Storia delle repubbliche italiane dei secoli di mezzo, v. 14 (of 16)

A sweeping narrative of Italy’s medieval city‑states, this volume explores the rise and fall of the republics that shaped the peninsula’s politics, culture, and warfare. Rendered from its original French, the work blends meticulous scholarship with vivid storytelling, inviting listeners to travel from the bustling markets of Florence to the fortified canals of Venice. As part of a comprehensive sixteen‑volume series, it offers a deep dive into the forces that defined an era.

The opening chapter plunges into Venice’s desperate winter of 1509‑1510, when defeat at Vailate forced the Senate to consider abandoning its mainland holdings entirely. Faced with internal dissent, foreign invasions, and papal pressures, the republic’s leaders wrestle with choices that could either preserve their liberty or seal their downfall. Through vivid descriptions of negotiations, battlefield maneuvers, and the stark dilemmas of loyalty, the narrative captures the tense atmosphere of a city on the brink, setting the stage for the dramatic reshaping of Italian politics.