DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42863#0214
CHAPTER XXXII
1520—1522
The Court of Mantua under Federico—Visit of the Marquis to
Venice—His mistress, Isabella Boschetti—The Marchesa goes
to Loreto—The Duke of Urbino forced to leave Mantua—
Federico leads the papal troops against the French—Capture
of Milan—Retreat of Lautrec—Death of Pope Leo X.—
Cardinal Gonzaga aspires to the Papacy—Election of Adrian
VI.—Francesco Maria recovers Urbino—Francesco Sforza
returns to Milan—Defence of Pavia by Federico, and defeat
of the French — Isabella’s new apartments in the Corte
Vecchia—The Paradiso.
The accession of a young and pleasure-loving prince
to the throne produced a marked change in the court
of Mantua, and the carnival of 1520 was celebrated
with revived gaiety and splendour. On this occasion
the chief feature of the festivities was the performance
of Cardinal Bibbiena’s “ Calandria ” under the direction
of Castiglione,1 who had superintended the first re-
presentation at Urbino seven years before, and who
did not leave for Rome until July. In May, the
young Marquis and his brother Ercole accompanied
the Duke and the two Duchesses of Urbino to
Venice for the Ascension fetes, and were received
with great courtesy by the Doge and Senate.
Federico stayed with his ambassador in Casa Foscari,
and was entertained at a series of splendid banquets,
processions of boats, and illuminations, given by the
company of young patricians known as the Immortals,
1 D’Ancona, Origini del Teatro, ii. 397.
188
1520—1522
The Court of Mantua under Federico—Visit of the Marquis to
Venice—His mistress, Isabella Boschetti—The Marchesa goes
to Loreto—The Duke of Urbino forced to leave Mantua—
Federico leads the papal troops against the French—Capture
of Milan—Retreat of Lautrec—Death of Pope Leo X.—
Cardinal Gonzaga aspires to the Papacy—Election of Adrian
VI.—Francesco Maria recovers Urbino—Francesco Sforza
returns to Milan—Defence of Pavia by Federico, and defeat
of the French — Isabella’s new apartments in the Corte
Vecchia—The Paradiso.
The accession of a young and pleasure-loving prince
to the throne produced a marked change in the court
of Mantua, and the carnival of 1520 was celebrated
with revived gaiety and splendour. On this occasion
the chief feature of the festivities was the performance
of Cardinal Bibbiena’s “ Calandria ” under the direction
of Castiglione,1 who had superintended the first re-
presentation at Urbino seven years before, and who
did not leave for Rome until July. In May, the
young Marquis and his brother Ercole accompanied
the Duke and the two Duchesses of Urbino to
Venice for the Ascension fetes, and were received
with great courtesy by the Doge and Senate.
Federico stayed with his ambassador in Casa Foscari,
and was entertained at a series of splendid banquets,
processions of boats, and illuminations, given by the
company of young patricians known as the Immortals,
1 D’Ancona, Origini del Teatro, ii. 397.
188