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The Siege of Florence In 1528 Michelangelo was charged by the Florentines with building bastions against the troops of Charles V, which threatened the city. Undisturbed and to show their contempt for the French, the Florentine troops played football at Piazza Santa Croce and plaid music from the rooftops. Michelangelo was nominated governor-general of the city fortifications, though in effect he did practically no work on the bastions, as the gonfaloniere distracted him, giving him several tasks out of town, such as studying the fortifications in neighbouring cities. He had some differences with the man responsible for the positioning of the cannon on the walls, which eventually led to his fleeing Florence, intending to go to Venice. At Ferrara he was recognised and taken to see the duke, who tried his best to keep him there. Eventually the former, seeing his efforts were fruitless, left Michelangelo continue on the road to Venice, where he eventually arrived on 25 September 1529. On 30 September he was declared a rebel by the Florentine authorities. By October ambassadors were in Venice, asking for Michelangelo’s return, going as far as granting him a laissez-passer. He left Venice in November and the edict proclaiming Michelangelo as a rebel was revoked the same month, but he was barred from holding office for three years. On 13 August 1530 the French troops finally entered Florence, sacking some buildings. After leaving Florence the Charles V finally arrived in Rome in 1532, where he was crowned King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor. |