THE DEATH OF POPE SIXTUS IV.--HE IS SUCCEEDED BY POPE INNOCENT
VIII.--OF THE VICTORIOUS WAR OF KING CHARLES IN BRITTANY.--HE
MARRIES THE PRINCESS ANNE DAUGHTER TO THE NOBLE DUKE FRANCIS OF
BRITTANY.--OTHER EVENTS.
In the course of the latter end of this year pope Sixtus IV. died
at Rome: he had been general of the Franciscans, and had well and
catholicly ruled the holy see during the space of nearly thirteen
years. He had been very solicitous about the public welfare, in the
reparation of churches, and in embellishing the city of Rome, without
sparing his private purse where he thought the honour of God was any
way interested.[108]
On the 13th of August, he was succeeded in the papal dignity by
Innocent VIII.[109] He was from Genoa, of parents in the middle ranks,
but much respected and beloved. His father's name was Aaron, but his
own was John Baptista,--and he was a cardinal-priest, under the title
of Cardinal of St Cecilia, but commonly called the cardinal of Melfe.
He was the poorest and most humane of the whole college of cardinals,
and was deserving of his election to the papal chair for his benignity
and humility.
He was magnanimous, and very prudent in all his actions,--and from his
conduct during his legation at Sienna, he gave a good example to his
brother-cardinals, and of what might be expected from him if raised
to the popedom. On that event taking place, he opened the treasures
of the church to all faithful Christians for the remission of their
sins. He lived in good union with the Romans and all other people in
Christendom.
At this period, king Charles, with the advice of his council, made
arrangements for the war in Picardy. The command of that army was given
to sir Philip de Crevecoeur, lord des Cordes; for Maximilian duke of
Austria, who had married the heiress of the late duke of Burgundy,
had raised a powerful army, to enable him to demand with success the
country of Artoise, and other parts in Burgundy, although they had been
occupied by the late king, Louis XI. and were since peaceably possessed
by his son, the present king.
The lord des Cordes was therefore ordered into Picardy, to resist any
hostile attempts that should be there made, and to oppose Maximilian.
According to the chronicle of master Robert Gaguin, a severe war broke
out in the year 1485, in Brittany, which was so prudently conducted
on the part of king Charles that he victoriously gained almost the
whole of that duchy. During this war, duke Francis of Brittany died,
leaving two daughters: the one called Anne succeeded shortly after to
the duchy, on the death of her sister. The king now took the field in
person, and attended by many great lords and valiant captains, made
several attacks on the town of Nantes, to prevent these daughters of
the late duke of Brittany from marrying without his consent. This
campaign, however, was not very successful: for king Henry VII. of
England had sent a large force to the assistance of the Bretons,
although, a short time before this, Henry had fled from that country as
a fugitive, and sought an asylum with king Charles. He remained with
him some time, as he was liberally aided with money and men, with whom
he crossed the sea to England, where, after the death of king Richard,
he peaceably enjoyed that kingdom, by means of the aid he had received
from king Charles, which clearly shows the ingratitude of the english
monarch[110].