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Episode Summary With Giovanni dalle Bande Nere gone, we return to Florence to witness the dramatic collapse of the centuries-old Florentine Republic and the emergence of Medici princely rule. Against the backdrop of the Sack of Rome, religious extremism, political infighting, and imperial intervention, this episode follows Florence’s final republican experiment and introduces one of […]
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In this episode, we trace the final chapters in the life of Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, the last great condottiero of Renaissance Italy, and his unlikely, enduring friendship with the scandalous writer Pietro Aretino. From political satire in Rome to blood-soaked battlefields in Lombardy and Umbria, this story intertwines art, warfare, ambition, and the sweeping changes that transformed European conflict forever. Key Topics Covered Pietro Aretino: Scandal, Satire & Survival Giovanni dalle Bande Nere: Rise, Glory, and Decline of the Condottieri The League of Cognac & Giovanni’s Final Campaign Aftermath & Legacy Why This Story Matters This episode captures a pivotal moment when:
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Episode Summary Picking up where we left off, Giovanni de’ Medici, son of Caterina Sforza and known to history as Giovanni of the Black Bands, continues his meteoric rise through the bloody and chaotic world of Renaissance warfare. Backed by a Medici pope and driven by his fierce loyalty to his men, Giovanni’s legend as a mercenary […]
A chronological history of the Italian peninsula from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the present
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A History of Italy 