tscory. 
—_—— 
Death and 
r 
554 
kingdom, and at the same time relinquished his irre- 
guiarities with regard to'women, and retired with his 
queen to the castle of Amboise, Here, in 1498, he 
acckientally struck his head against the va of a door, 
which brought on a fit of apoplexy, of which he died 
character of in a few hours, in the 15th year of his reign, and 28th 
Chaska. 
Loais XII. 
A.D. 1498. 
The French D’Aubigny, and John Trev 
again in- 
vade luly, 
of his age. His character is admirably drawn by Co- 
mines: “ He was a man of little person, and slender 
understanding ; but so sweet in his disposition, that it was 
impossible to find a better temper. His widow, Anne of 
Brittany, was inconsolable ; and two of his domestics 
are said to have died of grief for the loss of their mas- 
ter. One of the consequences of the invasion of Italy 
by the French, in ‘this reign, is said to have been the 
introduction, among the latter, of a more refined and 
delicate cookery. Before this period, French cookery 
was distinguished by such a profusion, that their kings, 
more than once, were under the necessity of issuing 
edicts on the subj 
In Charles VIII. ended the direct line of the house 
of Valois; the crown on his death descended to Louis 
Duke of Orleans, grandson to the first Duke of Or- 
leans. He was 36 years of age when he’ became king: 
his disposition and temper were excellent ; and he was 
by no means destitute either of prudence or experience: 
He soon discovered that he was resolved to forgive the 
indignities he might have suffered before he came to the 
throne, remarking, with true magnanimity, that it was 
not for the king of France to revenge the quarrels of 
the Duke of Orleans. Louis the XII. (for so he was 
called) married a daughter of Louis XI.; a princess de- 
formed in her m, and incapable of bearing chil- 
dren, but of excellent qualities. As, however, it was 
on many accounts desirable that he should have an 
heir to the throne, he procured a divorce from the Pope, 
and married Anne of Bretagne, widow of his prede- 
cessor, Soon after this marriage, he turned his thoughts 
to the claims which his family had to the duchy of 
Milan. Sforza, anticipating Louis’ intentions, had made 
every preparation to defend his dukedom. He repaired 
all the fortifications, augmented his garrisons, and re- 
plenished his magazines; but he wanted the support 
and good opinions of his own subjects; and he had 
too much reason ‘to apprehend, that whenever Louis 
should appear in Italy, they would desert him. The 
republic of Venice also, to whom some part of the Mi- 
lanese territcry lay very convenient, were temp 
unite with Louis, in the hope, or on the conditi 
sharing in his conquests. Maximilian, who before had 
opposed the French in their invasion of Italy, was now 
on good terms with Louis; so that Sforza had every 
cause for despondency. Louis himself was persuaded 
not to lead his army in person ; but to give the com- 
mand to Louis of Luxemburgh, Robert Stuart, Lord 
eo, a native of Milan. 
The French army amounted to $0,000 excellent troops: 
with these, the assistance of the Venetians, and the dis- 
affection of the Milanese to Sforza, success beyond ex- 
pectation was accomplished. Even the castle of Milan 
was given up. As soon as the king of France was in- 
formed of these successes, he hastened to cross the 
Alps, and entered the capital of his newly acquired 
territories. He continued three months in Milan, du- 
ring which period he gave 
ling those who had been banished. by Sforza, remit- 
ting a fourth of the imposts, and establishing a court 
of justice. But, either from the natural fickleness of 
the Italians, from their dislike.of the dominion -of a 
foreigner, and that foreigner a Frenchman, or from 
t satisfaction, by recal-~ 
FRANCE. 
some other cause, scarcely had Louis reached Fra 
when Sforza, who had retired to Inspruck, ret 
and found the gates of the principal cities of 
lanese at his approach, Even Milan itself re- 
ceived him. But Sor be merce eae! hoy eae dl He 
had in his a ’ w troops: these conspired i 
against hiss, “and delivered him up to the French, b 
whom he was sent to Lyons, where Louis then resid 
he died after a captivity of ten years. 4 
he could not ex to conquer without assistance ; 
therefore agreed to divide it with Ferdinand of Arra- 
gon: the city of Naples and the northern half were to 
be the portion of Louis. He also entered into a treaty 
with Pope Alexander VI.; but the simplicity and ho- 
nour of the French monarch were no match either for 
Ferdinand or Alexander. The confederates indeed were 
successful. The King of Naples fled from his own ter- 
ritories ; and distru Ferdinand, who had betrayed 
him, after having actually concluded a of al- 
liance with him, he threw himself on the liberality of 
Louis, who assigned him an asylum in Anjou, with a 
pension of 30,000 crowns. But scarcely was the con- 
quest of Naples atchieved, when Louis and Ferdinand 
turned their arms against each other: the 
began the quarrel, but the French were by no means 
slow in revenging the insult offered them, and Louis 
in a short time was so successful against his new ene- 
mies, that he might have added Ferdinand’s portion of 
Naples to his own, had he not been"persuaded to a re- 
concilement of their differences: In 1503, Philip, son 
of the Emperor Maximilian, who had married the - 
ter of Ferdinand, passing h France, had an in- 
terview with Louis, at which he concluded a 
with him in the name of the King of Spain, who had 
granted him full powers for that purpose. By this 
treaty, among other conditions, the two monarchs were 
bound to a cessation of arms, and the provinces of 
Naples originally ceded, were to be teed to each. 
As soon as the treaty was concluded, it was announced 
to the commanders of the French and ish troops 
in Italy. The French commander immediately offered 
to retire with his troops, but Gonsalvo, who command- 
ed the Spaniards, under the pretext that fey had 
acted without powers from Ferdinand , Stated his deter- 
mination to wait for further instructions. In the mean 
time he was reinforced by 10,000 Germans sent by 
Maximilian; and receiving information that Louis was 
likely to be deserted by his allies, the Pope and the Ve- 
netians, and that 4000 French troops which had been 
intended for their army in Naples were disbanded, 
under the idea of peace, he was influenced by these 
circumstances to attack the French general. 
quisition of the whole of Naples, with the exception of 
a few places. As soon as Philip was informed of this 
treacherous behaviour, considering his own character 
and honour as deeply concerned, he returned instantly 
to France, and placed himself in the power of the 
French monarch, He also remonstrated strongly with 
Ferdinand; hisremonstrancesyhowever, were of no effect. 
Ferdinand preferred power to reputation; ~ 
5 
i 
Basia 9 
“ ad - , 
to Milan, induced 
him to extend his views to Naples: but this kingdom to Neen 
he re- 7 
_ sult of the battle of Cerignoles was the utter defeat of tnesme 
the French, the death of their commander, and the ac- niards. 
we ~ Argos yy 
