Charles took Florence and the Medici family under his protection and promised to punish all enemies of the Catholic faith.
Cardinal Bessarion became his disciple; he produced a great impression upon Cosimo de' Medici; and though not himself making any very important contribution to the study of Plato, he effectually shook the exclusive domination which Aristotle had exercised overEuropean thought for eight centuries.
Marie de' Medici had turned against her "ungrateful" minister with a hatred intensified, it is said, by unrequited passion.
At his death in 1519 Cardinal Giulio de' Medici (son of the Giuliano murdered in the Pazzi conspiracy) took charge of the government; he met with some opposition and had to play off the Ottimati against the Piagnoni, but he did not rule badly and maintained at all events the outward forms of freedom.
In return for this he was made Count Palatine, with the right to call himself by the name Medici.
