BESIEGE OF FLORENCE 1529-1530

Besiege of Florence

Rather than describe the political relation among the states and the families during that age, I'll go directly to the point. The Spanish King didn't help the pope Clemente VII during the siege of Rome and he had to give back the favour and help him to give the control of the city and the power to Medici's in Florence .

For this reason the Spanish troops there in front of Florence walls in October 14, 1529. The intention was not to destroy the city but just to besiege the city till defender surrender. The best allied was Malatesta IV Baglioni, commander of the city troops (general commander), a traitor which had more interest to get back the power in "its" city, Perugia , than really defend Florence .

His action arrive to the total traiment during the Gavinana batle. The hardest battle of the entire besiege.

Florentine Troops under the commander of Francesco Ferrucci were beaten. Francesco Ferrucci was brought in front of the Spanish' and Fabrizio Maramaldo which token its sword, he killed Ferrucci The story recount about the last words pronounced by Ferrucci: "Vile, you're killing a dead man". In fact Maramaldo breached all the rules doing that. No way to kill a prisoner unable to defend its self and Maramaldo and Ferrucci were both knights!

The real history about this fact is controverse. Some texts tells about old hates between Maramaldo and Ferrucci and this fact is probably a revenge. Varchi speaks about some abuse made by Ferrucci against Maramaldo defender of Volterra.

At the end of the story we are sure about some unquestionable facts. The Ferrucci bravery in the war field against the Spanish invaders. He was ready and he gave its life for that. The besiege of Florence , ended because of Malatesta which didn't give any order to fight the Spanish troops.

Even Michelangelo was part of the war. He built some of the city defence but he really escaped from Florence before the war. He came back in secret during the besiege and he was very closed to be killed by the Florentine people and authority.

The Italian anthem and words dedicated to the courage of Francesco Ferrucci