The Family - Mario Puzo [76]
His anguish was apparent as he talked about his grief, and as he confessed his own wickedness and the wickedness of his family he swore to make amends. He told the entire gathering of cardinals and ambassadors that he understood he had offended Providence, and he asked that a committee be set up to make suggestions for change.
The following day, the Pope wrote to the Christian rulers recording both his tragedy and his new understanding of the need for reform. Everyone was so convinced of Alexander’s intention that there were speeches of sympathy given throughout Rome, and both Cardinal della Rovere and the prophet Savonarola, two of the Pope’s greatest enemies, sent letters of condolence.
And so it seemed a new era was about to begin.
II
13
ALEXANDER WAS STILL in mourning for Juan, and so it was that Duarte came to Cesare Borgia to suggest that once he had crowned the king of Naples he must visit the city of Florence, which had been turned upside down during the French invasion. For now, in order to cement the relationship between the city’s largest lawmaking body—the Signoria—and the Pope, to attempt to reinstate the Medici, and to assess the danger from the prophet Savonarola, someone trusted must be sent to evaluate the truth of the rumors that were reaching Rome.
“It is being said,” Duarte told Cesare, “that the Dominican friar, Savonarola, has become even more inflammatory and influential in these last months, and that he is turning the people of Florence against the Pope—unless there are stringent reforms.” Alexander had already sent an interdict to Florence forbidding the friar from preaching if he planned to continue undermining the people’s faith in the papacy. He had ordered that Savonarola not preach again until he could make his way to Rome to speak with the Pope himself; he had even imposed sanctions on the merchants of Florence to prevent them from listening to the friar’s speeches. Yet nothing stopped the zealous prophet.
Piero Medici’s arrogance had alienated the citizens of Florence as well as the members of his court. And now from the pulpits and in the squares, Girolamo Savonarola’s inflammatory speeches against the Medici had the throngs of people in a fervor for reform. The growing power of the wealthy commoners, who resented the Medici and felt their money entitled them to a voice in the affairs of Florence, added to the clamor and threatened to undermine the power of the Pope.
Cesare smiled. “Can you guarantee, my friend, that I myself will not be slaughtered if I visit Florence? They may wish to make an example of me. I have heard it said that according to the prophet and the citizens of Florence, I am almost as evil as the Holy Father.”
“You have friends there, as well as enemies,” Duarte said. “And even some allies. The brilliant orator Machiavelli is one. During this time of weakness in the papacy, a sharp eye is needed to separate the true from the false dangers to the Borgia family.”
“I appreciate your concern, Duarte,” Cesare said. “And if I am able, you have my word, I will visit Florence when I have finished in Naples.”
“The hat of a cardinal will protect you,” Duarte said. “Even from one as zealous as the prophet. And it might serve us to hear directly of what he is accusing the Pope, so that we may properly refute it.”
Now, fearing that with the loss of the ruling Medici family, and the election of a new Signoria, the Pope would be in greater danger, Cesare consented to go to Florence to see how he could alter the situation to Rome’s advantage.
“As soon as possible,” Cesare said, “I will do as you ask.”
In Florence, Niccolò Machiavelli had just returned from Rome, where he had gone as an emissary for the Signoria to investigate the murder of Juan Borgia.
Machiavelli stood in the enormous room of the Palazzo della Signoria, surrounded by extraordinary tapestries and priceless paintings. Giottos, Botticellis and many other treasures donated by the late Lorenzo the Magnificent decorated the room.
Sitting in a large