CHAPTER III.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS. FRANCE, VENICE, THE ROMAGNA. THE WAR OF COLLEONE.

The Medici after the Neroni Conspiracy—King Ferrante to Lorenzo—Louis XI. of France and the Medici—The Florentine Exiles and Venice—The Relations of Venice with Florence—Bartolommeo Colleone—Colleone and the exiled Florentines—State of the Romagna—The Popes and the Dynasties—Relations of the Romagna with Venice and Florence—The Raccomandati of the Romagna—The Este Counts of Montefeltro and Urbino—The Malatesta of Rimini—The Ordelaffi of Forli—The Manfredi, Alidosi, Sforza of Pesaro—Bologna and the Bentivogli—Sante and Giovanni Bentivoglio.—Relations with Florence and the Papacy—Preparations of the Allies against Colleone—Colleone in the Romagna.—Battle at La Molinella—Galeazzo Maria Sforza and Venice—Ineffective Meeting of the Allies—Miserable Condition of the Army—Close of the War—Pope Paul II.—End of Colleone and the Florentine Exiles—Attack on Lucrezia de’ Medici 197