The Pazzi War: Florentine Conflict Following Failed Medici Assassination Plot
In 1478, the Pazzi Conspiracy attempted to assassinate Lorenzo de' Medici and overthrow Medici rule in Florence. The plot failed, but resulted in the execution of conspirators including Archbishop Francesco Salviati. Pope Sixtus IV, angered by these events and supported by King Ferdinand I of Naples, declared war on Florence. The ensuing War of the Pazzi lasted from 1478 to 1480, featuring military campaigns in Tuscany and diplomatic maneuvers. The conflict ended when Ottoman forces attacked southern Italy, forcing Naples to withdraw. This war highlighted the political instability of Renaissance Italy and shifted regional alliances.
Key facts
- The Pazzi Conspiracy occurred on April 26, 1478 during Easter Mass in Florence
- Pope Sixtus IV declared war on Florence in June 1478 after conspirators were executed
- The War of the Pazzi lasted from 1478 to 1480 involving Florence against papal and Neapolitan forces
- Lorenzo de' Medici traveled to Naples in December 1479 to negotiate peace with King Ferdinand I
- The conflict ended in December 1480 after Ottoman forces attacked Otranto, diverting Neapolitan attention
Entities
Artists
- Stefano Ussi
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Justus van Gent
- Pedro Berruguete
- Giorgio Vasari
- Piero della Francesca
Institutions
- Uffizi Gallery
- Louvre Museum
- Musée Bonnat
- Museo Nazionale di San Martino
Locations
- Florence
- Naples
- Rome
- Milan
- Venice
- Urbino
- Otranto
- Pisa
- Siena