Nothing that depended upon the stars was more important than decisions
in time of war. The same Bonatto procured for the great Ghibelline
leader Guido da Montefeltro a series of victories, by telling him the
propitious hour for marching. When Montefeltro was no longer
accompanied by him he lost the courage to maintain his despotism, and
entered a Minorite monastery, where he lived as a monk for many years
till his death. In the war with Pisa in 1362, the Florentines
commissioned their astrologer to fix the hour for the march, and almost
came too late through suddenly receiving orders to take a circuitous
route through the city. On former occasions they had marched out by the
Via di Borgo Santi Apostoli, and the campaign had been unsuccessful. It
was clear that there was some bad omen connected with the exit through
this street against Pisa, and consequently the army was now led out by
the Porta Rossa. But as the tents stretched out there to dry had not
been taken away, the flags--another bad omen--had to be lowered. The
influence of astrology in war was confirmed by the fact that nearly all
the Condottieri believed in it. Jacopo Caldora was cheerful in the most
serious illness, knowing that he was fated to fall in battle, which in
fact happened. Bartolommeo Alviano was convinced that his wounds in the
head were as much a gift of the stars as his military command.
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