History of Venice, Volume 3: Books IX-XII

by Pietro Bembo

Overview

Pietro Bembo (1470–1547), a Venetian nobleman, later a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, was the most celebrated Latin stylist of his day and was widely admired for his writings in Italian as well. His early dialogue on the subject of love greatly influenced the development of the literary vernacular, as did his Prose della volgar lingua (1525). From 1513 to 1521, he served Pope Leo X as Latin secretary and became known as the leading advocate of Ciceronian Latin in Europe and of the Tuscan dialect within Italy. He was named official historian of Venice in 1529 and began to compose in Latin his continuation of the city’s history in twelve books, covering the years from 1487 to 1513. Although the work chronicles internal politics and events, much of it is devoted to the external affairs of Venice, principally conflicts with other European states (France, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, Milan, and the papacy) and with the Turks in the East. The History of Venice was published after Bembo’s death, in Latin and in his own Italian version. This edition, completed by this third volume, makes it available for the first time in English translation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674022867
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	11/30/2009
Series:	The I Tatti Renaissance Library , #37
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.30(d)
Language:	Latin

About the Author

Robert W. Ulery, Jr., is Professor of Classical Languages, Wake Forest University.

Table of Contents

Book IX (1509)

• Maximilian returns to Trento
• Many towns are retaken by Venice
• Preparations of the Venetians for the defense of Padua and attacks on the enemy
• Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, is captured by the Venetians
• Padua is attacked by Maximilian
• Girolamo Savorgnan’s achievements for the Republic
• Maximilian abandons the attack on Padua
• Decision by decree to destroy everything around Padua
• Events in Dalmatia, Istria,and Friuli
• Vicenza is taken by the Venetians
• War is declared by the Senate and waged on Alfonso d’Este
• The Republic’s army is sent to Verona in vain
• Many towns are retaken by Venice
• Progress of the fleet sent against Alfonso d’Este
• The Venetian fleet is crushed by Alfonso
• A parent is punished for using his daughter as a concubine
• A way to placate Pope Julius is found by the Senate

Book X (1510)

• Battle of Venetians with Maximilian’s forces at the San Martino bridge
• How satisfaction was given to the king of Hungary for payments
• At the request of Adria, the Senate grants a magistrate and ships for their self-protection
• Various sallies of Maximilian’s forces from Verona; death of Niccolò Orsini
• Exchange of prisoners with the French
• Various battles and skirmishes between Alfonso d’Este and the Venetians, and also between the Venetians and Maximilian’s forces around Verona
• Julius receives the Venetian ambassadors and annuls the bull of excommunication
• Ambassadors sent to make peace with Maximilian return unsuccessful
• Laws passed for the purpose of collecting funds
• Attack on Verona attempted in vain
• Law excluding relatives of priests from the Senate in matters involving the pope repealed
• Uncertainty of Julius’ plans
• Deliberations of the Senate concerning the selection of a captain-general
• Invasion of the Republic’s territory by the French
• A new Fondaco de’ Tedeschi is built
• Vicenza is taken by the French along with many other towns; cruelty of the French toward those taking refuge in tunnels
• Friuli invaded by the forces of Maximilian
• Legnago is captured by the French
• Death of the cardinal of Rouen
• Treaty of Julius and the Venetians with the Swiss
• Various sallies of Germans, Venetians, and French, and lesser battles; sedition of island of Lesina put down
• Weapons from the Council’s armory given to Renzo da Ceri
• Death of Caterina Cornaro
• Fleet sent to Julius against Genoa
• Progress of the French army against the Venetians; King Ferdinand of Spain sends the white horse to Julius as tribute
• Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, is discharged by the Venetians
• Monselice is taken by the French
• Death of Giovanni Sforza; start of the war of Julius with Alfonso d’Este
• Lucio Malvezzi is declared captain-general of the Republic’s army; the Salt Office is reduced from six men to four
• Julius’ attempts against Genoa unsuccessful, and return of fleet to Civitavecchia
• The king of Hungary declares war on Venice, but does not wage it
• Julius’ edict against Alfonso, and his abuse directed at the king of France
• Venice and the pope again send a fleet to Genoa
• Modena is taken by the pope
• Plans of the Venetians for taking Brescia
• Invasion of the Swiss into territory held by the French
• Law passed concerning the magistrates who take care of the Republic in the Senate

Book XI (1510-1511)

• The Venetian fleet heads for Genoa with the pope’s troops, encounters the French fleet, and returns unsuccessful
• The pope makes his way to Bologna, and his war against Alfonso d Este
• The Venetians attack Verona and lift the siege
• The Venetian fleet, sent against Alfonso, is crushed
• A second fleet is sent against the same, and actions taken on land between them
• Defeat of the French near Montagnana
• Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, is named captain-general of the Venetian and papal armies
• A law on electoral corruption is passed at Venice
• Venetian sally into the Tesino district
• The Venetian and papal armies are joined against Alfonso, and their achievements
• The pope excommunicates the French
• An army is again sent to Verona and retreats from there unsuccessful
• Concordia is taken by the Venetians
• A two-headed baby is born in Venice
• French defeat at the Secchia river
• Mirandola is taken by Julius
• Julius cedes Modena to Maximilian
• Alfonso routs Julius’ army
• Earthquake in Venice and on the mainland
• Concordia is retaken by the French
• Bologna is taken by the French and the Bentivoglio; the Venetians are crushed near Bologna by mountain bands
• Cardinal Alidosi is slaughtered by Francesco Maria della Rovere
• Julius’ edict against Bologna
• A Council is declared at Pisa, and the pope is summoned to it
• Various battles in Friuli
• Defeat of the Venetians near Verona
• Treviso is fortified by wondrous artifice
• Doge Loredan congratulates Bartolomeo da Mosto on his election as a senator

Book XII (1511-1513)

• Defeat suffered in Istria at the hands of Frangipane
• Advances of the French and Germans in Friuli and elsewhere
• Illness of Julius; Pesaro is handed over by Julius to Francesco Maria della Rovere
• Destructive raids by the Germans from the Alps
• Incursions of the French all the way to Lio Maggiore
• Treaty of Venice with Julius and the king of England
• The French and Germans besiege Treviso, and their departure
• Law passed concerning the creation of a new magistracy for the Arsenale
• Army sent to recover losses in Friuli, and its achievements
• Vicenza returns to the dominion of the Republic
• Julius strips of their cardinalate those who had convened the Council of Pisa
• Pietro Balbo appointed to negotiate for Venetian merchants in Egypt
• Fighting at Muggia in Istria and Cormons in Friuli
• Maximilian's representatives negotiate for passage to Rome
• Offer from the Swiss of aid against the French accepted
• Skirmishes at Gradisca in Friuli
• Brescia and Bergamo are taken by Venice
• Various peace negotiations with Maximilian
• Bologna, under siege by the papal and Spanish forces, is liberated by the French
• Defeat of Venice at Villafranca
• Brescia is conquered by the French
• Twelve ambassadors of the Swiss come to the city
• Truce between Maximilian and Venice
• Battle of Ravenna
• Opening of the Lateran Council
• Ravenna is recovered by the pope with its fortress
• The Swiss join the Venetian army, and their achievements
• Bologna surrenders again to Julius
• The French are driven from towns in Lombardy and Piedmont
• Selim wrests the sultanate from his father Bayazid, and his embassy to Venice
• Genoa is taken by Giano Fregoso
• Alfonso d’Este is released from Julius’ interdict, and flees from Rome
• The Swiss are called by Julius “Defenders of the Church of Rome”
• Julius’ unsuccessful attempts against Alfonso
• Return of the Medici to Florence; Julius excommunicates the king of France
• Venice retakes Crema
• Defeat of the French in Gascony
• Venice renews her treaty with the sultan of Egypt
• The viceroy of Naples seizes Brescia
• Treaty of Julius with Maximilian, his alienation from Venice, and death
• Election of Giovanni de’ Medici as Pope Leo X