and the Ermine—Is made Duke of Urbino—His patronage of learned men
207
CHAPTER XI
The Duke of Milan assassinated—Count Girolamo Riario—The Pazzi conspiracy—Duke Federigo's campaigns in Tuscany—Progress of the Turks
233
CHAPTER XII
The war of Ferrara, and the death of Duke Federigo—His character and portraits
258
Book Third of Guidobaldo DI Montefeltro, Third Duke of Urbino
CHAPTER XIII
The early promise of Duke Guidobaldo I.—Count Girolamo Riario assassinated—The Duke's marriage—Comparative quiet of Italy
295
CHAPTER XIV
State of the papacy at the election of Alexander VI.—His election, character, and children—The aspect of Italy at the close of her golden age—The disputed succession of Naples reopened—Character and views of Charles VIII.—Proposed league to oppose him frustrated—State of the Roman Campagna—The old and new military systems in Italy
315
CHAPTER XV
Italy ill prepared for the French invasion—Duke Guidobaldo sent against the Orsini—Lucrezia Borgia's second marriage—Descent of Charles VIII.—He reaches Naples and retreats—Battle of the Taro—The Duke engaged in the Pisan war—Is taken prisoner by the Orsini and ransomed
341
CHAPTER XVI
The crimes and ambition of the Borgia—Murder of the Duke of Gandia—Duke Guidobaldo's expeditions against Perugia and Tuscany—He adopts Francesco Maria della Rovere as his heir—Louis XII. succeeds to Charles VIII., and to his views upon Italy—Cesare Borgia created Duke Valentino—Duke Guidobaldo at Venice
363
CHAPTER XVII
The condition of Romagna—Cesare Borgia overruns and seizes upon it—The spirit of his government—Naples invaded by Louis, and handed over to Spain—Lucrezia Borgia's fourth marriage
379
CHAPTER XVIII
Duke Guidobaldo's retired life—Cesare Borgia surprises and seizes Urbino—The Duke's flight—The diet of La Magione—Rising in the Duchy, and his return—He again retires
399
Appendices
I.
Poetry of the family of Montefeltro
427
II.
Inventory of articles taken by Brigida Sueva di Montefeltro, alias Sister Serafina, into the Convent of Corpus Domini
433
III.
Poetry of Ottaviano degli Ubaldini
436
IV.
Instrument containing the concessions demanded by the citizens and acceded to by Count Federigo, on being chosen as their Seigneur
438
V.
Devices and mottoes of the Dukes of Urbino
443
VI.
The illuminated MSS. in the Urbino Library
446
VII.
Duke Federigo of Urbino a Knight of the Garter
450
VIII.
The army of Charles VIII., in 1493
460
IX.
The battle of the Taro, in 1495
463
X.
The arrival of Duke Valentino at the French Court
468
XI.
Ludovico Sforza's entry into Lyons, in 1500
470
XII.
Sonnet to Italy by Marcello Filosseno
472
XIII.
Marriage festivities of Lucrezia Borgia at Ferrara, in 1502