[Born 1498. Died near Borgo-Forte, in Italy, 1526. Aged 28.]
A descendant of Cosmo, “the father of his country,” and the son of the
celebrated Catharine Sforza. Passionately fond of arms, he was employed,
in 1521, by the Florentines against the Duke of Urbino. In 1524, he
entered the service of France, and a year or two afterwards died of a
wound. He was ferocious, and mercilessly cruel. After his death his
soldiers, who had profited by his instruction and example, styled
themselves “The Black Bands”--“Bandineri.” The chief of the butchers is
distinguished in history by the unenviable title.
[A very finely-formed head, from the figure in the Piazza San Lorenzo,
Florence.]