Read Online Murder in the Garden of God by Eleanor Herman - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Eleanor Herman
Tags: History, Renaissance
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antics. She was delighted to spend as little time with him as possible. She did not have to leave the refinements of Florence for the moated castle of Bracciano or the mosquitoes and garbage of Rome, and best of all, she could blame the situation on her father. When her mother, Duchess Eleonora, died in 1562, at the duke’s insistence Isabella took over her role as first lady of Florence, entertaining foreign dignitaries at feasts, balls, and concerts. Marrying the Orsini duke had been a step down for a Medici princess, who could have wed a ruling prince or even a king, and her husband was not the sort of man, even in the flower of youth, to make a girl sigh with desire. Isabella got on much better when he was in Rome and she could return to planning musical entertainments for her father’s court. She must have heaved an enormous sigh of relief as she waved her scented handkerchief from the palace balcony at his fat form and suffering horse, riding off into the sunset.
Even though Paolo Giordano couldn’t get his hands on his wife’s dowry, he continued his reckless high living. In 1567, the Venetian ambassador wrote, “The house of Orsini has as its head Paolo Giordano, duke of Bracciano, and son-in-law of the duke of Florence, young at about thirty years, of extreme size, but for all that strong enough and vigorous… He is greatly inclined and profuse in spending, and if he has 30,000 scudi a year income, he has debts of more than 150,000.” 7
In 1568, Paolo Giordano borrowed 40,000 scudi. He was in such desperate straits that he pawned three silver candlesticks for 115 scudi. For some silver plates and flasks he received 215 scudi, and for silk wall hangings 82 scudi. When this didn’t begin to cover his massive debts, he sold off large parcels of land.
As time went on, Duke Cosimo realized that he had made a terrible mistake in marrying his daughter to the Orsini duke. The debts were bad enough, but he was furious to hear that Paolo Giordano was selling off land; it was his land that had made him a suitable bridegroom to begin with. Additionally, the main purpose of the alliance – a Medici-Orsini heir – remained elusive for many years as several children were either miscarried or died young. Finally, two healthy children were born – Leonora, in 1571, and the heir, Virginio, in 1572.
By then the de Medicis had climbed the royal social ladder a good rung higher; in 1569 Pius V had raised the duchy to a grand duchy. This stroke of fortune put Tuscany above and beyond the prestige of numerous Italian duchies squabbling for precedence at foreign courts, pushing one another out of the way in processions, and shoving one another out of the good seats at banquets. Now the Tuscan ambassadors would have the more honorable spot, and there was nothing anybody could do about it.
Given their sudden rise in the world, the de Medici family became more concerned about the unhappy, embarrassing marriage of Isabella and Paolo Giordano. For his part, Paolo Giordano became increasingly frustrated that he could not get his wife to live with him in his own palaces despite years of flattering, cajoling, and begging. It wasn’t that he wanted her around – looking down her long aquiline nose she certainly would have complained of his all-night orgies in whorehouses – but it was a slap in the face of his Orsini magnificence that his wife was clearly beyond his control, and the whole world knew it.
Though her family was worried, and her husband irritated, Isabella was delighted. She enjoyed more freedom than any woman of her time, freedom which she used to take a lover. The lithe and handsome Troilo Orsini was Paolo Giordano’s relative. Starting in 1564, Isabella and Troilo began a well-publicized affair. While her husband was out of town, Isabella reportedly gave birth to two of her lover’s children, who were whisked out of the de Medici Palace and placed in the local orphanage. To avoid scandal, Duke Cosimo repeatedly
Even though Paolo Giordano couldn’t get his hands on his wife’s dowry, he continued his reckless high living. In 1567, the Venetian ambassador wrote, “The house of Orsini has as its head Paolo Giordano, duke of Bracciano, and son-in-law of the duke of Florence, young at about thirty years, of extreme size, but for all that strong enough and vigorous… He is greatly inclined and profuse in spending, and if he has 30,000 scudi a year income, he has debts of more than 150,000.” 7
In 1568, Paolo Giordano borrowed 40,000 scudi. He was in such desperate straits that he pawned three silver candlesticks for 115 scudi. For some silver plates and flasks he received 215 scudi, and for silk wall hangings 82 scudi. When this didn’t begin to cover his massive debts, he sold off large parcels of land.
As time went on, Duke Cosimo realized that he had made a terrible mistake in marrying his daughter to the Orsini duke. The debts were bad enough, but he was furious to hear that Paolo Giordano was selling off land; it was his land that had made him a suitable bridegroom to begin with. Additionally, the main purpose of the alliance – a Medici-Orsini heir – remained elusive for many years as several children were either miscarried or died young. Finally, two healthy children were born – Leonora, in 1571, and the heir, Virginio, in 1572.
By then the de Medicis had climbed the royal social ladder a good rung higher; in 1569 Pius V had raised the duchy to a grand duchy. This stroke of fortune put Tuscany above and beyond the prestige of numerous Italian duchies squabbling for precedence at foreign courts, pushing one another out of the way in processions, and shoving one another out of the good seats at banquets. Now the Tuscan ambassadors would have the more honorable spot, and there was nothing anybody could do about it.
Given their sudden rise in the world, the de Medici family became more concerned about the unhappy, embarrassing marriage of Isabella and Paolo Giordano. For his part, Paolo Giordano became increasingly frustrated that he could not get his wife to live with him in his own palaces despite years of flattering, cajoling, and begging. It wasn’t that he wanted her around – looking down her long aquiline nose she certainly would have complained of his all-night orgies in whorehouses – but it was a slap in the face of his Orsini magnificence that his wife was clearly beyond his control, and the whole world knew it.
Though her family was worried, and her husband irritated, Isabella was delighted. She enjoyed more freedom than any woman of her time, freedom which she used to take a lover. The lithe and handsome Troilo Orsini was Paolo Giordano’s relative. Starting in 1564, Isabella and Troilo began a well-publicized affair. While her husband was out of town, Isabella reportedly gave birth to two of her lover’s children, who were whisked out of the de Medici Palace and placed in the local orphanage. To avoid scandal, Duke Cosimo repeatedly
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