DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0188
152 FRANCESCO MEETS LOUIS XII
more alarming. The Pope’s son Caesar Borgia had
been received with great favour at the French court
and created Duke of Valentinois, and his marriage to
Charlotte d’Albret took place at Blois on the 16th of
May. Both Francesco Gonzaga and Duke Ercole
began to tremble for their own safety, and instead of
taking up arms for the Moro, felt that the time had
come to defend their own States.
Meanwhile Isabella watched the course of affairs
with growing anxiety. She was sincerely grieved at
the downfall of Lodovico, who had been her true and
loyal friend, and thought with concern of her sister’s
helpless children, whom she saw driven into exile.
But she was none the less eager to conciliate the
victor and save her husband and his State from ruin.
She sent gifts of falcons and trout to Louis XII.
when he was at Milan, a couple of dogs to Count
Egmont, and a horse to the Marechai de Giers, and
invited Monseigneur de Ligny, who was a connec-
tion of her family, to visit Mantua. And when, in
November 1499, she heard that Cardinal d’Amboise
expressed a great wish to have a devotional picture by
Mantegna, whom he held to be the first painter in
the world, she promptly ordered Messer Andrea to
paint a St. John the Baptist with the portrait and
arms of the French prelate, and sent the picture to
the Cardinal, who declared that he valued it more
than a gift of 2000 ducats.1 Both Duke Ercole and
the Marquis of Mantua hastened to meet the French
king when he reached Pavia, and accompanied him
on his triumphal entry into Milan. Young Baldassarre
Castiglione, the future writer of the Cortigiano, who
1 Pelissier, Les Amies de Ludovic Sforza (Revue historique,
1891).
more alarming. The Pope’s son Caesar Borgia had
been received with great favour at the French court
and created Duke of Valentinois, and his marriage to
Charlotte d’Albret took place at Blois on the 16th of
May. Both Francesco Gonzaga and Duke Ercole
began to tremble for their own safety, and instead of
taking up arms for the Moro, felt that the time had
come to defend their own States.
Meanwhile Isabella watched the course of affairs
with growing anxiety. She was sincerely grieved at
the downfall of Lodovico, who had been her true and
loyal friend, and thought with concern of her sister’s
helpless children, whom she saw driven into exile.
But she was none the less eager to conciliate the
victor and save her husband and his State from ruin.
She sent gifts of falcons and trout to Louis XII.
when he was at Milan, a couple of dogs to Count
Egmont, and a horse to the Marechai de Giers, and
invited Monseigneur de Ligny, who was a connec-
tion of her family, to visit Mantua. And when, in
November 1499, she heard that Cardinal d’Amboise
expressed a great wish to have a devotional picture by
Mantegna, whom he held to be the first painter in
the world, she promptly ordered Messer Andrea to
paint a St. John the Baptist with the portrait and
arms of the French prelate, and sent the picture to
the Cardinal, who declared that he valued it more
than a gift of 2000 ducats.1 Both Duke Ercole and
the Marquis of Mantua hastened to meet the French
king when he reached Pavia, and accompanied him
on his triumphal entry into Milan. Young Baldassarre
Castiglione, the future writer of the Cortigiano, who
1 Pelissier, Les Amies de Ludovic Sforza (Revue historique,
1891).