“Ippolito,” wrote Varillas, “was seized with incredible grief and indignation, and it seemed to him, that being older, a nearer relation to the Pope, and better endowed by nature, so rich an inheritance should rather be his ... either not knowing or not believing the rumours that Alessandro was Clement’s son.”

Goaded by what he conceived to be a legitimate ambition, Ippolito posted off to Florence with the idea of seizing the executive power.  Clement despatched Baccio Valori after him, with entreaties and promises, and finding that he had no welcome among the Florentines, Ippolito returned quietly to Rome.

The Pope immediately, and without consulting him, preconised him Cardinal—­greatly to his disgust.  He had no wish for ecclesiastical preferment, he was a soldier at heart, and meant to be ruler of Florence.  Clement noted the young man’s partialities—­he was only just twenty years of age, and he encouraged him in his extravagant tastes by liberally endowing his Cardinalate.  A Brief “In commendam” was bestowed upon him, whereby the revenue of all vacant benefices and Papal dignities, for six months, were transferred to his account.  Moreover, in 1529, he was appointed Archbishop of Avignon, Legate of Perugia, and Administrator of the See of Casale.  These fat endowments very considerably affected Ippolito’s position.  In Rome he had a Court of three hundred notable personages of all nations; his most intimate friends were soldiers and statesmen of renown, and writers and artists of the highest abilities and fame.

Clement having placated Ippolito, set to work to carry out his plans for Alessandro.  He wrote on his behalf to the Emperor Charles V. to invite him on his way from Flanders, whither he had travelled to avoid disputes with Ippolito, to visit the Imperial Court.  Charles received Alessandro with great honour, and expressed his pleasure at greeting the near relative of the Pope.

A treaty was subsequently signed at Barcelona between Charles and Clement, whereby it was agreed that Alessandro should espouse Margaret, Charles’ illegitimate daughter, and that Clement should create Florence a Dukedom in favour of Alessandro.  At the same time the Emperor was asked to intercede between the rival cousins but he naively replied, “Neither wants liberty but aggrandisement!  Let them be.”

Alessandro entered Florence on 5th July 1531 accompanied by Giovanni Antonio Muscettola, envoy and chancellor of the Emperor.  He proceeded to the Palazzo Vecchio, there he read aloud the injunction of Clement, countersigned by Charles, which established him as Duke of Florence.  The office of Gonfaloniere di Giustizia was abolished, and the Signoria restricted in their powers as merely consultative authorities.  At the same time the Republic was superseded and the citizens allowed to exercise the franchise only in the election of civil magistrates.

The coup d’etat was complete and meekly enough the Signoria declared that—­“Considering the excellent qualities, life and habits of the most illustrious Duke Alessandro de’ Medici, son of the late Magnificent Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino; and in recognition of the many and great benefits received, both spiritual and temporal, from the House of Medici, he was eligible for all the offices of State.”