CHAPTER III.

THE EARLY DAYS OF THE RULE OF INNOCENT VIII. LOUIS XI. AND FRANCE.

State of Rome in the Last Days of Sixtus IV.—Girolamo Riario—Confusion on the Death of the Pope—Pope Innocent VIII.—The Cybò Family—Character of Innocent VIII.—Congratulatory Embassies—Florentine Embassy—Piero de’ Medici—Lorenzo de’ Medici’s Advice to his Son—Lorenzo on his Relations with the Papal Chair—Latter Days of King Louis XI.—His Connection with Florence—Louis XI. to Lorenzo de’ Medici—The Ring of S. Zanobi—Extinction of the House of Anjou—Death of Louis XI.—State of French Affairs after the King’s Death—Anne of Beaujeu Regent for her Brother Charles VIII.—Opposition of the Nobles—Anne de Beaujeu and Florence—Efforts of the French against Maximilian of Austria at the Court of Innocent VIII.—Lorenzo’s Foresight—Refusal of the Pope 213