CHAPTER V.

EVENTS AT HOME AND ABROAD DURING THE FIRST YEARS OF LORENZO’S SUPREMACY.

Nature and Form of the Medici Rule—The Heads of the Medici Party after Piero’s death—Tommaso Soderini—Council in St. Antonio—Accession of the Sons of Piero de’ Medici to the Position of their Father and Grand-father—Position of Lorenzo before the Party—Appointment of the Civic Officers—The Electors—Lorenzo assumes the Direction of Affairs—Foreign Affairs—Pope Paul II. and Naples—Alliance between Florence, Naples, and Milan—General Alliance against the Osmanli—Death of Pope Paul II 244