Republic of Florence, 15th Century (jan 1, 1400 – jan 1, 1500)

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The Milanese were involved in a plot in Florence to open the gates to Milan. Milan defeated the Republic, but an outbreak of plague saved Florence in the third of the three wars. The Visconti sold Pisa to Florence, who only submitted to their long-time rivals after a long siege in 1406 full of atrocities. Milan had approached Florence with a treaty prohibiting Florence's interference with Milan's impending war with Genoa, but though Florence obliged, Milan disregarded the treaty themselves. Though the people of Florence did not want war, the republic chose it, and upon Venice's entry on their side, Florence won and the Visconti of Milan were forced to sign an unfavorable treaty. The debt forced the state to change the tax system, based on a citizen's entire wealth instead of income.

Cosimo de' Medici succeeded his father as head of the Medici Bank, and played a prominent role in Florentine government until his exile in 1433, after a disastrous war with Tuscany. The Florentine people overturned his exile less than a year later in a democratic vote, and Cosimo returned to acclaim and began de facto rule of Florence. His rule began the Renaissance, and his fervent patronage transformed Florence into the epitome of a Renaissance city.

A series of conflicts between the Venetian Republic and the Duchy of Milan for hegemony in Northern Italy dominated Florence's foreign relations between 1423-1454. Filippo Maria Visconti of Milan invaded Milan twice in the 1430's and again in 1440, and was finally defeated that year. When Cosimo's ally Francesco Sforza established himself as Duke of Milan, alliances changed and Florence supported Milan against Venice. Eventually, the peace of Lodi recognized Venetian and Florentine territorial gains and the legitimacy of Sforza rule. The Milan-Florence alliance would majorly stabilize the Italian Peninsula for the next 40 years.

The first challenge to Medici rule was the political crisis of 1458, due to great families and political opponent bearing the brunt of the cost of wars. The opponents attempted to demand reforms but the Medici used threats of force and exiled opponents. Cosimo withdrew from official public role in 1458, but his influence was greater than ever.

Piero the Gouty, son of Cosimo, who suffered from gout and bad health, gained power on his father's death in 1474. With the death of Francesco Sforza in 1466, Florence lost a valuable ally and the same year a coup attempted to depose Piero. Piero died in 1469, succeeded by his son Lorenzo, who had been increasingly groomed for power. Lorenzo was the greatest artistic patron of the Renaissance. His brother was killed before him in an unsuccessful coup in 1478, and the conspirators were executed in 'sacrilegious' ways, leading to a two year war against the papacy during which Lorenzo tactfully secured peace diplomatically. He was succeeded by his son, Piero the Unfortunate, upon his death in 1492. Piero allowed Charles VIII of France passage to invade Italy in 1494, capitulating to his demands, and was branded a traitor in the city, being forced to flee with his family.

Girolamo Savonarola, a priest, ruled the state after, and ushered in democratic reforms on his way to pious changes, including a "Bonfire of Vanities." His rule collapsed when he was excommunicated, embarked on a miserably failed war with Pisa leading to food shortage and plague. He was blamed for these woes, tortured and burned at the stake by Florentina authorities in 1498.

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