Where the ruler of a single town was distinguished by a wise, moderate, and humane government, and by zeal for intellectual culture, he was generally a member of some great family, or politically [ dependent on it.This was the case, for example, with Alessandro Sforza, Prince of Pesaro, brother of the great Francesco, and stepfather of Federigo of Urbino (d.1473).Prudent in administration, just and affable in his rule, he enjoyed, after ; years of warfare, a tranquil reign, collected a noble library, and passed his leisure in learned or religious conversation.A man of the same class was Giovanni II Bentivoglio of Bologna (1463-1508), whose policy was determined by that of the Este and the Sforza.What ferocity and bloodthirstiness is found, on the other hand, among the Varani of Camerino, the Malatesta of Rimini, the Manfreddi of Faenza, and above all among the Baglioni of Perugia.We find a striking picture of the events in the last-named family towards the close of the fifteenth century, in the admirable historical narratives of Graziani and Matarazzo.
The Baglioni were one of those families whose rule never took the shape of an avowed despotism.It was rather a leadership exercised by means of their vast wealth and of their practical influence in the choice of public officers.Within the family one man was recognized as head; but deep and secret jealousy prevailed among the members of the different branches.Opposed to the Baglioni stood another aristocratic party, led by the family of the Oddi.In 1487 the city was turned into a camp, and the houses of the leading citizens swarmed with bravos; scenes of violence were of daily occurrence.At t he burial of a German student, who had been assassinated, two colleges took arms against one another;sometimes the bravos of the different houses even joined battle in the public square.The complaints of the merchants and artisans were vain;the Papal Governors and nipoti held their tongues, or took themselves off on the first opportunity.At last the Oddi were forced to abandon Perugia, and the city became a beleaguered fortress under the absolute despotism of the Baglioni, who used even the cathedral as barracks.