Golden Ambrosian Republic

Coordinates: 45°28′N 09°10′E / 45.467°N 9.167°E / 45.467; 9.167
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Golden Ambrosian Republic
Aurea Republega Ambrosiana (Lombard)
Aurea Repubblica Ambrosiana (Italian)
1447–1450
Flag of Ambrosian Republic
Flag
seal of Ambrosian Republic
seal
Roman Catholicism
GovernmentDirectorial republic
Captains and Defenders of the Freedom 
• 1447–1450
Mains of the 12 members:
LegislatureParish Assembly
Historical eraLate Middle Ages
• Established
1447
• Disestablished
1450
CurrencySoldo
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Duchy of Milan
Duchy of Milan

The Golden Ambrosian Republic (

Francesco Sforza they held out against the forces of the Republic of Venice
, but after a betrayal Sforza defected and captured Milan to become Duke himself, abolishing the Republic.

History

Foundation

When Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan, died on 13 August 1447, the city was thrown into confusion by his unexpected demise and the speed with which claimants to his title acted. Filippo Maria had no heir through male bloodlines and therefore a succession crisis occurred.

The claimants to the throne of the Duchy of Milan were:

The two most prominent candidates supported by the Milanese population were however Alfonso of Aragon and Francesco Sforza.

The

Captains and Defenders of Liberty," to frame laws, elected regularly and later reduced to twelve.[8][9]

Early existence

Francesco Sforza

The idea of a radical renewal of liberties in the cities did not suit the powers of North Italy, who had been in league against Visconti territorial gains in a decades-long series of wars interrupted by truces, most recently the Peace of Cremona of 20 November 1441. Venice was already at war with Milan, and the Republic was struck a sore blow as previously Milanese cities including Pavia, Lodi, and Piacenza defected or declared their independence.[10] Besides the loss of support and defensive locations, the drop in revenue also caused a brief financial crisis resolved by the imposition of new taxes.[11] Venice, now occupying Lodi and Piacenza, refused to listen to Milan's pleas for peace. Milan turned to Francesco Sforza, the greatest military leader of his day, offering him the position of Captain-General and the city of Brescia. Although he wished – and indeed, planned – to succeed his father-in-law as Duke, he decided to accept the position and promised rewards.[12] A draft was declared in Milan on 13 September.[12]

Sforza quickly captured independent

Po River, situated where it could block the Venetians from coming to the relief of the beleaguered Piacenza by water. Returning to the siege of Piacenza and finding the city not likely to crumble by starvation, he resolved to storm it. Employing cannon in an almost unheard-of manner, he opened up a breach in Piacenza's walls and sacked the city.[14] The news of Piacenza's sack was greeted by three days' rejoicing in Milan. Meanwhile, Milanese Captain Bartolomeo Colleoni captured Tortona which had previously proclaimed Sforza as its lord, stealing it from the now dangerously powerful Sforza. This caused even greater rejoicing, for the Milanese feared Sforza.[15]

In January 1448, the terms of the previous Captains and Defenders ended, and in the following election the

Caravaggio were besieged, hoping that their fall would end the war.[18]

Ultimately both Sforza's Milanese forces and the Venetian army under Micheletto Attendolo met at Caravaggio. The siege remained unbroken throughout July and until 15 September, when Attendolo launched a surprise-attack on Sforza, so rapidly that he did not even have time to buckle on his armor. What might have been a rout Sforza turned into a great victory as he set the example for his troops on the front line and utterly defeated the Venetian army, capturing three generals.[19][20] Caravaggio fell, and despite rejoicing in Milan, little gratitude was given by the government to the architect of the victory, and the Republic sent him on to Lodi, determined to end the war.[19] It was here, when a satisfactory end to the war seemed imminent, that the Milanese took a fatal misstep.

Sforza's defection and the Guelph–Ghibelline feud

In Milan, Sforza's enemies worked continually against him. The Piccinino brothers, sons of famous condottiere Niccolò Piccinino and former Captains-General before being replaced as supreme military commanders by Sforza, convinced the suspicious Republic to work secretly against Sforza.[19] Rumors were spread among the troops about not receiving payment at the end of the war if they remained with Sforza, and Sforza himself was ordered back from the siege of Brescia, the city promised to him, while the citizens were secretly told to hold out until peace, already in the works, was signed.[21] Sforza learned of this treachery and defected to the Venetians for 13,000 ducats and the Duchy of Milan in return for the Ghiaradadda, Crema, and his service. The treaty was signed on 18 October 1448,[22][23] and Sforza now undid everything he had labored for over the past year. With such a powerful man on the Venetian side, it was the beginning of the end of the Golden Ambrosian Republic. Public opinion, despite the government's position, was generally pro-Sforza, and only an impassioned, patriotic speech from Giorgio Lampugnano subdued it at last. The Piccinino brothers became Captains-General once more, but were not as capable as the brilliant Sforza.[24]

Vitaliano Borromeo, escaped to safety in Arona, Piedmont and elsewhere.[28] The heads of the slain were placed upon pikes in the Piazza of the Broletto.[25]

Meanwhile, the other claimants to the Duchy began to see that Sforza would be a greater threat than the Ambrosian Republic. Louis of Savoy invaded in spring of 1449, and Sforza sent Colleoni (who had earlier defected) to defeat him at Borgomanero, leading to an uneasy peace.[29] Sforza also faced treachery within his own ranks, added with the fact that he rashly accepted the defection of his great enemies the Piccinino brothers, who, upon gaining access to Monza, promptly returned it to Milan.[30]

Lampugnano, unfortunately for the Guelphs, was considered a martyr for the Republic. This was made worse by the fact that the Guelphs in leadership refused to run elections in April, until in June they were forced by the populace.[31] Ghibelline families took the reins of Milan in this election, and the Guelphs were defeated.[31] However, the reprisals against the Guelphs, including the imprisonment of Appiani and Ossona who had been blamed (probably unjustly) for the massacre, led the populace to violently depose the Ghibellines and reinstall the extremist Guelphs.[32] Gonzaga, however, whose friend Galeotto Toscano was killed in the uprising, departed Milan for Crema, hoping to make peace with Sforza.[32]

End of the Republic

Sforza was coming close to Milan itself in his conquests, and decided that since it was too powerful to be taken by force, he would surround it and starve the populace into surrender. With the loss of the outer cities by conquest or defection, Milan experienced famine.[33] Gonzaga offered Crema to Sforza, hoping he would be tempted to take it himself and betray the Venetians. But Sforza remained staunch, and instead offered Gonzaga the city of Tortona if he would abandon Crema. This was accepted, and Crema, without support, quickly capitulated.[34]

A flag made for the Golden Ambrosian Republic, showing St. Ambrose surrounded by the virtues.

To the Milanese, Sforza's victory now seemed certain, but he found his Venetian allies beginning to have doubts about their Captain-General. They decided that Milan run by Sforza would be far more dangerous and detrimental to their interests than if it were run by a weak Republic. The last of the territory claimed by Venice, namely Crema, was now captured. Venice went behind Sforza's back and signed a peace treaty with the Republic. They conceded conquered land to the Republic in return for peace, and let Sforza keep only Pavia, Cremona, Piacenza, and a narrow strip of land.[35] They ordered him to accept the treaty or find Venice his enemy.[35] The Republic rejoiced, and the citizens were confident the war was over and their future was secured.[36] But Sforza could not accept the conditions of the treaty, and decided to persevere in the struggle. He was already very powerful, and moreover was close to Milan. The Milanese in their assurance of peace had nearly exhausted their resources to plant crops and return to the old way of life.[37] He was confident that Milan would quickly fall to him. After reinforcing his peace with Savoy with the concession of a few unimportant castles, he defeated the Venetians under his rival Sigismondo Malatesta and continued the siege.[37]

Sforza chose for his headquarters the Borromeo castle of

Duke of Milan.[42] He secured his popular support by letting many office-holders keep their positions and being very lenient in his reprisals. The leaders were briefly imprisoned or relegated to their estates, but were generally pardoned soon after, even knighting some of his old enemies at his coronation.[43] Ghibellines were allowed to return in safety and were restored to favor.[44]

Aftermath

Further information: Milanese War of Succession

Sforza remained at war with Venice for years after the downfall of the Ambrosian Republic. Venice allied herself with the

peace of Lodi in 1454 with the House of Sforza established as the rulers of the Duchy of Milan[45]

During its three-year existence, the Ambrosian Republic won two major battles. The

Venetians at the Battle of Caravaggio in 1448. It was those victories that assured the Republic all the territory of the former Duchy
.

Of the Republic, Niccolò Machiavelli remarked

In order to create a Republic in Milan it would be necessary to exterminate all the nobility. . . . For there are, among the nobles, so many exalted personages that the laws do not suffice to repress them, and they must needs be kept under by a living voice and a royal power.

— Machiavelli, Discorso sulla riforma dello stato di Firenze[47]

First capitani e defensori

St. Ambrose as depicted on a tomb.

The leading magistrates of the city, the capitani e defensori ("Captains and Defenders"), were in charge of the government, elected every six months beginning in August 1447.[8] They originally numbered twenty-four but were eventually reduced to twelve.[48]

Porta Orientale

  • Giovanni Marliani
  • Giovanni Moresini
  • Rolando or Oldrado Lampugnani
  • Giovanni Olgiati

Porta Romana

  • Bartolomeo Visconti
  • Giovanni Omodei
  • Giacomello Trivulzio
  • Antonio Visconti, perhaps Antonio Trivulzi

Porta Ticinese

  • Giorgio Piatti
  • Giovanni Crotti
  • Ambrogio Lomazzo
  • Giovanni Caimi

Porta Vercellina

  • Vitaliano Borromeo
  • Guarnerio Castiglione
  • Giacomo Coiro
  • Simone Meraviglia

Porta Comasina

  • Giacomo Dugnani
  • Giorgio Lampugnani
  • Luisino or Luigi Bossi
  • Francesco Casati

Porta Nuova

  • Bartolomeo Morone
  • Pietro Cotta
  • Dionigi Biglia
  • Galeotto Toscani[48]

Notes

  1. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, pp. 36–37
  2. ^ Bueno de Mesquita (1941), p. 409
  3. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, pp. 35–36
  4. ^ a b c Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 36
  5. ^ a b Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 37
  6. ^ Tolfo & Colussi 2008, entry for 14 August 1447
  7. ^ Flag Recorded in: A. Ziggioto, "Della bandiera crociata", 1997 – "La provincia di Milano e i suoi Comuni. Gli stemmi e la storia, 2003"
  8. ^ a b Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 38
  9. ^ Tolfo & Colussi 2008, entry for 18 August 1447
  10. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, pp. 38–39
  11. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 39
  12. ^ a b Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 40
  13. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 41
  14. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 42
  15. ^ a b c Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 43
  16. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 44
  17. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, pp. 44–45
  18. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 45
  19. ^ a b c Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 46
  20. ^ Tolfo & Colussi 2008, entry for 15 September 1448
  21. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, pp. 46–47
  22. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 47
  23. ^ Tolfo & Colussi 2008, entry for 18 October 1448
  24. ^ Tolfo & Colussi 2008, entry for 14 November 1448
  25. ^ a b c Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 49
  26. ^ a b Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 50
  27. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 51
  28. ^ Tolfo & Colussi 2008, entry for January, 1449
  29. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, pp. 53–54
  30. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, pp. 54–55
  31. ^ a b Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 52
  32. ^ a b Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 53
  33. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 55
  34. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, pp. 55–56
  35. ^ a b Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 56
  36. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, pp. 56–57
  37. ^ a b Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 57
  38. ^ (in Italian) Comune di Peschiera Borromeo (Community website. See under Il Castello at lower right, then L'interno del Castello). Retrieved 11 June 2008.
  39. ^ Litta, Count Pompeo. Famous Italian families, Stampa di Milano.
  40. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 58
  41. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 59
  42. ^ a b Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 60
  43. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 65
  44. ^ Ady & Armstrong 1907, p. 65, note Ghibelline families mentioned
  45. ^ Veneto.org Venice Republic: Renaissance Archived 10 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 June 2008.
  46. A. Mary F. Robinson
    : 'The Claim of the House of Orleans to Milan' in The English Historical Review, Vol. 3, No. 9 pp. 34-62
  47. ^ «a voler creare una republica in Milano, dove è grande inequalità di cittadini, bisognerebbe spegnere tutta quella nobiltà e ridurla a una equalità con gli altri: perché tra di loro sono tanto estraordinarii, che le leggi non-bastano a reprimerli, ma vi bisogna una voce viva ed una potestà regia che li reprima.» discursus_florentinarum_rerum
  48. ^ a b (in Italian) Scipione Barbò Soncino, Summario delle Vite degli Sforzeschi Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 June 2008.

References

45°28′N 09°10′E / 45.467°N 9.167°E / 45.467; 9.167

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