IN our efforts to realise the leading events of our own history we experience no small difficulty from the fact that so much of the face of England has completely altered its outward appearance under the stress of modern development, so that we find it particularly hard to picture to ourselves their original setting. Our overgrown yet ever-spreading capital owns scarcely a feature to-day in common with the London of the Tudors or Plantagenets; the relentless pushing of industrial enterprise has turned whole shires from green to black, from verdant countryside to smoke-grimed scenes of commerce. It is therefore well-nigh impossible for us in many cases to conjure up the old-world conditions of Merrie England. But in writing of Italian annals we are confronted by no such problem: altered to a certain extent no doubt is the present aspect of Italy, yet in Florence, Venice, Siena and most of her cities we still possess the empty stages of the pageants and deeds of long ago, all ready prepared for us to people with the famous figures of the historic past...

Published in 1908, this vintage text by Herbert Millingchamp Vaughan (1870-1948), provides a fascinating insight into the realm of the Medici Popes in Italy. Featuring the original illustrations, this edition is a must-have for any historian or enthusiast for Renaissance history. Contents include: Pedigree of the Senior Branch of the House of Medici; 1 Childhood and Youth in Florence; 2 Misfortune and Exile; 3 Rise to Power Under Julius II; 4 Return of the Medici to Florence; 5 Leo Decimus Pontifex Maximus; 6 Medicean Ambition; 7 The Court of Leo X; 8 Leo’s Hunting; 9 Leo X and Raphael; 10 Conspiracy of the Cardinals; 11 Death and Character of Leo X; 12 Clemens Septimus Pontifex Maximus; 13 The Sack of Rome; 14 Last Years of Clement VII; 15 The Later Medici Popes; Appendix. We are republishing this early work in a high quality, modern and affordable edition, complete with a specially written concise biography.

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1908 Edition.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.