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The bribe bought Florence peace for a year, but in June 1502 Borgia was back. As his army sacked more surrounding towns, he commanded the leaders in Florence to send a delegation to hear his latest demands. Two people were selected to try to deal with him. The elder was Francesco Soderini, a wily Church leader who led one of the anti-Medici faction
... See moreWalter Isaacson • Leonardo da Vinci
church of Santa Maria del Fiore. It had once been a magnificent piece of raw stone, but an unskillful sculptor had mistakenly bored a hole through it where there should have been a figure’s legs, generally mutilating it. Piero Soderini, Florence’s mayor, had contemplated trying to save the block by commissioning Leonardo da Vinci to work on it, or
... See moreRobert Greene • The 48 Laws of Power
Florence had controlled the town of Pisa, just over fifty miles down the Arno River toward the coast of the Mediterranean, for much of the fifteenth century. This was critical for Florence, which had no other outlet to the sea. But in 1494 Pisa managed to wriggle away and become a free republic. Florence’s middling army was incapable of breaching P
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The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Prince, by Nicolo Machiavelli
gutenberg.orgBorgia next set his sights on Florence, which cowered in dread. Its treasury was depleted, and it had no military to defend it. In May 1501, as his forces neared Florence’s walls, the ruling Signoria of the city capitulated by agreeing to pay Borgia 36,000 florins a year as protection money and…
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Walter Isaacson • Leonardo da Vinci
The Florentine authorities reluctantly let him leave at the end of May 1506 partly for diplomatic reasons. Florence had been protected from Borgia and then other potential invaders by the French king, Louis XII, who then controlled Milan and admired The Last Supper and its artist. Louis expressed his desire to have Leonardo return to Milan, at leas
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$$$ Hotel Giulietta e Romeo is on a quiet side street just 50 yards behind the Roman Arena. It’s stylish and well-managed; 10 of its 38 sexy, ultra-modern rooms have balconies (Sb-€139, Db-€169, bigger “superior” Db-€30 more, prices shoot up to €249/€289 during opera season, air-con, elevator, guest computer, Wi-Fi, free loaner bikes, fitness room,
... See moreRick Steves • Rick Steves Italy 2015
Leonardo’s relationships with his half-brothers had improved since the resolution of the family’s inheritance disputes, and when he got to Rome he sought out his father’s oldest legitimate son, Giuliano da Vinci, who, not surprisingly, was a notary. Giuliano had been promised a benefice—a Church appointment that came with a stipend—but there had be
... See moreWalter Isaacson • Leonardo da Vinci
