This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V THE DOMESTIC POLICY OF COSIMO DE' MEDICI AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF HIS POWER Hitherto, in tracing the course of Cosimo's life and domestic policy, he has seemed to the dispassionate observer to have been rather acted upon than acting on his own initiative. His family name, his wealth, and ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V THE DOMESTIC POLICY OF COSIMO DE' MEDICI AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF HIS POWER Hitherto, in tracing the course of Cosimo's life and domestic policy, he has seemed to the dispassionate observer to have been rather acted upon than acting on his own initiative. His family name, his wealth, and known abilities caused him to be put forward as the representative of a party in need of a leader to give it cohesion, and to be seized upon by the opposing party as a convenient scapegoat to suffer as an example to the rest. In reality Cosimo was waiting his time patiently, laying the foundations of his future influence by means of his wealth and liberality, trusting to the violence of his enemies and the growing strength of his friends to do the rest, preferring to be restored to Florence and set up on a pinnacle as the hero-martyr of the late Government than to make his own way back by the force of his individual efforts, so that it was not he but his adherents who should seem responsible for the violence of the revolution. Yet during the years immediately after his restoration, he contrived so to draw his party about him, to identify it so closely with himself and its interests with his, that its very existence was involved in his safety, and for the future it would have to stand or fall according to his fortunes. He began at once to form a regular system of policy; I it was partly destructive, partly constructive, and it/ was based on the experience which he had acquired from' the mistakes and weaknesses of his enemies. The chief points in which they had erred were three. First, in allowing the permanence and incrustation of an elaborate system of class distinctions. This was a defect inherent in the character of an oligarchy, which, ..
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Seller's Description:
Book. Octavo; First published 1899, Reissued 1970; G+; Hardcover; Spine, green with gold print; Boards in green cloth, slight wear to spine caps else clean and strong; Text block clean and tight; viii, 240 pages. 1344795. FP New Rockville Stock.
