This show is getting a lot better again, as it turns more towards “national” and European politics in the late 15th century.
In this scene the Pope Alexander VI (Jeremy Irons) cleans up the Vatican after a murder attempt and conspiracy.
The visuals are stunning.
Congrats to the New Pope!
And to one who used to take the public transport as a Cardinal…
…
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis has attempted to dissuade Argentines from making costly trips to Rome for his inaugural Mass next week, suggesting they make a contribution to the poor instead, the Vatican said on Friday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/15/us-pope-argentina-frugal-idUSBRE92E0LO20130315
This Basilica in Rome is magnificent – and a bit off the beaten track. In part because of the more famous St. Peters, but also because the outside is a lot more modest than the inside.
Santa Maria Maggiore - biggest Marian Church in Rome.
From the Eternal City:
St. Peters and the Bridge of Angels. By Bhawi.
The humble Pope and the King..
The first season went down in a flash, with some intense last minute dramas in Rome and Naples.
The humble Pope Alexander VI retains the Vatican after playing an ascetic friar in front of the french King, which makes Charles VIII like him better than the traitorous cardinal Rovere, and thus decides to let him stay on the Papacy.
The King then moves on to Naples – finding it plagued with death and disease.
The next season is already in production, and there’s so much material around this juncture in history. Rovere later becomes Pope Julius II after Borgia dies (1503), spends a whole lot of money, and lays the ground for Luther, Calvin and the Protestant Reformation in Europe. The modern era quickly evolves from there..
Here they come....
After a smooth passing of Milan, the french king Charles VIII and his 25.000 men march on south towards Rome and Naples. But first stop is Lucca, the little gem in Tuscany – which still has its city walls from the 1400-hundreds fully intact.
For a little warmup, the king decides to send a little message to Florence.
Terms..? I'll show them terms..
When Lucca wants to negotiate terms – Charles don’t show any interest in small talk. He’s already tired of the second thoughts and hesitations of Cardinal Rovere – who’s beginning to understand the consequences of his plot to use an invading force in his own country – to grab the papacy.
Gunpowder and cannons was still a fairly new and modern invention back then, which made the bloodshed of climbing the city walls unnecessary. And in some cases like this, made resistance very futile.
The walls of Lucca fall quickly.
This is my terms..
Slaughter and carnage commences..
The word spreads all over Italy..
The Pope Alexander VI reconsiders his options..
Naples starts to tremble..
Let it be a lesson...
And the snubbed cardinal gets very cold feet, running ahead to Florence to negiotiate a peaceful surrender and passage for the french.
Which,
spurs the french terms of 400.000 ducats, demanding no resistance and one hostage from each of the big families of Florence.
The King feels no reason to be modest after the italian city-states had proven so unable to co-operate for security, and easily sold each other out for personal amibition and old rivalries.
Cardinal Rovere briefly stalls for a second, then lays flat and rides to Florence.. with a new set of rules for the war.
I surrender everything.. look at Lucca...
And to Machiavellis disgust – the ruler Piero II di Medici quickly surrenders everything at whatever terms the frenh have. The news of Lucca clouds his judgement – and the French are given an unconditional welcome into the city-state of Florence.
Well, almost. Machiavelli tricks Charles VIII into riding into the city with his lance backwards. First upwards to avoid the symbol of conquest, then backwards becase the city gate proved too low for the lance. A small victory for the statesman in the midst of all the humiliating events..
