Church and Politics in Renaissance Italy
The Life and Career of Cardinal Francesco Soderini, 1453–1524

Table of Contents

List of illustrations
Acknowledgements
List of abbreviations
Genealogical tables
Introduction
Part I. Preparation for Power: Soderini's Florentine Background and Early Career:
1. Soderini's early years
2. Soderini as a servant of the Florentine state
Part II. The Cardinal as a Political Force, 1503–1513:
3. Soderini's elevation to the cardinalate
4. The Renaissance cardinalate and the concept of the political cardinal
5. A principal or a supporting role in Florentine politics?
6. Relations and rivalry between the Soderini and the Medici
7. The Soderini and the kings of France
Part III. New Times and Challenging Circumstances, 1513–1524:
8. The fortunes of the Soderini and family strategy in relation to Florentine, the Medici and France, 1513–17
9. The 'conspiracy' of 1517
10. Soderini as a disaffected cardinal in exile, 1517–21
11. Soderini opposition to the Medici in Florence and Rome, 1521–3
12. The 'conspiracy' of 1523 and its aftermath
13. Soderini's last days
Part IV. The Lifestyle of the Renaissance Cardinal:
14. Official duties in the curia: the conciliar, the ceremonial, the social
15. Soderini's ecclesiastical career: the accumulation and deployment of bishoprics and benefices
16. Palaces and other property
17. Private and personal possessions
18. Household and entourage
19. Financial resources: wealth, income, credit, loans and pawn
20. Intellectual life and the influence of humanism
21. In praise of Francesco Soderini: Battista Casali's funeral oration of 1524
Excursus: the portraits of Piero and Francesco Soderini
Bibliography
Index.

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