Death of Giovanni II.—­Rene of Anjou and Alfonso of Aragon aspire to the kingdom—­Alfonso is routed and taken by the Genoese—­Alfonso being a prisoner of the duke of Milan, obtains his friendship—­The Genoese disgusted with the duke of Milan—­Divisions among the Genoese—­The Genoese, by means of Francesco Spinola, expel the duke’s governor—­League against the duke of Milan—­Rinaldo degli Albizzi advises the duke to make war against the Florentines—­His discourse to the duke—­The duke adopts measures injurious to the Florentines—­Niccolo Piccinino appointed to command the duke’s forces—­Preparations of the Florentines—­Piccinino routed before Barga.

The affairs of Florence being in this condition, Giovanna, queen of Naples, died, and by her will appointed Rene of Anjou to be her successor.  Alfonso, king of Aragon, was at this time in Sicily, and having obtained the concurrence of many barons, prepared to take possession of the kingdom.  The Neapolitans, with whom a greater number of barons were also associated, favored Rene.  The pope was unwilling that either of them should obtain it; but desired the affairs of Naples to be administered by a governor of his own appointing.

In the meantime Alfonso entered the kingdom, and was received by the duke of Sessa; he brought with him some princes, whom he had engaged in his service, with the design (already possessing Capua, which the prince of Taranto held in his name) of subduing the Neapolitans, and sent his fleet to attack Gaeta, which had declared itself in their favor.  They therefore demanded assistance of the duke of Milan, who persuaded the Genoese to undertake their defense; and they, to satisfy the duke their sovereign, and protect the merchandise they possessed, both at Naples and Gaeta, armed a powerful fleet.  Alfonso hearing of this, augmented his own naval force, went in person to meet the Genoese, and coming up with them near the island of Ponzio, an engagement ensued, in which the Aragonese were defeated, and Alfonso, with many of the princes of his suite, made prisoners, and sent by the Genoese to the Filippo.

This victory terrified the princes of Italy, who, being jealous of the duke’s power, thought it would give him a great opportunity of being sovereign of the whole country.  But so contrary are the views of men, that he took a directly opposite course.  Alfonso was a man of great sagacity, and as soon as an opportunity presented itself of communicating with Filippo, he proved to him how completely he contravened his own interests, by favoring Rene and opposing himself; for it would be the business of the former, on becoming king of Naples, to introduce the French into Milan; that in an emergency he might have assistance at hand, without the necessity of having to solicit a passage for his friends.  But he could not possibly secure this advantage without effecting the ruin of the duke, and making his dominions a French province; and that the contrary of all this would result from himself