SUMMARY.

1. Considerations upon the end of the war, and the utility of victories.
—2. The Duke of Milan treats with Count Francesco Sforza, captain of the Venetians; in consequence of which negotiations, ill-humors and suspicions arise in the minds of the Count and the Venetians.
—3. Ravenna places herself under the power of Venice (1440). The Pope sells Borgo San Sepolcro to the Florentines. Niccolo Piccinino has the Venetian territory well scoured during the winter.
—4. The coming of spring and the resumption of arms oblige Sforza to raise the siege of Martinengo. His victories have made him so insolent that the Duke of Milan, by way of revenging himself upon him, makes peace with his allies (1441). Francesco Sforza, according to agreement, marries the daughter of the Duke, and receives Cremona as her dower.
—5. Alfonso of Aragon stirs up afresh the war for the possession of Naples, Benevento, and of other cities and places in the kingdom. The Duke of Milan and the Pope form a league with him against Sforza, and give the conduct of the war into the hands of Niccolo Piccinino (1442). Regnier, king of Naples, is driven out by Alfonso, and is honorably relieved by the Florentines, who make common cause with him and Sforza.
—6. Fresh discords in Florence. Jealousy against Neri di Gino Capponi (1443).
—7. Baldaccio d’ Anghiari is killed by the treachery of Bartolommeo Orlandini. Reform of the government in favor of the Medici party (1444).
—8. Death of Niccolo Piccinino, and end of the war.
—9. Annibale Bentivogli is killed in Bologna by Battista Canneschi, and the latter is afterwards slain by the people, whence grave disturbances arise in the city (1445).
—10. Santi, the supposed son of Ercole Bentivogli, is called to Bologna to assume the government of the city.
—11. General war in Italy, with loss to the Duke of Milan.
—12. The Duke comes to terms with Sforza.
—13. Death of Duke Filippo Visconti. The Milanese make Sforza their captain (1447).
—14. Negotiations of the Pope for the pacification of Italy, which are opposed by the Venetians.
—15. Alfonso of Aragon assails the Florentines.
—16. He is constrained to sue for peace and to depart (1448).
—17. Count Sforza makes war against the Venetians, and is successful.
—18. Continuation of the war.
—19. The Count compels the Venetians to sue for peace.
—20. The terms of the peace not being satisfactory to the Milanese, they make terms with the Venetians against Count Sforza.
—21. They are closely besieged by him.
—22. The Count feigns to withdraw from the siege of Milan.
—23. Diversity of opinions in Florence as regards their conduct

towards Sforza.
—24. The Milanese, being anew besieged, and reduced to extremity, rise against their magistrates and give themselves to the Count Sforza (1450).
—25. League between the new Duke of Milan and the Florentines on the one part, and the king of Naples and the Venetians on the other part.
—26. Consequences of this league.
—27. Emperor Frederick III. at Florence (1451). War in Lombardy, between the Duke of Milan and the Venetians.
—28. Fernando, son of Alfonso, king of Naples, enters Tuscany against the Florentines (1452).
—29. Conspiracy of Messer Stefano Porcari, in Rome, against the Pontifical government: it is discovered and he is punished.
—30. Gherardo Gambacorti, lord of the Val di Bagno, negotiates with the king of Naples to give him the government, but his designs are frustrated by the courage and firmness of Antonio Gualandi (1453).
—31. Regnier of Anjou comes into Italy at the call of the Florentines, but soon afterwards returns to France (1458).
—32. Through the Pope’s influence, peace is concluded between the princes engaged in war (1454).
—33. Jacopo Piccinino attacks the Siennese. The Turks are routed at Belgrade (1456).
—34. Frightful storm in Italy.
—35. Genoa gives herself to the king of France (1458).
—36. Death of Alfonso of Aragon, king of Naples. He is succeeded by his son Ferdinand. Pope Calixtus III. dies, whilst meditating the gift of the kingdom of Naples to his nephew, Piero Lodovico Borgia; and Æneas Sylvius Piccolomini, of Sienna, is elected his successor under the name of Pius II.
—37. Discord in Genoa between John of Anjou and the Fregosi, to the disadvantage of the latter (1459). John of Anjou assails the kingdom of Naples, and defeats King Ferdinand.
—38. The latter re-establishes himself with the help of the Pope and the Duke of Milan (1460.) Genoa shakes off the yoke of the French. John of Anjou, abandoned by Jacopo Piccinino, is defeated in the kingdom of Naples, whence he retreats after defeat to the island of Ischia, and returns thence to France (1462).