THE LIFE AND PONTIFICATE OF LEO THE TENTH. IN FOUR VOLUMES. BY WILLIAM ROSCOE. VOL. IV. Neque enim ignorabam, non unius diei, fortuitique sermonis, sed Brandolini, Dialog. cui tit. LEO, p. 95. PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED AT THE LORENZO PRESS OF E. BRONSON. 1806. CHAP. XVIII. 1518-1519. SELIM usurps the Ottoman throne-Defeats the Sophi of Persia Conquers Egypt-Apprehensions entertained for the safety of Europe-Leo X. endeavours to form. an alliance among the Christian powers-Publishes a general truce for five years-His plan of an offensive league against the Turks-The Christian sovereigns engage only in a defensive alliance-Marriage of Lo renzo de' Medici with Madelaine de Tours-Munificence of the pope on that occasion-Charles of Austria endeavours to obtain the title of king of the Romans and the investiture of Naples-Death of the emperour elect Maximilian-Charles of Austria and Francis I. contend for the imperial crown— -Views and conduct of Leo X. -Election of the emperour Charles V.-Death of Lorenzo duke of Urbino-Ippolito de' Medici-Alessandro de' Medici-Consequences of the death of LorenzoState of the Florentine government-Memoir of Machiavelli―The cardinal de' Medici directs the affairs of Tuscany-Urbino united to the dominions of the church. THE states of Italy were now freed from the CHA P. calamities of internal war; but the apprehensions XVIII. entertained of the increasing power and desolating 1518. ferocity of the Turks, diminished that satisfaction Et. 43. which their inhabitants had begun to experience. Nor 6 Selim usurps throne. CHA P. Nor was there ever a time when these apprehenXVIII._sions were more justly founded. The Ottoman 1518. throne was now filled by a monarch, who, to the Æt. 43. most ardent and persevering courage, united the the Ottoman most insatiable thirst of conquest, and the utmost cruelty of disposition. By a successful rebellion, and the murder of his father Bajazet, Selim had prematurely seized upon the reins of empire, to the exclusion of his brother Achmet; whom, having afterwards defeated in an engagement, he publickly put to death. The two sons of Achmet, and a younger brother of Selim, with many others of the family, experienced a similar fate; and such was the unnatural hatred by which this monster was actuated against his own blood, that he intended to deprive of life Solyman, his only son; who lived, however, to inherit the sanguinary jealousy of his father, and to complete the unnatural example by the destruction of his own offspring. a Having by these means endeavoured to secure himself against all competition at home, Selim directed i> a Solyman put to death two of his own sons, Mustapha, and Bajazet, with their innocent offspring, "I prin"cipi di questa casa nascono," says Sagredo, << come ❝ giovenchi al Coltello, per essere vittime scannati, e sacri"ficati al idolo dell' ambizione." v. Memorie Istoriche de Monarchi Ottomani, lib. ii. p. 119. lib. iii. p. 122. lib. vii. 343, 349. Robertson's Hist. Cha. V. lib. xi. vol. iii. p. 289. |