Renaissance Rulers

LONG AGO there were five brothers in Italy. They were Florence, Venice, Milan, Papal States, and Naples. During this re-birth of a new standard empire, the Italian brothers were always fighting with each other over who keeps power. After each brother got older they died and in a magical way became a part of the earth making up the five city-states. Each state was ruled by leaders who were called despots and their job was to run the state affairs. Also each state had an army which were made up of people called podestas who were strong men hired to keep up law and order so that businesses could flow perfectly.

The first of the five brothers was Florence, the foundation of the Italian Renaissance, where on the outside seemed like the people of Florence could vote on decisions or acts to be passed for their state, called a Republic, but the government lied to the people of Florence because instead the government was ruled by Cosimo de Medici who gave the government money and took control of Florence in 1434. Cosimo de Medici was a very rich man and when he came to Florence and bought out the government, he was able to build his state perfectly and also he began to make the Medici family grow rich with his attachment to the banks. He had everything he wanted like books, paintings and, libraries, even his own palace known as the Palazzo Medici. As he grew as a ruler his spot as a banker made him able to bargain peace treaties with the other city-states.

Cosimo had a grandson who had boosted the family's power and their connection to the church. His name was Lorenzo the Magnificent and rose as if he was a prince, bargaining with other city-states and within his own state was his greatest accomplishment. Lorenzo was known for his strong belief in the ideas of the Renaissance such as humanism which focused on human achievements. He also contributed to the artistic life greatly with his use of Michelangelo and Pico Della Mirandola. He was greatly known for his influence, reputation, and role as leading man of Florence. Once he was almost killed because of his great power, but he survived. As he came to power, Naples and the Papal states started a war with Florence where Florence lost a lot of land and money. Thanks to Lorenzo he brought them back on top with his charming of the Neapolitan King. Florence was known as the structure of the Renaissance because of its Major industries like wool, cotton, and silk, and also its supply of banks throughout Europe.

After Lorenzo the Magnificent died, Girolamo Savonarola transformed Florence into a church ruled state. In Florence under Savonarola's rule God was the ruler and His Gospel was the law. Savonarola became the guiding spirit of the Republic of Florence because of his prediction that France was going to invade Florence under Charles VIII. During his reign many things were forbidden such as gambling and also he preached that women and men were to take anything that was unholy