LORENZO THE MAGNIFICENT

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 111, 13 May 1933, Page 16

LORENZO THE MAGNIFICENT

The Genial Despot of Old Florence

.. The origin of the Medici/ family is buried in obscui'ity, but they appeared on the Italian stage as bankers, who Tose to be statesmen, and rendered Solid assistance to letters and art. liorenzo, known to history as "The Magnificent," was one of them, and certainly one of-the ablest and most Versatile of those who,-ruled;.-Florence for three centuries. He, was born in 1449, and died, on April 8, 1492. I Nature, had not been kind to him in the matter of appearance. Though ' above the middle height, and strongly built, his nose was flat and spreading, his chin pointed, his eyes weak, and his complexion sallow. A harsh voice, sin ugly gait, and a. very defective sense of smell did not add to his attractiveness. By way of compensation he enjoyed a liberal education, ke had his Greek and Latin from famous masters, including Fieirib, tha head of the Platonic Academy, and Landino, the translator of Aristotle and commentator on Dante. Lorenzo was a fine athlete, played football and fives, had a healthy liking for dogs and falcons, kept a-fine racing stud, and showed skill as a rider, says a writer in the Melbourne "Age." -On the death of their father in 1469, Lorenzo and his brother, Giuliano, beCame his successors. It was a peculiar position. The citizens had petitioned for their appointment, but the post had do official name, no defined duties and privileges. The Medici ruled in the republic, but they were wealthy and iniluential bankers, and no more. There tras a constitutional executive armed with extraordinary powers of life and death, but. the real rulers were the Medici, wlio held the fortunes of the citizens at their mercy, and were not at all scrupulous in the use of their power. : Though only twenty-one years of age, Lorenzo had a bold policy, and followed it with unyielding determination. His brother was of a mild and pliant disposition, and was little moro than a figurehead in the Government. Awarding high office to his relatives, Lorenzo continued at the same time to appoint Eew men, who were entirely dependent on his good will. It* was publicly known that promotion depended solely on Lorenzo. He aimed not merely at controlling tho administration, but also the judicature. He was on the way jfco absolutism. '[ His title of "The Magnificent" waa 3uo in part to the pageants and amusements provided on. social occasions, and especially in connection with the visits of foreign princes. The Duke and JDuchess of Milan rode into Florence a train of 2000 horses and 200 iuules, "their followers glittering in gold and silver cloth, the very scullions inappropriately resplendent in gilk and velvet." During the eight days' visit the 'fiiri was fast and furious, gays a biographer, but it also entailed 'much taxation. The' Medici ostensibly dispensed the hospitality of Florence, Tbut the guests were lodged in the palace of Lorenzo. The other side of the picture is that tho visitors came with a view to securing tho friendship of Jhe Medici, and Lorenzo and his supporters knew that their success depended on their reputation with foreign £ourts. -.-" V His need of money led him- into Jrouble. He helped himself from the public purse, but what is called the ,Volterra affair was followed by serious developments. Alum mines, in that commune were said to have been leased to a company. A quarrel arose, and tho company appealed to . Florence, where many shareholders lived! Biots took place. Both,parties appealed to

Lorenzo. The people of Voltcrra saw that thoy were in danger of losing their independence. Tho Florentines captured, sacked the city, and treated the inhabitants brutally. Lorenzo was blamed, but showed his sympathy by visiting Voltcrra, distributing relief, and spending large sums of money 'On his estates in tho district. At the same time the mineral rights were vested in the sovereign republic. The Volterrans neither forgave nor forgot. Then came a dispute with Pope Sixtus IV, who wished to found a State for his nephews on the frontiers of tho Florentine republic. Another source of anxiety was the great house of Pazzi, which rivalled the Medici iv wealth and commercial enterprise. The Pazzi were on the- point of inheriting a large property when Lorenzo hurriedly:, passed a law altering the right of succession. A plot was hatched to kill both Lorenzo and his brother Giuliano. Lorenzo escaped, but his brother was slain. A terrible revenge followed. Several of the Pazzi were hanged, others were hacked to pieces, dragged through the streets and thrown into the Arno, and many were sent into exile. f The situation grew dangerous for Lorenzo. The Poise excommunicated him, put Florence under interdict, and, with the aid of the King of Italy, made war on the republic. The Florentines began to feel that they were paying dearly to maintain the supremacy, of the Medici. Lorenzo boldly went to Naples, made peace with the king, and afterwards with the Pope.. From that day the power of this versatile member of the Medici steadily increased, and largely through political adroitness. He managed to make the council permanent, filled it with his own friends, and so established his security. The chroniclers declared that liberty was buried. Florence bore the name of a republic, but Lorenzo was virtually a king, wideawake, unscrupulous in Ids appointments, and in his intrusion' into the private affairs of the citizens. He kept an army of spies, and treated his enemies atrociously. The more tyrannical his Government became the more did he distract the people with festivities ' and vulgar amusements. He saw that they preferred circusscs to politics. He wrote songs to be sung by his servants at the fairs, and did»not hesitate to make these compositions coarse and indecent. Savonarola's influence checked this for a time, but they were continued for generations exactly as Lorenzo had arranged them. He knew that power was impossible without the support of the lower classes, and was an opportunist, of the first water. ■■ It must be said in has favour that industry and commerce owed much t<» Lorenzo, and even the peasants wer» more prosperous round Florence than in any; other State. His influence throughout the whole of Italy grew to be profound. Hatred and jealousy, long restrained by his authority, burst into open and devastatingl flame aftor his death. The complexity of liis character appears still further in his service to literature and art, and in his own writings. The Medici gave two Popes to Home, encouraged Fieino, Mirandola, Poliziano, and Michelangelo. Lorenzo was the Maecenas of his time, and showed high merit as a writer of prose and poetry. Sometimes he sang his own songs in the public streets. He was a strange compound. We cannot say that under his rule Florence was free, but we may safely conclude that if he was a despot, the republic could never have found a more genial one.