An enthralling history of the most notorious family of Renaissance Italy.Perfect for fans of Paul Strathern, Alexander Lee, and Ross King.Did Rodrigo corruptly bribe his way to the papal throne to become Pope Alexander VI? Was Juan murdered by his brother Cesare in his pursuit for power? And was Lucrezia really involved in incestuous relationships?Legends surround the Borgia family, but what was the truth behind it all?E. R. Chamberlin's mas...

A dramatic account of some of the most notorious figures of medieval and Renaissance history who ruled from the Eternal City. It is sure to grip fans of John Julius Norwich, Tom Holland, and Peter Ackroyd.The papal tiara has been worn by a number of infamous men through the course of its history.Some have been accused of murder, many have had mistresses, while others sold positions in the church to their followers or gave land and wealth to their illegitimate children....

On Christmas Day, 800, Charlemagne was crowned 'Emperor of the Romans' by Pope Leo III.Under his guidance the Carolingian Renaissance flourished, with his capital of Aachen becoming a center of learning and artistic genius.The legacy of Charlemagne on European history and culture is monumental.Yet, within thirty years of his death, his empire had fragmented.Who was this legendary ruler? How had he managed to rule these vast domains? And why has his legacy co...

Fourteenth century Italy was chaotic: mercenaries swarmed across the land as competing city states attempted to vie with each other for power, while pestilence and famine decimated populations.Into this cauldron was born Giangalezzo Visconti, a man who perfectly exemplified all the contradictions of his age. Viscous, covetous, and with loose morals, he has been portrayed as one of the most criminal men in history, yet he was also a man of remarkable gifts as a brilliant administrat...

In the early morning of 6 May, 1527, the 20,000 starving, unpaid troops of Emperor Charles V began their assault on the great walls of Rome. After only a few hours they had overcome the barricades; the city into which they streamed was now in their grip. This uncontrollable force of German landsknechts, Spanish soldiers, and Italian mercenaries showed no mercy as they plundered, raped, and slayed their way through the holy city.Why was this monumental army camped outside the wa...

Originally published in 1982, this book tackles the underlying problem of what is meant by ‘the Renaissance’ and outlines those social, economic and topographical factors which triggered it off. It covers a number of subjects, the family, war, trade, religion and art but recognizing that the Renaissance was essentially an urban growth it focusses on 7 great Italian cities: Florence, Rome, Venice, Milan, Urbino, Mantua and Ferrara. It also includes studies of some extraordinary Renaissance ...