1494.

CHARLES VIII. INVADES ITALY.

171

those occult causes of human progress which the philosopher of history loves to fathom. It has been related, how the first house of Anjou conquered Naples, and how Jeanne, its last princess, conveyed her right to Charles of Anjou, brother of the unfortunate Charles VI. His right descended to his grandson Réné, who bequeathed it to Louis XI. In short, the claim of the reigning house of France to Naples was such as only a powerful monarch could assert. An illegitimate branch of the royal house of Anjou was then in possession of Naples. There was enmity between him and Ludovico Sforza, who then governed Milan. The latter, in the meddling spirit of Italian intrigue, sent ambassadors to excite Charles of France against the king of Naples; but the French king, instead of menacing or intriguing, entered seriously into the project, summoned his bravest soldiers and captains, and invaded Italy at the head of a large army. No one was more surprised and alarmed at this promptitude, to which Italy was so little accustomed, than Ludovico himself, whose authority in Milan was merely usurped over his nephew, then in prison. He temporised, however, and received Charles with all signs of gladness, and with great display. Most historians of the time describe the pomp and grandeur of his reception; and the rich habiliments of the duchess of Milan are not forgotten. The first act of Charles on his introduction to this dame was to ask her to dance with him. This gallant example was followed by the French, who were prodigal of admiration and attention to the fair. Such conduct awakened the suspicions of the Italians, and added to the natural want of harmony between nations so opposite in character.

Italy at this time formed a federation which may be regarded as the prototype of the system subsequently established in Europe, where power is equally parcelled forth, and where the efforts and policy of all are directed to preserve the general equilibrium. The intervention of a foreign potentate perplexed and terrified all the members of that implied confederation: but to unite at

once against him demanded a reciprocal confidence, a readiness and resolve, which were not to be expected. Those who could venture on such an act of policy, temporised. To await another conjuncture of circumstances was the favourite and timid maxim of the Italians. The Venetians replied to Charles, that they were in too great dread of the Turk to aid him. The Florentines, through whose state lay the route between France and Naples, could not follow this example of neutrality: Pietro de' Medici, the man of chief influence among them, knew not what path to pursue. He had an understanding with both Charles and the king of Naples, and was afraid to oppose or to desert either of them. Being sent at the head of an embassy by the Florentines to procure the king's friendship and alliance, he delivered up the frontier fortresses to Charles, to gain the monarch's good will for himself, thus setting aside the interests of the republic. The pusillanimous traitor was soon after obliged to fly from the public indignation. Meantime Charles entered Lucca and Pisa. Florence opened her gates to him, without surrendering her independence. Charles, however, attempted to take advantage of having an army within their walls to impose conditions upon the Florentines. When these were proposed by Charles to the principal magistrates of the town, Capponi, one of them, snatched the injurious scroll from the hands of the secretary, tore and trod it beneath his feet. "Since such are your conditions," cried he to Charles, "sound your war trumpets, we on our side will ring the bells of alarm." Such promptitude and courage in an Italian functionary made Charles conclude that the Florentines were too strong for him. Capponi was recalled, and reprimanded for his wrath, but the harsh conditions were no longer insisted on.

The pope Borgia, Alexander VI., stood next in Charles's way. He in vain endeavoured to turn the French monarch from his purpose of entering Rome, but the latter asserted that he had vowed to visit the

tombs of the holy apostles. The terrified pontiff shut

1495.

NAPLES OCCUPIED BY THE FRENCH. 173

himself up in the castle St. Angelo whilst Charles entered the city in the night by torchlight; his men all armed, with lance in rest, betokening that he came as a conqueror. In the present day, when a place is won the flag of the victors is hoisted. The first order of Charles was to erect gallows in divers directions, on which his provost hung a few turbulent Romans, thus asserting and exercising the French king's right of jurisdiction. Naples itself seemed equally disinclined to resistance. Although Ferdinand, its young prince, showed himself not wanting in either prudence or valour, his troops betrayed an insurmountable reluctance to face the French. They fled from their posts at the first indication of attack. Ferdinand escaped to Ischia ; and Charles made his triumphant entry into Naples, in the month of February, 1495; having thus traversed all Italy at the head of an army, without any bloodshed except by the hand of the executioner.

To retain and perpetuate conquests is a more difficult matter than to make them. Charles and his captains took no pains to establish their government in Naples: on the contrary, the partiality of the French monarch for his countrymen, his dissipation and restlessness, as well as their gallantry and violence, rendered the Italians averse to their yoke. The king of Aragon in the mean time leagued with the Venetians and Ludovico Sforza of Milan, to drive the French from Italy. Philip de Comines, then Charles's envoy at Venice, warned him of the danger. It was considered most prudent to return to France. Gilbert de Bourbon, count de Montpensier, cousin of him whom we have known as lord of Beaujeu, was left governor of Naples. Garrisons were placed in the chief towns. And thus providing for the security of his new kingdom, Charles departed on his return homeward at the head of scarcely 10,000 combatants. His enemies awaited him near Parma, commanded by Gonzaga, marquis of Mantua. more than double the French in number. deavoured to negotiate, but in vain. Gonzaga posted

They were Charles en

his men near Fornova, to the right of the road which must be taken by their enemy, who, commanded by La Tremouille and their monarch, did not retard their march. The Italians, divided into two bodies, attacked the French in front and rear. Those in front showed little activity; the rear-guard was, however, vigorously assaulted by the marquis of Mantua. The French made a valiant resistance. Charles himself was exposed to considerable danger, as he fought in the midst of the action. The Stradiots, who formed the infantry of the marquis, forsook the combat in order to plunder the French baggage. The knights and cavaliers of Charles took this opportunity to charge and beat in the Italian cavalry, which soon fled. Thus a partial victory remained to the French. They had the honour of encamping for that night on the disputed field. The next morning, however, they continued their retreat; nor did they allow themselves repose until they reached Asti, where the duke of Orleans was to have awaited them with reinforcements. That prince had, however, made use of the troops under his command to attack Milan. He was now shut up in Novara. Charles, instead of receiving support, was obliged to march to the duke's aid. His liberation was effected by a treaty with Louis Sforza. Charles returned to France, and the north of Italy relapsed into its usual state of quiet vigilance.

Meantime Ferdinand was recovering his kingdom of Naples from the French, who had been left to guard it. His first attempt was, however, unsuccessful. He passed over from Sicily into Calabria with 5000 men under Gonsalvo de Cordova, known in Spain by the name of the great captain. Stuart count of Aubigny, great grandson of the Scotch constable killed at the fight of Herrings, marched against Gonsalvo, defeated him, and Ferdinand escaped with difficulty. This prince, not discouraged, soon returned with a fleet, showed himself before his capital, which rose in his favour, and expelled the count de Montpensier. War, however, still continued, from the pusillanimity of the Italian troops,

1498.

ACCESSION OF LOUIS XII.

175

Ferdinand and Gonsalvo both fearing to encounter the French in the open field. Charles made an effort to succour his partisans in Naples. An army was raised, and the command of it given to the duke of Orleans ; but this prince, observing the weak state of the king's health, refused to enter on a distant expedition at a time when he might be suddenly called to the throne. Montpensier, thus abandoned, saw his forces gradually diminish he himself was shut up in Atella, and soon after obliged to surrender upon conditions, ill observed by Ferdinand. Stuart of Aubigny made good his retreat to France with his troops. Montpensier died soon after of a malady which carried off numbers of the captive French.

Thus terminated in defeat all the ambitious schemes of Charles, all his dreams of rivalling the fame and conquests of Charlemagne. His sons perished in infancy one after the other; the name of the last, Charles Orlando, marking the favourite studies and thoughts of the monarch. In the spring of 1498 a game of ball, which interested the king, was played in the fosse of the castle of Amboise, where he resided. Charles, an affectionate husband, brought the queen to witness it. Passing in haste through the low archway of a gallery, he struck his head somewhat violently against it; for the moment the blow did not seem to affect him, but soon after he was seized with a stroke of apoplexy, and died at the early age of twenty-seven. Charles," says Comines, was of a small person, and little understanding; but a better creature was not to be seen."

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The crown of France had now descended from father to son in an uninterrupted succession of seven monarchs from Philip of Valois. Charles VIII. leaving no posterity, the direct line was broken. Louis duke of Orleans, he who had been murdered by his uncle of Burgundy, left two sons, the duke of Orleans and the count of Angoulême. The former, one of the captives of Azincourt, and long a prisoner in England, was the father of the prince who now ascended the throne as Louis XII. The count of Angoulême also left a son,