Italic League
Encyclopedia
The Italic League or Most Holy League was an international agreement concluded in Venice
on the 30 August 1454, stipulated by the Serenissima
and the States of Milano
and Florence
, which follows the Peace of Lodi signed a few months earlier.
Solemnly proclaimed on the 2 March 1455 with the accession of Pope Nicholas V
(1447–1455), Alfonso V of Aragon
and other small countries sovereigns, established the mutual help in case of attack on the integrity of one of the member states and a 25 years truce between the Italian powers that are committed to respect the established boundaries. After a period of confrontation, Francesco Sforza is considered by the Italian states as successor to the last of the Visconti for having married his only daughter.
The Italic League had an essential part in the politics of balance, subsequently pursued by Lorenzo the Magnificent (1449–1492); its only cracks were the Pazzi Conspiracy, the Barons Conspiracy and the Salt War.
The League is the coherent development of the Peace of Lodi, born from the realization that none of the regional Italian states, despite the long and bloody wars in the last hundred years, is in a position to assume the hegemony in the north, let alone the entire peninsula. The League provides therefore a blocked balance, founded on mutual suspicion and fear of France
rather than on collaboration for the formation of a more broad state structure. Unlike France, Spain
and England
, Italy fails to develop into a nation state, and is now ready to become a land of conquest for the European powers. This phenomenon has been charged to several factors: to name only the most famous interpretations, Guicciardini
has seen the cause in particularism, Machiavelli
into moral and civil decay of institutions and morals and in papal policy, for centuries aimed at avoiding the formation of a unitary state.
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
on the 30 August 1454, stipulated by the Serenissima
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
and the States of Milano
Duchy of Milan
The Duchy of Milan , was created on the 1st of may 1395, when Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, purchased a diploma for 100,000 Florins from King Wenceslaus. It was this diploma that installed, Gian Galeazzo as Duke of Milan and Count of Pavia...
and Florence
Republic of Florence
The Republic of Florence , or the Florentine Republic, was a city-state that was centered on the city of Florence, located in modern Tuscany, Italy. The republic was founded in 1115, when the Florentine people rebelled against the Margraviate of Tuscany upon Margravine Matilda's death. The...
, which follows the Peace of Lodi signed a few months earlier.
Solemnly proclaimed on the 2 March 1455 with the accession of Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V , born Tommaso Parentucelli, was Pope from March 6, 1447 to his death in 1455.-Biography:He was born at Sarzana, Liguria, where his father was a physician...
(1447–1455), Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso the Magnanimous KG was the King of Aragon , Valencia , Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica , and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples from 1442 until his death...
and other small countries sovereigns, established the mutual help in case of attack on the integrity of one of the member states and a 25 years truce between the Italian powers that are committed to respect the established boundaries. After a period of confrontation, Francesco Sforza is considered by the Italian states as successor to the last of the Visconti for having married his only daughter.
The Italic League had an essential part in the politics of balance, subsequently pursued by Lorenzo the Magnificent (1449–1492); its only cracks were the Pazzi Conspiracy, the Barons Conspiracy and the Salt War.
The League is the coherent development of the Peace of Lodi, born from the realization that none of the regional Italian states, despite the long and bloody wars in the last hundred years, is in a position to assume the hegemony in the north, let alone the entire peninsula. The League provides therefore a blocked balance, founded on mutual suspicion and fear of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
rather than on collaboration for the formation of a more broad state structure. Unlike France, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Italy fails to develop into a nation state, and is now ready to become a land of conquest for the European powers. This phenomenon has been charged to several factors: to name only the most famous interpretations, Guicciardini
Francesco Guicciardini
Francesco Guicciardini was an Italian historian and statesman. A friend and critic of Niccolò Machiavelli, he is considered one of the major political writers of the Italian Renaissance...
has seen the cause in particularism, Machiavelli
Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian historian, philosopher, humanist, and writer based in Florence during the Renaissance. He is one of the main founders of modern political science. He was a diplomat, political philosopher, playwright, and a civil servant of the Florentine Republic...
into moral and civil decay of institutions and morals and in papal policy, for centuries aimed at avoiding the formation of a unitary state.
See also
- Duchy of MilanDuchy of MilanThe Duchy of Milan , was created on the 1st of may 1395, when Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, purchased a diploma for 100,000 Florins from King Wenceslaus. It was this diploma that installed, Gian Galeazzo as Duke of Milan and Count of Pavia...
- Peace of Lodi
- Republic of FlorenceRepublic of FlorenceThe Republic of Florence , or the Florentine Republic, was a city-state that was centered on the city of Florence, located in modern Tuscany, Italy. The republic was founded in 1115, when the Florentine people rebelled against the Margraviate of Tuscany upon Margravine Matilda's death. The...
- Republic of VeniceRepublic of VeniceThe Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...