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THE AGE OF COSIMO DE' MEDICI

EPISODE ONE:
THE EXILE OF COSIMO

The Rucellal.

The Buondelmontl.

Not everyone is so lucky
as to die in his own bed.

He left this world
with no worries for his family.

He left his sons
richer than the king of France.

The Tornabuonl.

It is written that it is easier for a camel
to pass through the eye of a needle

than for a rich man to get into heaven.

But God will have to change
the Gospel this time,

because Giovanni di Bicci,
who was extremely rich,

has already gained access to heaven,

because as a man he was just,
kind and generous,

and he left his money
here on earth.

And what he left is a great deal,
incomparable riches.

More than 1 80,000 gold florins,

as well as land, palaces,
country estates, vineyards.

Not to mention the banks
in every city in Europe:

Geneva, Lyon, Germany, England.

With his florins he could have bought
Florence, but he didn't want to do it.

He never went to the Palazzo
della Signoria unless he was summoned.

Pope Martin V wanted to dub him
Count of Monteverde,

but he chose to remain a simple
Florentine like all the rest

and refused the title.

Those who say he did not want
to become a nobleman

so he could hide among the populace
and conduct his business undisturbed

are lying.

If he had become a count
he would have been a nobleman

and according to the law, he would have
been ineligible for public office.

This is the truth of the matter.

No, no, I am convinced
that he acted out of humility.

Glovannl Cavalcantl
and Antonlo de'Mozzl.

Rlnaldo degll Alblzl and companlons.

Even his enemies are coming
to pay him tribute.

Not all that glitters is gold, of course.

What do you mean?

When a man dies,
those who are left

like to remember those parts of his life
that enhance his reputation

and they forget that he too
was a sinner.

Those with purses full of money
also face many temptations.

When Giovanni di Bicci
smelled a deal,

and everyone knows this,

he was willing to do anything

as long as it allowed him
to make the greatest gain.

This only means
that he was a good businessman.

He was better than you

and you could not accuse him
of usury.

Cavalcanti, why don't you go around
Florence and ask his debtors?

Antonino de' Mozzi,

you slander a dead man because
he made you repay your brother's debts,

but Giovanni always tried
to help everybody out.

He even sent 36 florins
to Neri Tornaquinci,

in Krakow, in Poland, when
he found out that he was in trouble.

Remember that Tornaquinci
had been his partner

and had caused his bank
to lose great sums of money.

If Cosimo and Lorenzo are prudent
and share the inheritance,

they will hold all of Florence
in their hands.

Giovanni di Bicci
had great foresight,

and shared governance of the bank
with them for the last 1 0 years.

Cosimo is just as capable
as he was.

He has proven an even better
businessman than his father.

I am in the middle
of a business deal with Cosimo.

I own a piece of land
on the via Larga.

A year ago he wanted to buy it,

but his offer was low

and I did not sell it to him.

He wants to build himself a palace.

Now that he is the boss,
he will have to pay at least double.

The body is still warm and here we are
talking about business.

- You will give in. You need him.
- Do you hear them?

I must tell the truth: Giovanni di Bicci
de' Medici was a just man.

But you must tell his sons,
Cosimo and Lorenzo,

to look after the bank and leave
matters of state to others

if they wish to end their lives
in their beds, many years from now,

praised by the city,
as their father did.

If they choose another policy,

in Florence, the ground
will burn under their feet.

Rinaldo degli Albizi, you have
no respect even for death.

The sons of Giovanni di Bicci

do not need your advice
and do not fear your threats.

But be careful.

You know that Cosimo has no tolerance
for those who cross him

and he has many friends.

Now it is you who threaten.

As for friends, I too have many
and I have never had to buy them.

You have no respect for anything.

Leave this place, go away.

This is no time
to insult a family.

They could at least wait
for the body to be taken away.

The notarles.

- May we open the coffer?
- Yes.

This is your father's
last will and testament.

"I did not find it necessary
to write a will

because for many years,
my sons and only heirs,

I have treated you as partners
in the governance of our bank.

What I wish to tell you is that I believe
that I have lived out the time

assigned to me by God and by nature
on the day of my birth

and I wish to tell you that I die happy
because I leave you rich, healthy

and prepared to live in Florence,

honored and comforted
by the friendship of many.

Nothing gives me more serenity
as I approach death

than the knowledge of never
having offended anyone,

and of having in fact aided those
in need to the best of my ability.

I exhort you to do the same, my sons.

If you wish to feel secure,
respect the laws

and do not take away
from any person his or her due.

This way you will never be in danger
or excite the envy of others,

because what makes others hate us
is not what we give to others,

but what we take from them.

You will have much more than those who,
while coveting the property of others,

end up losing their own

and even before they lose it
live in a state of perpetual anxiety.

In this fashion, I have succeeded,
in spite of enemies and disappointments,

not only in maintaining
my reputation in this city,

but in improving it.

If you follow in my footsteps

I am certain that you too
will maintain and improve your own.

lf, however, you should choose
to behave otherwise,

understand that your end
cannot be happier

than that of those
who have ruined themselves

and destroyed their families.

Sons, I bless you."

And now, what shall we do
about the bank?

With Lorenzo's consent,

we shall first hold
our father's funeral,

and then we shall summon to Florence

all the directors of the banks
that we have in Italy and Europe

to give us a full report.

You take care of it, llarione.

Where do the Florentines live?

You are not from London, I take it?

- No, in fact I come from York.
- Oh, from York.

I figured as much, because
everybody knows them here.

You have to go back.

Their bank is at the top of the street,
the first house around the corner.

- Is there no sign?
- No, they never wanted to put a sign up.

Thank you.

I wish to speak with
Mr. Ubertino De' Bardi.

Who are you?

Wadding, Thomas Wadding.

I am a merchant from York.

I am Ubertino.
What do you need, sir?

I would like to initiate
a trade with the city of Florence.

A merchant from Provence
who was traveling through York

sold me a bale of this silk.

I find it to be of good quality
and the pattern is superb.

Of course, this is Florentine silk.

I would like to buy more bales
and I need other merchandise as well.

I am very sorry,

but I cannot accept orders
at this time.

Giovanni di Bicci, head
of the Medici household, has died.

My partner, Mr. Toto Machiavelli,
is leaving for Florence tomorrow.

The heirs will give him his instructions.
You will have to await his return.

Otherwise you could go with him,

and deal directly with the Medici bank
in Florence.

Tomorrow?

Yes, I think I will take your advice.

Stop.

Where are you headed?

South, toward Avignon.

Be careful, the situation is changing.

The French have reconquered
the south of France

and they are moving north.

They are unstoppable at this point.

They have clashed with the army
of the Duke of Bedford,

defeated him and broken
the siege that we English

and the Burgundians had laid
in Orleans.

Joan the peasant won the battle.

What peasant?

A young peasant is now leading
the army of Charles Vll.

A girl? A woman?

Yes, yes, a girl. A 1 7-year-old
girl from Lorraine.

Her name is Joan of Arc
and she has won the battle.

A young peasant is more valiant
than our captains?

It appears so. She is leading
a small army.

The French say that Joan
was sent from God.

The Burgundians and the English
say she has a pact with the devil.

Whether with the help
of God or the devil,

one thing is certain: she has won.

Is it dangerous for an Englishman
to travel south?

You might as well throw yourself
to the wolves, sir.

Courage, Wadding, I will say that
you are a friend of mine from Florence.

No one will dare
touch a hair on your head.

We Florentines are respected
by everyone

because everyone needs us.

Let us go!

Berlingeri,

what are you doing here?

Most likely what you are doing,
we are going to Florence.

To receive instructions
from the new Medici heirs?

Precisely.

This is Gualtiero Gualtierotti,
manager of the Medici house in Bruges,

Galeazzo Borromei,
manager in Lyon,

and Betto Berlingeri, merchant of Avignon,
but he also trades with the Medici.

Let us go.

There is a water trough down there.

Good day.

You are a foreigner,

but you seem Florentine,
judging by your looks.

In fact, I am Florentine,
but I live in London now.

I left Florence several years ago.

In that case, when you see Florence
you will not recognize anything.

It is no longer what it was.
Everything has changed.

What used to be important,
our lives as they were,

no longer count.

There is no longer even the memory
of what used to make us proud.

Our wonderful countryside,
our vineyards, our orchards,

our crops, our famous olive groves,
none of this counts anymore.

Now only the city is important,
with its weavers,

leather workers, carpenters,
iron and bronze workers.

With its painters, sculptors,
architects.

We used to value the practice
of exchange,

of barter, commutatlo rel ad rem,

the exchange of things
for other things.

Now the only thing of value is
commutatlo denarlorum ad denarlos,

the exchange of money
with more money.

People used to value the best wine,
the best-tasting oil,

good bread, warm woolen cloth.

Now all people want
are works of artifice.

They covet things
they believe to be precious,

things they call riches.

Life these days

is governed by money,
money and usury.

At this rate, we are headed
straight for total madness.

This is the end, the end of the world.

Good-bye.

They laugh now.

They will soon see
what Florence has become.

- Here we are.
- It is beautiful.

It is so different from all
the other cities I have seen.

Let us press on. I want to be home
before nightfall.

Tomorrow I will show it to you.

I will show you my Florence.

Let us go.

First of all, I will show you
certain works

that were in the planning phases
the last time I left Florence.

That is the duomo.

It was conceived by Arnolfo di Cambio.

And the cupola,
designed by Brunelleschi,

will finally complete this lovely
church of Santa Maria del Fiore.

Why finally?

There was the desire to complete it.

But now you have succeeded.

Yes, Brunelleschi is doing it.

This is where commercial trade
is conducted.

Perhaps you are more interested
in this than in architecture.

Yes, you are right.

You are extraordinary artisans,

but everything about your city
interests me.

I cannot take my eyes off
of all these marvels.

What is the meaning of the red cloth
draped outside of that shop?

I have seen other similar ones.

They mark the small banks
called "drape shops"

where small loans are given
with interest against a pledge.

Does that mean that usury
is legal in Florence?

No, usury is illegal in Florence,
as in every Christian city.

But when an artisan needs
a small loan

of three, five, ten florins for his work,

he certainly cannot go
to one of the large banks.

So he comes to one of these
drape shops,

bringing a cape, a pair of boots,
a pot,

and he obtains the loan.

He buys the materials he needs
for his work,

and once his work is finished
and his customer pays him,

he returns to the bank with the sum
of the loan and claims his cape,

his boots, his pot,

leaving a small amount of interest,

goes home with his profit
and everyone is happy.

You are merely confirming
that usury is legal in Florence.

Absolutely not.

In any case, it is not Florence
that practices usury.

It is the drape shops.

And the republic fines them

for their sin.

If it is true that the city
forbids usury,

how can these shops
display the red cloth

to let people know
where money can be borrowed?

These shops display the red drape

as proof of having paid the 2,000 florin
fine for one year of usury.

The owners of these small banks
are public sinners

and this way everybody knows it.

They would be in big trouble
if the authorities were told

that the interest rate
they charge is too high.

This only proves that by resorting
to certain subtleties

and hypocritical behavior
any law can be eluded.

Come in, gentlemen,
come in if you are interested.

The gentleman is an English merchant.

You see, sir, in Florence wool is spun
and woven in the home as is usual,

but the carding and the dying
are done in the shops,

because they are strenuous and require
the work of able artisans

who are paid by the day.

But nothing is left to chance.

The carders, the winders,
the weavers and the dyers

do not work separately.

They all work together
according to established practice.

The art of treating wool is one of
the oldest practiced in Florence

and is much appreciated everywhere

and is executed with great mastery.

It also yields good profits.

Do not think it is easy, sir.

The wool is imported from far away.

The risks are many
and the expenses high.

Pirate attacks, constant wars
and the perils of the sea

make the journey very dangerous.

Thank you.

- Well done.
- Thank you.

Gentlemen.

Boy, what are you doing there?

Get back to work, right away.

What is that?

It is one of the many small altars
built during the plague of 1 348

so that people could attend mass
from the safety of their windows.

Before the plague, Florence had
more than 1 25,000 inhabitants.

After the plague,
there were only 30,000 left.

Now the population
is growing very quickly.

We must interrupt our tour
of the city, Wadding.

I have to go to the Medici bank.

They are expecting me
with my report.

"Debts owed to the brokers
for their merchandise

and for unfavorable exchange rates.

Commissions paid
to foreign correspondents,

debts owed for silk
given on consignment

to the Medici establishment in Bruges
for a royal license.

Balance: 361 pounds sterling."

Be more careful of the trade
that is not brokered by us,

and that the English merchants
conduct directly with Flanders.

Amsterdam and Bruges are closer
to England than Florence.

Besides, you know English merchants.

They often forget their debts.

Better to have no dealings with them.

Let us not forget the large debt

that the king of England had with
the Peruzzi family and never paid.

In London, one can never
feel safe doing business,

not even with the king himself.

We must acknowledge that there are
honest merchants there as well.

You are right, my brother.

I thank you.

Here, Cosimo, is the list of our credits
up to last month.

These are frescoes by Masaccio.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

I do not know what to say.

I am not knowledgeable in this area.

These paintings amaze me.

I don't think we have
anything similar to these.

No?

You too must know this.

Is it permitted here to depict
such sensual images in a church?

What I see here confuses me.

Yes, of course, these bodies are real,

but their flesh hides the spirit
which is within man.

During my journey
and my visit to this city

I have seen many things
that have astonished me.

Beautiful, magnificent,

but I never would have thought
that so much effort could be made,

and so much energy expended
and money spent

for things so beautiful, yes,
but useless.

Now I have to ask myself, though,

are they really useless?

You cannot tell me, can you?

Beautiful.

- Good-bye.
- Good-bye.

Thank you.

Welcome to Florence.

I am honored to have you as a guest.

Thank you.

As for your deal, I have already spoken
to Mr. Ilarione de' Bardi,

and you will be able to speak
to him about it.

I confess that I was hoping
to deal personally with you.

We will have an opportunity
to talk in the next few days.

Before you leave Florence,

I will be happy to invite you
to my villa at Careggi.

In the meantime, you will deal
with Mr. Ilarione de' Bardi,

It is he who manages our bank.

Thank you.

Oh, no, it is I who thank you.

Any business proposal should be weighed
with the utmost attention.

We have examined your proposal.

The merchandise will be sent
to our correspondents in London

and we accept the exchange of lead,
feathers and other goods,

except for the Scottish wool that
you offer in exchange for our silk.

But if you do not accept my wool,
how can I pay for your silk?

The Scottish wool is too lightweight.

The cloth required of our merchants
is dense and heavy.

So where can I purchase other silk
like the sample I showed Mr. Toto?

For that you should go directly to
the Silk Weavers' Guild of Por Santa Maria.

Come.

The Silk Weavers' Guild and the city
of Florence owe you a debt of gratitude,

because the sample you have brought us
has revealed a case of fraud.

That silk sample was a fraud?
What kind of fraud?

If you do not wish to tell me
it is of no consequence.

But if you are truly grateful,

allow me to purchase the fabric
I need on credit.

For that you will deal directly
with the Silk Weavers' Guild.

I told you, the Guild of Por Santa Maria
is very grateful to you.

Smell the odor It has when It burns.

What do you thlnk?

Smell.

This is silk that was
produced and woven

using the techniques
of our ancient tradition.

But there is no one in Florence
who executes this pattern anymore.

Manetto di Cristoforo,
this seems like his pattern.

But he died 30 years ago and the Guild
gave his daughter a dowry

and an annuity to his family,

to prevent the secret of his weaving
from leaving the city.

This silk is not 30 years old, it is
certainly not more than five years old.

And the color is unique.

This violet with these
brilliant highlights

was certainly obtained with the ancient
recipe devised by Ermanno Rucellai

using the lichen called archil
and treating it with urine.

There is no doubt that this
is what we are looking at.

But how could our secret
have escaped from the Guild?

Let us consult the register.

Here: Manetto di Cristoforo Carnesecchi,
died March 20, 1 399.

Thirty years ago, his daughter Domenica
was married, as I have told you,

and his son Federigo
is working as a brazier.

His son Anastasio worked with Francesco
di Mariano, silk weaver, until 1 41 0.

Where did he work after that?

It says that he enlisted in the war
against Livorno as a soldier

and never returned.

Under whom was he fighting?

Domenico Gianovi,
but Gianovi and his men

became mercenaries at the service
of the Pope's palaces in Avignon.

Today at the Medici house
I met Betto Berlingeri

who has a bank and other
commercial interests in Avignon.

We could ask him

if he knows anyone in that city
by the name of Carnesecchi.

If he confirms it, what shall we do?

We are all agreed
on what must be done.

Since Florence in 1 31 4 acquired
the art of silk weaving from Lucca,

we have had only one punishment

for those who betrayed
the secrets of our craft.

You, Guccio, know exactly
what you must do.

If you are all agreed...

Is there anyone who disagrees?

Good. Then, Guccio,
tell Filippo di Simone

to go to Avignon with Machiavelli,
Berlingeri and the others.

It will be done.

There is Avignon.

Filippo, down there
is the workshop you seek.

Find the traitor
and do what you must.

Help!

Come in.

I was afraid I would no longer
find you in Florence

and that you had already left
for the villa at Careggi.

I am leaving tomorrow.
What is it?

I must speak to you
about the war in Lucca.

At first the Florentines
were favorable

and now they complain about the taxes
needed to support the soldiers.

When Niccolo Fortebraccio,
with 300 knights and 300 foot soldiers,

conquered the castles of Ruoti
and Compito without bloodshed,

thereby taking a huge loot,

the Florentines, in their presumption,

deluded themselves that it would be
easy to gain even more in Lucca.

And now that Lucca is putting up
a strenuous defense, they complain.

They would like to win wars without
fighting or spending a single florin.

It is true.

I have brought a few intriguers

who have listened to the rumors
that are circulating in the city.

We no longer know what to say
to foreign merchants

who come to Florence
to trade with our bank

and find only great confusion.

Show them in, llarione.

Come in.

Tell us what you heard this morning.

We met some men who had escaped
from Seravezza di Pietrasanta di Lucca.

They told us some incredible stories.

When the Florentine army arrived
in their valley seven days ago,

all the citizens of Seravezza

went to greet the commissary
of Florence Astorre Gianni,

declaring themselves faithful
servants of the Florentine people.

Astorre pretended to accept
their offer of friendship at first,

and then, having occupied the passes
and other escape routes of the valley,

he had all the men
imprisoned in the church,

while the Florentine soldiers sacked
and destroyed the town,

with no mercy for sacred ground or for
the women, whether married or virgins.

The commissary of Florence,
like a deadly plague,

like a cruel beast of prey,
a horrible monster, roamed the city,

and he too raped, sacked,
beat, killed,

and ripped virgins
from their mothers' arms,

giving them to his soldiers
as the spoils of war.

It was an act of colossal stupidity

which will horribly damage
the Florentines.

The news has spread throughout
the city and people are indignant.

It is shameful, and perhaps the old
Niccolo da Uzzano was right

when he said that Florence would never
embark on a more unjust campaign,

nor more dangerous
nor more damaging

than this war against Lucca.

And that we should not attack
a Guelf city friendly to the Florentines

that welcomed the Guelfs
many times at its own peril

when they were forced
to flee their own territory.

It was the greed of Albizi
and his cohorts

that excited a desire for war
in the hearts of the Florentines.

And perhaps, when talk of war
first broke out,

many of us should have been
more cautious.

There are many who share this opinion,
if I may remind you,

because it is well known that the army
of Florence, without foreign aid,

may be able to conquer villages,

but alone is not capable
of winning any wars.

The army is made up of peasants
who are too lazy to work.

When they meet the enemy
on the battlefield

all they can do is hurl insults
and invective.

They wave their spears and swords
but they have little desire to fight.

Their only goal is to avoid danger
and pocket their reward.

This is always how it happens.

Each side yells to the other
not to try to be heroes

to avoid the risk that
once the battle is won

the war might end and they may have to
go back to working the land to live.

I would never have thought
that such cowards

could commit such unspeakable
acts as those of Seravezza.

It is important that all citizens
are made aware

that the shameful acts of Florence
against the citizens of Seravezza

must be redressed.

Astorre Gianni must be condemned.

We must give orders to search for
the goods stolen from Seravezza.

Whatever is found
is to be returned to the owners.

It is imperative that we nominate
some new commissaries

and not one of them should belong
to the Albizi faction.

And now take to the streets
and do what you do best.

These ideas must be spread
far and wide.

You are capable intriguers

and that is why, as always,
we trust you.

We must seize this opportunity

to humble the aristocrats
who are ruining Florence

by making money from war
rather than commerce.

I shall now return to the bank

and will soon visit you
at the villa in Careggi

to bring you, I hope, good news.

We never should have attacked
a Guelf city.

It is a city that has always been
a friend to the Florentines,

and many times, in the face of
great risk and danger for its citizens,

it came to the aid of Guelf Florentines
who were forced out of their own city.

I said that we should do this
if it was convenient for us.

They told us that it was convenient.

Instead, those cowardly
commissaries of the republic

went and robbed
the friends of Florence,

and raped their women

and this is very damaging to us.

They behaved like cowards, it is true.

But the greatest infamy
belongs to their leaders.

Captains and soldiers,
they must all be condemned.

The Florentine people
must understand once and for all

that noblemen like Albizi
are not to be trusted.

It is unfair for us to pay taxes
for this war

which they wage to serve
their interests and not ours.

What good do these wars do
for our trade?

The men who escaped
from the hands of Astorre Glannl

have spoken to the ten
of the war council.

They said that when they saw
the Florentine army advance toward them

with our banners held aloft

they went to meet them
not as enemies, but as old friends.

And full of trust, they put their fortunes
in the hands of the Florentine commissary

and they went forward unarmed,
as if they were going to a festival.

And what did Astorre Gianni do?

He imprisoned them in the church

from whence, powerless, they listened
to the cries of their women

as they were taken to slaughter.

They heard the flames
engulf their homes

and the animals in the barns
uttering frightful cries.

And before the ten
of the war council

they justly invoked
the ire of God upon us.

- It was shameful.
- Worse than barbarians.

How did the Council of Ten reply?

They sent couriers
to tell Astorre Gianni

to return to Florence and account
for his actions and those of his men.

- He should be flogged.
- Hear, hear.

- His nails should be ripped out.
- They should.

He should be skinned alive, impaled,

and left to dry in the sun.

Yes, but you know that Astorre Gianni
is a friend of the Albizis,

and he will certainly find
someone prepared to defend him.

If they absolve him,
it will bring us more shame.

But he will not get out of Florence
alive all the same.

And even if he hides
in the house of the Albizis,

God's hand will deliver him to us,

because the shame of Seravezza
must be washed with blood.

Then they must tell us why
we have to let them recruit us

for a war that is already lost.

You know nothing.

The crier told the peasants that the war
against Lucca has been won.

Those who fought in it
came home with wonderful loot.

My brother brought home a horse,
two oxen, a mirror,

carpentry tools and a pouch
full of silver coins.

He would have brought home
a woman, as well,

if she had not slipped away
from him like an eel.

Here there are those
who wish to fight this war.

If they are happy, we are all happy.

Ten more.
Let us see ten more.

Did you hear that?
Go, go to war.

- Do you see that they are going?
- Yes.

Will you say nothing
to your heroes

that are going to wage war
against the citizens of Lucca?

Come, come forward.

Do you wish to enlist?
- Yes.

- What is your name?
- Antonio de' Baldi.

- What town are you from?
- Cafaggiolo.

Five sols a day for 40 days.

Then you get to go home.

This is the rule, as you know.

Listen to the contract:

Each man who enlists in the army
promises fealty to his captains

and must realize that the soldier sells
his soul for a price to fight in the war

and is free to conduct a licentious
and wandering life under the captains

and obtain through violence earnings
otherwise obtained through work.

What if I do not want to come home
after 40 days?

Then you will renew your commitment
with your captain.

What about the loot?

There are the rules
of the Florentine army.

But the rules of the Pisans...

Yes, but you see,
the Pisans are the Pisans

and we are Florentines.

And Lucca is not far from Pisa.

After the 40 days, you will be free
to go wherever you like,

even to Pisa if they have a war
on their hands.

- Good day, Giovanni.
- Good day, sir.

Welcome to Careggi, llarione,
Cosimo is expecting you.

Lovely to see you, Countess.

I am here to speak to your husband
about business.

He is in the house playing
with his son Piero. Go on in.

I am glad to see that Giovanni's
health has been restored.

Thanks be to God.

Piero, go now.
We will continue tomorrow.

But father, we started this game
three days ago

and we still have not finished it.

Tomorrow, Piero.
Tomorrow I will beat you.

What news do you bring from Florence?

The people are not happy.

You see, Cosimo, ever since
Rinaldo degli Albizi

had himself nominated
commissary of the republic

and declared war on Lucca,

it seems that he wishes only
to sack the countryside

with the sole aim of filling
his estates with stock

and all other sorts of loot.

And since what he steals
is not enough,

he buys off at a very low price

the spoils which by rights
belong to his soldiers.

He has gone from commissary
to merchant.

The people are irritated.

This is all just slander

and the ten of the war council
did not believe it.

But it seems that the people
have very serious intentions

of not forgiving those who,
for the first time in history,

risk Florence's reputation
for this war without victory.

I too have doubts
regarding this war.

And the people know it.

But Rinaldo degli Albizi maintains

that most people are against the war
only because you are inciting them.

Luigi Guicciardini
and Francesco Soderini

say that you are the cause
of all of Florence's ills.

Tell my cousin,
Averardo de' Medici,

that if there are people in the city
who need a loan

not to refuse them at this time,
but to grant them.

If there are people
with promissory notes

who have not respected
the deadlines of their payments,

let us wait a while
before we demand the money.

And if there are friends whose
permanent inability to pay is evident,

let us meet with them and tell them
that their debts have been erased.

Regarding the losses suffered because
of this tolerance toward our debtors

you will keep track of them
in the secret register at the bank.

And remind Novelletto
to take, on my behalf,

a barrel of dessert wine
to old Uzzano,

head of the party of the noblemen.

My father Giovanni sent him
a barrel every year.

It is an old tradition

that I have never wanted
to break.

You know that old Uzzano
does not like you very much.

Yes, I know, but I also know
that he is a fair man.

This dessert wine is good,
I can taste that it is genuine.

In spite of his wine, Cosimo
will be the ruin of Florence, Uzzano.

Who instigated the people
to mistrust the noblemen, us,

who represent the oldest and most
genteel tradition in the city?

He is now urging the people
to blame Rinaldo degli Albizi

for the humiliation that Lucca
is inflicting on Florence.

Francesco Soderini,
we are well aware

that Cosimo helps and pays
those who are against us.

It is certain that he is fighting us
in this insidious fashion,

though publicly he declares himself
faithful to the republic.

He has gained a reputation
as the only man who can save Florence.

He loans money to private citizens,

pays the expenses of his friends
when they are taken to court,

buys books from men of letters,
all this to make a name for himself.

Why would any man spend money
so generously

if he did not aspire to become
the owner of the city?

Barbadoro is right.

Cosimo must be punished.

It is the only way to make
the Florentines understand

that he is not omnipotent.

Only then will they make a concerted
effort to defeat Lucca

and the city that is now divided
will once again be united.

Let us suppose that we succeed
in having him sentenced to death,

or banished...

something we can do
only with the favor of the Signoria.

Do you think, Rinaldo,
that we could defeat

all his friends as well,

who are many, and would remain
in the city with the sole goal

of ensuring Cosimo's return
at any cost?

His friends do not concern me.

Without him they would be swept away
like straw in the wind.

Do not let anger
cloud your reason.

What enrages you is the suspicion
that Cosimo wishes to become prince.

But if you harbor this suspicion,
others do not.

We must not forget that
during the rebellion of the Ciompi

the Medici were on their side,
on the side of the populace,

the same populace that today
complains and protests

against the taxes that pay
for the war against Lucca.

Some accuse you of wanting
the very thing you accuse him of.

And really,

what is Cosimo doing to justify
our suspicion of him?

He spends his money.
Show me the law

that forbids, censures
or condemns men

for their charity and magnanimity?

Show me the law that forbids men
to help those who are in need

or to encourage men of letters,
or purchase ancient texts

or lend money to princes or popes.

I see it was foolish of us
to come and ask for your help.

Even you, the head of the nobility
of Florence, are failing us.

Tell me, Rinaldo,

is it not true that your brother Luca
is against you and for the Medici?

Is it not true, Francesco Soderini,

that your brother Piero
has become an enemy to you

and a friend to your foes?

It is Cosimo who is endangering
the liberty of Florence.

I will say only,
may God protect this city

from any one citizen
becoming its prince.

Believe me, I do not know to which party
one should wish to belong.

All citizens, some out of malice,
some out of ignorance,

are prepared to sell out
our republic.

I have only this advice for you,
though I know you will not heed it.

Live more modestly

and be suspicious of those
who are enemies of freedom,

whether they are on our side,

or on the side of our adversaries.

By instituting this new public register

Florence has legalized theft.

They are obviously dipping into our
pockets to obtain the funds they need.

All this because they insisted
on waging war against Lucca.

If only we were winning this war.

I remember when we only
had to make a loan

when the republic needed
funds for a war.

We all paid what we could,
and at the end of the war

the republic repaid our loan
with interest.

Now we have to come
and tell that officer

all about our lives,
our private affairs,

and at the end, in exchange
for our money and our sacrifices

all we get is a scrap of paper.
- Next.

Giovanni di Antonio Giugni.

Having calculated the value
of your possessions and your land

and deducted the sum of 200 florins
for each member of your family,

your excess earnings
amount to 400 florins.

The law establishes that each man
shall pay four florins

for each male in the household.

In your household,
there are two men.

The total is eight gold florins
and six sols.

But that is too much,
I do not know how I will afford it.

Next.

My master sends you
his most obsequious respects.

As established by law,

I bring you a report of all the property
of Cosimo de' Medici:

His assets, his real estate,

his shares of the bank,

the list of the sums he has invested
in his trade and commerce,

at home and abroad.

The total value
of his homes and villas,

in Florence, in Careggi,
in Cafaggiolo,

in Trebbio, in Pisa and in Milan:

59,7 41 florins.

Four slaves of the estimated value
of 30 gold florins each.

Value of the bank shares:

8,569 florins.

Funds invested in various trades,
at home and abroad:

54,238 florins.

I have calculated a total
of 1 22,669 florins.

- Is that correct?
- Yes.

Go on.

Deductions: five percent for
the maintenance of the homes and villas:

2,985 florins.

For the maintenance
of 1 20 pairs of oxen:

a deduction of 1,7 1 4 florins.

Thirty mouths to feed,

calculating a deduction
for each mouth of 200 florins,

makes 6,000 florins.

That is all.

What are you saying?

First of all, I would like to know
who these 30 family members are

that Mr. Cosimo
says he has to feed.

His wife, his children, his employees

and his servants, who live with him
as part of his family.

It has already been established
that they cannot be counted.

Only actual family members
can be counted for the deduction,

and as everyone in Florence knows,

and in Venice, and even in Milan,

the Medici family has
1 4 mouths to feed,

which at 200 florins per mouth,

make for a deduction
of only 2,800 florins.

Therefore,
the total wealth is calculated

at exactly 1 22,669 florins.

The total of the deductions
is 7,499 florins.

Therefore, the excess

is 1 1 5,1 70 florins

and the tax on that is of 57 6 florins.

Do you agree?
- Yes, all right, all right.

And I hope your master,
Cosimo de' Medici, also agrees.

He will, he will.

Next.

Old Uzzano has died,
of natural causes, they say.

They are going to his funeral.

The friends of the Albizi will go
on a rampage. They will be hard to stop.

Uzzano's death marks
the death of foolish caution.

"For all of Italy's towns

are full of tyrants,

and a Marcellus every churl is deemed,
who comes to play a party henchman's role.

Florence,

my Florence,

well mayst thou be satisfied with this
digression, which concerns thee not,

thanks to thy people,
who look out for that!

Many at heart are just,

but slow to shoot,
lest to the bow

uncounselled they should come;

but thy folk on their lips
alone are just!"

Let me see...

Here we are.

"And if thou well recall
and face the light,

thou wilt see thy own likeness
to a suffering woman,

who on a feather bed
can find no rest,

but seeks, by tossing,
to relieve her pain."

These verses

which I have just read
should require no explanation.

When Dante Alighieri

speaks of that suffering woman
who can find no rest

and who tosses in her bed
due to the pain that torments her,

the Florentines know that
he speaks of Florence.

Dante wrote these words more than
a hundred years ago, like a prophet.

They are valid also today.

He wrote them as if
he were living with us,

as if he had seen
the people divided,

weakened, tormented,

by those who profess
to love this city,

and then with money and guile
rob her of her love for her bygone glory.

That suffering woman is Florence

who cries because she has not
been able to defeat Lucca.

Dante Alighieri did not foresee
who would cause this desecration,

but the Florentines know well
who he is.

Your words, Francesco Filelfo,
ring true to the Florentines.

Mr. Soderini,

I speak them so that they
may be heard by all Florentines.

Filelfo, you well deserve the role
that Florence has assigned you

and the title you have been given.

The new gonfalonier,
Bernardo Guadagni,

is expecting us.

Luck is on our side,

since fate saw fit to select
a gonfalonier friendly to the Albizi.

Luck, of course,

but also your wise foresight.

It was you who paid Bernardo Guadagni's
debt to the public register

so he would not be denied
the chance of becoming gonfalonier.

Let us go.

Come in.

- We must speak to you.
- Please come in.

I assure you that I shall listen
with a benevolent demeanor,

since I know how you and your
noble friends love justice.

It is precisely of justice that I wish
to speak to you, great Gonfalonier.

If you do not defend it,
Florence will be lost.

For the sake of justice,
we should eradicate from our city

the evil seed of discord

that an immoderately rich
and ambitious man

is secretly sowing
among the citizens,

thereby weakening their resolve
to fight our enemy.

Everyone knows that since the death
of his father, Giovanni di Bicci,

Cosimo has used all his
diabolical cunning

to prepare the people to celebrate him
in the near future as prince of the city.

Today an undeniable fact
is added to his perfidy.

Why would he have Michelozzo build him
such a huge palace in the via Larga

if not for the sake
of having a princely abode

once he has become
the master of Florence?

The Florentines have always rejected
all excesses of luxury.

Remember that when Niccolo Acciaioli,
great steward of Naples,

came to Florence to ask for a loan
and help in the name of King Louis,

he held lavish court
at the Santi Apostoli for 1 5 days,

spending 1 50 gold florins a day,

thinking that this would astonish
his fellow citizens.

But the Florentines, disgusted,
rejected this useless waste

and Acciaioli was unable to obtain
any kind of help from our Signoria.

You are asking me to eliminate him.

Have you considered how the people
would react to such an act?

Do not fear, Bernardo.

His friends will not be quick enough
to come to his aid bearing arms,

and the populace,
that seems to worship him now,

will not hesitate to turn its back on him

once it hears the grave accusation
made against him by the republic.

As for his riches, once he is
in your power and that of your friends,

they will all be yours,
in the coffers of the republic,

and you, Gonfalonier, will be glorified
for having brought unity to Florence.

Florence will no longer fear other cities,
Lucca will tremble and surrender,

and that evil snake

will never again meddle
in the affairs of our city.

Ever since I was elected,

I have considered it
a duty of the Signoria

to cultivate the unity
and strength of the city.

And now I deem that the moment
has arrived to act without fear

and do whatever is necessary
to further this goal,

which has always been the greatest
source of pride for any gonfalonier,

in the name of our city.

We are grateful to you.

Florence, all of Florence
is grateful to you.

Listen to your brother Lorenzo.
Listen to llarione.

Listen to them,
if you will not listen to me.

The Signoria has summoned me,

and as a citizen,
my duty is to obey.

Do you think that there is something
of which they could accuse me?

No, you are a good man,
but you have many enemies in Florence.

I do not fear them.

Cosimo, I know that
you will not listen to any of us,

but I must insist on telling you
that it would be madness to go there,

that you could lose your family.

I cannot believe
that a man with your acumen

does not understand
what is happening in the city.

You wrong me if you think me
deaf and blind, llarione.

I am like a chess player
who will not forfeit the game.

I wish to make all my moves
right up to the end.

I warn you, the end
could be very close.

Friends of the gonfalonier
have spoken to me.

They have warned me in his name
that you are in grave danger.

You will thank them on my behalf.

- This is madness.
- And if it is?

Do what we had decided.

Our children and the servants
are waiting in Cafaggiolo.

They would worry if they did not see
at least you.

Allow me to wait for your return.

No, leave immediately

and wait for me at the villa.

I am coming with you.

I said that I would appear before
the Signoria alone.

These are the accusations
brought against you by the Signoria:

You, with your money,
paid the debts of your friends

so that they would become
enemies of the republic.

You loaned money
to cities and to princes

without considering the alliances
and interests of our republic.

You purchased a large parcel of land
in via Larga,

and started construction
on a palace

which is absolute proof
of your ambition.

The republic must judge you fairly.

Consequently, and in order
to be free to do so

without allowing you to bring
false testimony against your accusations,

or influences bought with gold,

we are taking you prisoner.

Let the people's captain in.

You have refused to eat
for three days.

There is no reason to do so.

You know very well the reason,
Malavolti. I must wait.

Without food you will not be able
to wait much longer.

But do not fear, I am watching over
your life, it belongs to the republic.

I am watching over my life,
for it belongs to me.

You will not lose your life.

You have many friends in the palace
of the Signoria, and outside of it.

They would never use me
to poison you.

They know I do not want
anyone's blood on my hands,

especially not yours,
who never offended me.

Keep your spirits up.

In any case,
to assuage your fear,

I have called a friend of yours
to eat with us.

Come in, sir.

Farganaccio.

You must eat. This food
was made by my lady.

If she has not resolved to kill me,

she certainly will not kill you.

May I come in,
magnificent Gonfalonier?

Come in, Farganaccio. What is it?

I have come to bring you this.

What is it?

You will see for yourself.

Who sent it?

Mr. Cosimo de' Medici,
with his respects.

You will now go into exile
for 1 0 years,

as decreed by the Signoria.

I will give you an escort
of a company of soldiers

who will accompany you
to the borders of Florence

because the Albizi
do not agree with my decision.

They were hoping
for a different solution:

Your death.

Rinaldo has always been
excessive in his hatred.

The republic, fortunately, is in the hands
of a much more prudent man.

During your exile, you are well aware
that from Padua,

which is in the territory of Venice,

you can continue
to conduct your business.

Yes, but my yearning for my city
will always be great,

and I will always be a poor exile.

The Most Serene Doge.

Mr. Cosimo de' Medici,

welcome to our republic.

I thank you.

I could not be a guest of Padua
without making a trip to Venice

to pay my respects
to the Most Serene Republic

and to you, Francesco Foscari,
its Doge.

I would like to ask you
a few things about Italy,

as your opinion is known
for its acumen and wisdom.

We Venetians are merchants
like you Florentines

and, as you know,
the practice of trade

depends on maintaining good relations
with all the other states in the world.

Therefore, if we have allied ourselves
with Florence against Milan

it is because we want
the Po Valley

to offer free passage
to everyone's merchandise.

I agree with you, but my opinion
is that of an exile

and I do not know
how useful it will be to you.

Yes, but your family has a bank
in every European city that matters,

and in Venice your business is
as important as it is in Florence.

Yes, of course.

I wish to give you some news.

The ambassador of the Most Serene
Republic in Rome

sent us a courier

to inform us that the situation
in the city is serious, and that...

Pope Eugene IV
may be forced to leave Rome

under pressure from the Colonna family.
- You already knew this?

Yes, from a courier
from my bank in Rome.

And I can also tell you
that the republic of Florence

will be honored to give asylum
to the Pope.

I must admit that you are
well informed for an exile.

I know that the Pope's presence
in Florence would please you.

I believe the Pope
is your bank's biggest client.

It is true. Eugene IV honors
his Venetian origins.

It seems that now
his main concern

is to bring about a reconciliation
and unification of the Churches,

that of the East
with that of the West.

Venice too, in spite of
its current difficulties with the Turks

and with the Duchy of Milan,

will do what it can
to help its Pope.

To what difficulties do you refer?

We spent vast amounts
in the Italian wars against Milan

and on our alliance with Florence.

More than four million gold ducats.

Four million is a large sum.

From what I hear, however,
today Venice employs

3,500 silk merchants,

1 6,000 wool merchants
and 1 7,000 sailors.

You have 3,000 cargo boats.

I know that more
than 1,000 gentlemen

can count on an annual income
between 700 and 4,000 gold ducats

and that every year, your mint
coins at least a million gold ducats,

200,000 silver ducats
and 800,000 copper sols.

Furthermore, your wise decision
to sign a truce with the Turks,

paying a toll for the free transit
of your merchandise,

as well as avoiding
the nuisance of a war,

also guarantees years
of prosperous commerce for you.

I see that you are well able to estimate
the Venetian republic's riches.

One thing does reassure me,

and that is that you tell me this
to comfort me, as would a friend.

I am a friend to Venice,
I have proven myself many times,

and I shall do so again.

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