CHAPTER V.

THE ALBIZZI AND COSIMO DE’ MEDICI.

Cosimo de’ Medici in his Youth—Countess of Bardi and her

Family—The Medici and Pope John XXIII.—Death of John

XXIII. in Florence—Public Acts of Cosimo de’ Medici—The

Position of Cosimo towards the Party of Albizzi—The

Albizzi in the Fourteenth Century—Piero degli Albizzi

and the Magistracy of the Guelf Party—The Tumult of the

Ciompi, Exile of the Albizzi—Authority of Maso degli

Albizzi—Rinaldo degli Albizzi—Niccolo da Uzzano—Palla

Strozzi and his Family—Flourishing Condition of the Town

and Commonwealth—War against Lucca—Relation of Rinaldo

to Cosimo de’ Medici—Proceedings of the Oligarchy against

Cosimo—Cosimo’s Capture—Cosimo’s Banishment—Unsettled State

of Things—Rinaldo’s Appeal to Arms—Cosimo is called back, and

returns—Exile of the Albizzi—Cosimo’s Gonfaloniership—Review

of the Albizzi Rule—Florentine Order and its Formation—The

Subjection of the smaller Communes—Conditions of this

Subjection—Statutes—Acquisition of Pistoja, Volterra, Prato,

and Arezzo—The Accomandigia 86