In 1502 the Republic of Florence controlled an area that was less than half the size of current-day Tuscany.

 

The Republic was surrounded by enemies on all sides: it was at a standoff with Lucca to the west and had been at war with Pisa for years; Siena, to the south, had long been hostile to Florence.

 

The Republic’s worst enemy lay to the north and east, possessed the strongest army in Italy, and had already attempted to invade the Republic twice. This enemy was Cesare Borgia: Duke of Valentinois, Duke of Romagna, son of the Pope, Captain General of the military forces of the Church, and familiarly known as Valentino.