Piero de' Medici, having assumed the mantle…

Piero de' Medici, having assumed the mantle of family power from his late father Lorenzo, had alienated the people of Florence by siding with the French when Charles VIII of France invaded Italy.

The arrival in mid-November of 1494 of Charles's army outside Florence creates fears of rape and pillage.

The Florentines are led to exile Piero de' Medici for his act of betrayal and to establish a republican government.

Bernardo Rucellai and other members of the Florentine oligarchy then act as ambassadors to negotiate a peaceful accord with Charles.

When the Medici fall from power, the Jews of Florence and Tuscany are expelled.

Reforming Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola, interpreting the French intervention as the vengeance and punishment he had earlier prophesied, establishes a constitutional republican government that is effectively a theocracy.

Savonarola becomes a virtual dictator in the city, imposing a program of sweeping moral reforms.

He also begins to regard himself as a prophet of God sent to announce judgment on Italy and on the church.

He soon comes into conflict with Pope Alexander VI, who is desperately forging alliances against the French.