Piero Capponi facts for kids
Piero Capponi (born 1447 – died September 25, 1496) was an important Italian leader from Florence. He was known as a smart statesman and a brave military commander. People remember him most for standing up to the King of France in 1494.
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Piero Capponi's Early Life and Career
Piero Capponi was first expected to work in business. But his skills in talking with other leaders were noticed by Lorenzo de' Medici, a powerful ruler of Florence. Lorenzo sent Piero to represent Florence in different kingdoms. Piero did a great job in these roles.
When Lorenzo de' Medici died in 1492, his son, Piero de' Medici, took over. This new leader was not very good. Piero Capponi became a leader of a group that was against the Medici family. Two years later, this group successfully forced Piero de' Medici out of Florence.
After the Medici family left, Piero Capponi became a main leader of the Florentine republic. A republic is a country where citizens elect their leaders. He managed public matters very well, especially during tough talks with Charles VIII of France. King Charles VIII had invaded Italy in 1494. The exiled Medici ruler had even joined King Charles's army.
Standing Up to the King of France
In November 1494, King Charles VIII and his large army were traveling to Naples. They passed through Lucca and entered the area around Florence. They took over Pisa, a city that Florence had conquered earlier.
King Charles was allowed to enter Florence with his army on November 17. But once inside, he started acting like he had conquered the city. The leaders of Florence, called the Signoria, wanted to be friendly with him. However, King Charles began to make big demands.
He suggested he would decide the future of Pisa and the role of the Medici family in Florence. He also asked for a huge loan of 150,000 ducats to help pay for his war. Piero Capponi and the other Florentine leaders did not want to agree to these demands.
The mood in Florence quickly changed. Citizens began to get ready for a possible fight with the French soldiers who were already living inside the city walls.
The Famous Confrontation
The Florentine republic was willing to pay King Charles a large sum of money. But they disagreed on the exact amount. Finally, King Charles gave the Florentine leaders an ultimatum. An ultimatum is a final demand. If his demands were refused, he threatened, "Then we shall sound our trumpets." This meant he would order his army to attack.
Piero Capponi was very angry. He famously tore up the written demands right in front of the King. He replied, "And we shall toll our bells." This meant Florence would ring its church bells to call its citizens to fight.
King Charles did not want to fight a difficult street-by-street battle in Florence. So, he changed his demands and agreed to a fairer treaty with the republic. The final agreement did not insist that Pisa become independent from Florence. It also did not force the Medici family to return. The total payment was reduced and spread out over a year.
Later Life and Death
On November 28, King Charles VIII left Florence. Piero Capponi was then chosen to help reform the government of Florence. However, he preferred leading armies more than working in government meetings.
So, he was happy to lead the Florentine army against the rebels in Pisa. He was a very skilled general. But while he was attacking the castle of Soiana, he was killed on September 25, 1496.
His death was a great loss for Florence. People recognized him as their most capable statesman and warrior.
Piero's son, Niccolò Capponi, was elected a top leader in Florence in 1527. But he died in 1529, after the Medici family returned to power.
See also
Images for kids
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In Spanish: Piero Capponi para niños
