The Sack of Rome

by Luigi Guicciardini, James H. McGregor (Translator)

On May 5, 1527 Spanish, German, and Italian troops under the banner of the Holy Roman Emperor swarmed into Rome. Until December, when they were finally dispersed by plague, these troops plundered, tortured, raped, and murdered in the defenseless capital of Christendom. "The sack of Rome in 1527 was an event of tragic and decisive importance. It brought the Renaissance, the greatest period in Italian history, to its sudden and catastrophic end. We are fortunate to possess many eyewitness accounts of this extraordinary event. Only one contemporary account, however, offers an overview of the political and military situation in Italy that culminated in the sack of Rome. That account is here translated for the first time." (Introduction) Illustrated, maps, introduction, glossary, afterword, bibliography. 2nd printing.

Genres: History, Italy

198 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 1993

Reviews

[Noah Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perceptive and short analysis of the 1527 Sack of Rome by a contemporary. Guicciardini’s writing demonstrations the clear influence of Italian republicanism, broadly, and the strain of Italian republicanism proffered by Machiavelli and accepted by Guicciardini’s brother, Francesco. Moreover, like Machiavelli, Luigi demonstrates a clear desire for Church reform that returns to the church to what may be called its earlier “ecclesiastical constitution” of the Apostolic age. Notwithstanding Machiavellian influence, Luigi’s Catholicism is more genuine and there are some instances where he offers arguments that would be more readily received by Catholic anti-Machiavellians such as Giovanni Botero. All around good read and important for students of history, political thought, and ecclesiology.

[David Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting contemporary account of the build up of the war between Charles V and the Papal States, Venice, Florence, and France. Discusses Florence and its fears and defense of their city that led the Duke of Bourbon to head to Rome. Tells of the sack of Rome. Interestingly he shows differences between the German soldiers and the Spanish troops ( they being both part of the forces of Charles' empire). He tells us of a lot of the degradations of the rape of Rome, without being grotesque.