Italian Politics and Rulers

Italy from the Renaissance to the time of religious wars was ruled almost completely by the Pope. As the Catholic Church was centered in Rome, all the Italian states were dominated by Papal rule. Although Luther's Reformation did weaken Papal rule, along with the Great Schism and the Babylonian captivity, the Pope still remained the complete authority over the Italian States.

Although the Pope did have the most authority, several families ran affairs in their respective cities. Florence, for example, was ran by the Medici family, who also sponsered many of the most famous artists of the Renaissance. Venice was ruled by an oligarchy, meaning that a few people ran that city. Milan was ran by the Sforza family, and Milan was most likely the least wealthy of all the Italian states. Although the Papal states were ran by the Pope, they were most likely the most corrupt. During the Renaissance, the Church was ran by the corrupt Borgia family. Pope Alexander V, of the Borgias, was noted for his corruption. He killed many people, sold indulgences, and had supposed affairs with his younger daughter Lucrezia, who he used as a political ally.