The Tragedies of the Medici

rdered P

l I not?" asked Isabell

ith a catch

mistress' arm convulsively. The two women stood pale and trembling at the door of the D

not the Duke's voice, for that was pitched in an unusually tender key, and yet, its very unusuality might have

he cold steel dagger, struck out from behind the arras, by her husband's hand-she was dead! Every titled woman, and many another too, fel

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etermined to keep the whip-hand over Ferrara, and to maintain the precedence of his house over that of the Estensi. He had already sacrificed one daug

ncée in view for him, and the lad seemed not to be in a marrying mood. At the moment Ferrara was isolated, but Cosimo, seizing a favourable opportunity, throug

Alfonso and Lucrezia. The Duke of Ferrara yielded, and in the same month, March 1558, the t

man without resources and of no recognised position nor of good character-it was just a selfish whim of the Pope-the children never saw

well-proportioned maturity, she had an oval face and a high forehead, well-clustered with curly auburn hair. There was a peculiarity about her eyes-black they were or a very dark br

e her elder sisters, Maria and Isabella, she was somewhat reserved in manner; she spoke little, but expressed her opinion with flashes of her

frocks!" Lucrezia shared the lessons of her brother, and had been brought up specially with the

on the third day after the nuptials had been celebrated! This was necessary, the Prince averred, in order that he might

they were devoted to the service of arms. His betrothal to Maria de' Medici, without his consent, her untimely and suspicious death, and the cha

and the Medici of Florence, were classed as "families of tyrants." Duke Ercole was a man of strong will and forceful action-a tyrant in his own family and cruel

lfonso took his way over the Apennines, along the Bologna road. On 18th June the cavalcade was dis

, however, remarked the Prince's haughty bearing, and the coldness with which he returned Cosimo's greeting. He bore himself as a man in presence of a foe whose every action must be watched

age ceremonies might be hurried forward, as "he had not much time to spare." Cosimo joined in the Duch

ing of France," he replied d

orted by members of the Prince's retinue to the courtiers of Florence, that Henry II. of France had made known to Duke Ercole his intention of repaying the three hundred thousand gold ducats he o

iving the Prince military employment until his young wife attained a more mature age; but suggested

Prince, who caused a courier to inform his father that the Princess "seemed to like" him. Duke Ercole replied as follows: "I am

e really fell in love with the Princess at first sight, but there is no word of Alfonso's e

f the unnatural condition. Moreover, she protested to the Duke her wish that the marriage might at least be postpo

Renea, being a daughter of Louis XII. Duke Ercole added to the trouble by deeply wounding the Duchess' susceptibilities with a suggest

daughter of the Medici, and of Spain, remains at her parent

ous guard of honour for the bride, each arrayed splendidly in silk brocade and covered with costly jewels. As many young nobles, with the accompaniment of music and dancing, performed a gorgeous pageant of Greeks, Indians an

rd, set off for France! Don Francesco, Lucrezia's eldest brother, accompanied him as far as Scarperia, on the Bologna road, and there bade him a not too friendly fare

pointment and distress caused her silent and bitter suffering. Accustomed as she was to obey implicitly the commands of her autocratic

berlain of the youthful Princess. He was to provide funds and disburse them for the expenses of the Princess, and to keep his

Susena read, and then give her. The Court was at Poggio a Caiano in villeggiatura, and the Chamberlain w

had no occasion to fear, for your Highness would run no more risk than the king himself. She appeared much comforted, and told me to beg your Highness, in her name, to hasten your return to Florence." Within six months of Lucrezia's ill-fated marriage, Duke Ercole died at Ferrara, and her husband succeeded as Alfonso II. The li

riority of its theatre-Carnival lasted from New Year's Day to Ash Wednesday. Duchess Renata never loved her husband nor his people. Until s

isposition to her son, but he did not follow her religious predilections. He enclosed

endliness, Alfonso made his second appearance in Florence. He was accompanied by Cardinal de' Medici, his brother-in-law-so soon to come to a tragical and untimely end in the Maremma-and a princely escort of two thousand five hundred horsemen. The you

t. The days of her childhood, spent happily enough with her brothers and sisters, were over: the fatigues and intrigu

dispute, whilst ostensibly healed at its head, still affected the limbs of the Duchy. The people were, to a man, and perhaps to a wom

n Italy. Of the Ferrarese it has been justly said: "By nature they are inclined only for pleasure and revenge." True enough,

herhood, Lucrezia's origin might have been condoned. But surely it was foul cruelty which fixed the fault on her alone. As it was, the poor yo

s, written during the Carnival, are full of pleasant details of her new life. She was enjoying, with girlish zest, the gaieties around her, and entering fully into the merry prospec

politics and pleasure to give his due to his wife, who yearned in vain for the fulfilment of the conjugal vow. Duchess Renata had her party

is that she maintained her dignity as well as she did. The Duke became jealous, of course, of his neglected wife-all faithless husbands are the same. He paid spies to report to him the daily occupa

ithout means to his end. The Duchess early gave symptoms of ill-health. In Florence she was the strongest of a

nts-treated her unsuccessfully. Unhappy Lucrezia-no mother to console her, no friend to speak to her, all alone in the big palace with unkindly attendants-nearly sobbed herself to death. Daily bleedings and cuppings further diminished her strength. Some say that Don Francesco, her brother, was urged, by his mother, to pay Lucrezia a visit, but

th. Then, and then only, Alfonso found his way to his wife's bedside. With a sorrowful, stricken face she greeted him affectionately, and remorse seemed, at

uchess of Ferrara, passed into another world. She was not yet seventeen years old-in bitter experience of life's hardships she was seventy. A

ittle body was buried in the Estensi chapel of the convent church

rief was as insincere and hypocritical as could be. He shut himself up in his palace with a few chosen cronies for seven days; mean

oned Duchess! Cosimo and Eleanora made a show at least of grief, and a splendid Requiem was sung for Lucrezia at the Medici church of San Lorenzo. At the same time Cosimo made known, in most heartless fashion to Alfonso that, whilst he was resigned to the will of Heaven, he assured him of his sincere affection, and expressed a fervent wish that nothing should loosen their bond

ion, though actually he needed none, in a second marriage. This union, however, led to the re

ixed at Trento in August 1565, but a fracas occurred at the church doors between the Medici and Estensi suites for precedence. The two princely co

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able numbers, in Florence. With Clarice and Alfonsina d'Orsini had come greedy Roman adventurers; with Marg

fortunes of Florentine commerce. On the other hand aliens were introduced into prominent position

ing to her for patronage and advancement. The ranks of these dependants were constantly being recruited by young pe

ther kept his Court as Viceroy for the King of Spain, the child lost her mother when she was only seven years old. The Duchess Eleanora adopted her and s

as she was, and only just two years married. She had no child of her own, and, apparently, no promise of one, anyhow by

valling the stars in brilliancy." She was also a clever girl, and her studies had been carried on in companionship with the younger children of her aunt-Garzia, Ferdinando,

pretty much to themselves, save for the indulgent guardianship of their tutors and attendants. To be sure, Don Ferdinando was sent off to Rome when he was four

city or at Court, in one way or another, received his amorous attentions; and the halo which surrounded his first acclamation as Duke, and which he earned well, be it said, became dimmed by the

onger than Eleanora degli Albizzi. At Villa del Castello he had his harem. This was the example Cosimo de' Medici set his wayward, precocious son Piero, and the lad followe

avanglia. In various encounters with Turkish galleons and the barques of buccaneers, the young Medico proved himself no coward-in

al-military discipline were quite enough for him, and he returned home again. He found Donna Eleanora de Garzia a grown woman and a woman of the world

een of long continuance, wherein, too, the Duchess Isabella was herself implicated. Cosimo seems to have been conversant with the tittle-tattle, and, f

egoat. He would marry him to his cousin! At the beginning of the negotiations Piero refused stoutly his father's proposition, asserting his intention not to marry. By dint of ample offers of enlarged pecuniary emol

act that she was enceinte, and she named his father, Duke Cosimo, as her ravisher! The Prince was too much taken up with his own pleasure to care very much about this revelation: he wou

her husband, she named Cosimo-a significant nomenclature! She caused letters to be written to the Grand Duke Franc

ra agreed to live separate lives-he, a boy of seventeen and she just eighteen. What more disastrous beginning can be imagined for

ointed out the errors of their ways-Piero retorted with a "Tu quoque frater!" He had every bit as much right to console himself with a mistress, one or more, as Francesco did with his "Cosa B

experience not for the honour of her life, alas! Sinned against, she sinned like the rest. How could a lovely, talented, warm-hearted girl, with the hot blood of Spanish passion coursing through her veins, resist the admiration, the flattery, and t

ent, who fell violently in love with Don Piero's fascinating young wife. Unable to restrain his boyish ardour, one day he seized Donna Eleanora's hand, covered it with kisses

ptly stopped the intrigue. Alessandro Gaci was removed summarily from his commission and enclosed

was on with the new. This time she appears to have made the first advance. At all events, in the entourage of the Grand Duchess Giovanna, was an attractive and youthful knight of the Order of St Stephen of Pis

game was played in presence of Princess Eleanora and many ladies of the Court. Bernardino wore Eleanora's favours, as he usually did, making no secr

son between his sister-in-law and the so-called "assassin" required regulation, especially as she had failed to comply with his previous admonition. The two offences would be best judged by the banishment of the cavaliere, whose rank

s out, through the carelessness of Bernardino's brother Filippo, the intermediary in the love affair. Watching his opportunity of dropping a letter into the hand of the Princess, as she passed through the corridor connecting the Pitti

when he had a favourable opportunity he confided to his master what he had seen-doubtl

lthough be it said, truly, he had one and only one love, Bianca Cappello Buonaventuri-but h

mediately, and, after a stormy interview with the Grand Duke, he

ations of innocence and promises of submission to the Grand Duke's will were rudely interrupted by the appearance of the headsman! Forced upon his knees, the unhappy

on Piero was made acquainted with the intrigue-surely a fell prophecy of coming tragedy! Piero, too, was sent for to the palace, and again reprimanded for his evil life and for his c

n the year 1576, that Eleanora received her husband's commands-just ten days after the brutal murder of her lover-during the course of which she gave way to uncontrolled grief. This summons she knew presaged dire consequences

she was quite prepared to meet Piero, but she asked for a short delay. She spent it in weeping by the c

vil omen for poor Eleanora! As night was coming on she reached the villa, more dead than alive with fright, and accompanied only by two faithful

room also was open and the arras pulled aside, but nowhere could she see or hear her husband. Very uncanny everyt

eed anywhere, she knew not where he slept-Eleanora paused, affrighted. She had heard a rustle! she

dden, savage blow struck her breast-she fell!-stabbed

gory stream, the marble lintel, and Piero gazed at t

n her hot blood and conveyed some to his raging lips! Reason presently asserted herself; and, throwing himself p

een my wife and me-I vow that I will do

wife's side when the tramp of footsteps upon the gravel outside the house fell upon his ears. Swiftly he ran and closed the entrance-doors, and then callin

e of death! Miserable Eleanora di Piero de' Medici was buried ceremoniously in the famil

of Spain-of the truth about Eleanora's death. It was reported at the time that Piero gained possession of Eleanora's child, Cosimo, and took him away with hi

bility during the campaign, on his return to Madrid he began the evil life he had left behind in Florence. The religiously disposed

es of his brother. Piero became the ally of the scheming Cardinal Ferdinando, but his depraved and evil life was to the end given over to the basest uses of human nature, and he died miserably, as he well deserved, in 1604, having outlived

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ter, Isabella Romola. She was born in 1542, just a year younger than his eldest son, Francesco Maria. Her Spa

ed the ascetic bishop who held her at the font; this was taken as an omen of her success in the service of Prince Cupid! Brough

. She greatly astonished her parents by her musical gifts and by her talent as an improvvisatrice. She composed, when only ten years of age,

and Lucrezia de' Medici. She had, as well, a remarkable taste for languages: she rivalled her sister Maria in Latin, which she wrote and spoke w

herself, and she received encouragement from all the most famous artists of her father's Court. One of her panegyrists has written thus of Princess Isabella: "Suffice it to say, that she was

ripe age,-for Florence,-of twelve, she was the most lovely and attractive young girl in Italy. Reports of her beauty and talent were current in all the Courts of Europe, and many prin

, were dealt out to one and all the suitors. Pope Paul IV., who was on the best of terms with Duke Cosimo, and never forgot what he owed in his elevation to the Papal throne to his friend's influence, conceived

f the country around Civita Vecchia. When only twelve years old, he had been named by Pope Leo X. to the honorary command of a Papal regiment of cavalry. When still in his teens the youth served with distincti

ook up his position as the acknowledged head of his family. He married Francesca, daughter of B

of arms, he saw military service in Spain, but was recalled to Rome by the death of both his parents. On succession to the family estates the Pope created the Lordshi

made for one another: he was handsome, brave and rich, she was beautiful, talented, and lovable. Perhaps it was a case of love at first sight

Cosimo insisted that his dearly-beloved daughter should make his house her home for at least six months each year, and only pay occasional visits t

ar to all marital happiness, and led to the one and only possible dénouement-tragedy. Certainly the Duke bestowed upon the young couple the splendid estate and villa of the Baroncelli, which had c

. After a brief honeymoon spent at their villa the youthful bride and bridegroom separated-an ominous repetition of a fateful error. Truth to tell, Duke Paolo took an intense dislike to his father-in-law: he distrusted him both in relation to his affectio

me, and little more. Duchess Isabella, a mere child, wanton and wilful more than most, was thus left the uncontrolled mistress of a princely esta

placed in charge of the Duchess as Chamberlain, or quasi-guardian-another false step, and embarrassing for all parties. He was a handsome and accomplished man, avowedly unm

. Duchess Eleanora if virtuous and conscientious, was rather dull and uninteresting. She cared much more for her Spanish connections than for her Florentine courtiers: much of her time she spent in the Cap

rant flirt-as most pretty women are-for she inherited her father's amorous disposition; and she was impulsive,-an

year with her husband in Rome. These visits were not occasions of happiness and satisfaction. The two had scarcely any interests in c

perial army against the Turks. For his bravery at the battle of Lepanto, he was made Field-Marshal of the Emperor and a Count of the Holy

liaisons were made to the Duke by his Chamberlain from time to time, but these were couched in words which concealed his own part therein. He and the Duchess were accustomed to be much alone together. He was a music

s something more! That Duke Paolo was conversant with the relations of his wife with his cousin was well known, but he made no complaint, and took no action to check

testation for everything Florentine. No doubt he judged that Cosimo's hand slew both Maria and Garzia-might it not strike Isabella or himself! When a man, in an autocratic position such as that

, so to speak, clasped the lovely young Venetian to her bosom. She entered into the romance of the elopement, and of her b

her tomb within San Lorenzo than Duke Cosimo gave reins to his passions, and the Palazzo Pitti and the various Medicean villas became the scenes of u

a Sovereign whose private example was so abominable, and whose discharge of public duties was so basely marked by turpitud

traditions of the Orient took root, not only in Florence, but in all the other Italian States, and the normal strictness and restrictions of lawful married life had everywhere all but disappeared. Every househ

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the notable personages present at the nuptials. Indeed that year the Duke spent more of his time than usual in Florence, and was very busy buying and rebuilding the Vill

ility, not at all the sort of sovereign for that gay and dissolute court. The beau monde took themselves off to the Orte Oricellari-to pay their dev

urite Villa del Castello-lived in strict retreat, rarely came into Florence, and ke

rhaps, less depraved than his father, the Cardinal de' Medici made no secret of his dislike of his brother Francesco and his innamorata, Bianca Buonaventuri. He became a thorn in his father's and broth

en his father married his second wife. Of course she was far too youn

s Giovanna, the titular Grand Duchess-dowager,-so to call Cammilla,-with the Cardinal de

sabella gave her whole heart's support to the beauteous young widow. She wrote to her the most affectionate letters, in one of which,

ine with me in my garden, and with her came my good friends her brother Don Piero and his young wife...." Beautiful, accomplished, and light-hearted, Isabella and Bianca were the dearest and most constant of companions. They lived appare

re met with girlish insouciance; but, when he began to complain arrogantly, Isabella replied with spirit and determina

umour and harsh judgments. Duke Paolo, however, kept his own counsel, and by means of spies discovered that Troilo d'Orsini's monthly reports were at least open to doubt as to their truthfulnes

arrived one evening, in July 1576, breathless, at the Bracciano Palace, with the intelligence that the trusty chamberlain had stabbed to the heart an

a moment's delay, he started off for Florence to tax the Duchess with unfaithfulness. At the Porta Romana he was stag

ced, surprised Isabella in the midst of preparations for a sudden journey! If, as some maintained, she meant to follow her fleeing lover, Troilo, at all events she

r course"; but she implores Catherine to protect her little son. In the last of these letters she writes:-"Let your Majesty think of this letter as the last words of a person bound

to dishonour her before her whole household. The spirit of duplicity, which had haunted their married life, during eighteen ran

t more than all else enraged him almost beyond the power of self-control, was the

is cordial greeting. He asked her where she was going, and suggested that they should go away together. Isabella of course prevaricated-truth is a nega

be bygones, and that we mutually agree to bury the past. Let us, Isabella, begin an entirely new course of life and live henceforth only for each other." His fair words were

ompany him upon a hunting expedition to Cerreto Guidi, on the morrow, his wife expressed her pleasure and acquiescenc

quite late, and only arrived there as night was coming on. At the entrance to the Villa the Duke met

r-like attentions. Everybody remarked these excellent and unusual relations between the Duke and Duchess, and wondered greatly thereat. After a ve

ed deadly pale, and, retreating for a moment, she whispered to her lady-in-waiting, Donna Lucrezia de' Frescobaldi-"Shall I enter, or shall I not?" Brac

ual state, but truth to tell, she had not lain there for many a long night, and, as the Duke continued to talk affectionately, and to prepar

faithful wife once more, he swiftly reached down for a corda di collo-a horse's halter-which he had placed behind the chair. Implanting an impassioned kiss upon those lovely lips, which had s

and loathsome thing. Thus perished, in her thirty-sixth year, Isabella de' Medici, wife of Paolo

Pitti a heartless message for the Grand Duke, requesting him to despatch the brethren of the Misericordia to Cer

official announcement was made to the effect that "The Duchess of Bracciano died in a fit of apoplexy." This nobody for a mome

s honour or dishonour. The punishment of assassins mostly leads to further assassinations, and the "La cosa di Francesco" had r

ems to have recorded, nor are there any statements extant as to who his father actually was-a boy he was any

, the comely young Calcio player, and the favourite page of the Grand Duke Francesco; and, be it said in terms of doubt and horror, the Grand Duke Cosimo! If th

tress, the unhappy Duchess of Bracciano, had commended "the little kid." Whether he accepted the r?le of father to save the fame of the defunct Grand Duk