“For it may be said of men in general that they are ungrateful, voluble, dissemblers, anxious to avoid danger, and covetous of gain ; as long as you benefit them, they are entirely yours; they offer you their blood, their goods, their life, and their children; but when necessity approaches, they revolt. And the prince who has relied solely on their words, without making other preparations, is ruined, for the friendship which is gained by purchase and not through grandeur and nobility of spirit is merited but is not secured, and at times is not to be had.” ― Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince

In the dead of night, small groups of riders spread out amongst the new lands of "Tuscany". They knew that the people of these proud cities could hardly think of themselves as unified, especially not under a weak Papal edict with no true backing. And now, as the armies of the Holy Roman Empire marched ever closer, the time was ripe to restore these cities to greatness.

In the city of Pisa, the heart of the new Grand Duchy, whispers flew like ravens, riders rode into the night, knocking on doors, gathering support. They found many a man willing to stand up to this new Tuscan sideshow, and gathered quietly over the coming days into a coherent force, waiting for a signal...

In the city of Sienna, once a proud nation in its own right, riders had an even easier time than in Pisa. They wanted their independence back, their rights as a great Italian city. Here, people gathered openly in the streets, talking about the time before Tuscany, and longing for the return of Sienna. At night, these conversations became plans, and all it would take was the right signal...

In Florence rode a man known well to the people there, lofty upon his horse and even loftier in mind. This was Niccolò Machiavelli - and he was greeted like a Prince by his former allies and associated. They talked, laughed, and drank long into the night, and soon began hatching a plot to restore the Florentine republic to its former glory...

Early one morning, the citizens of Florence awoke to a massive BANG. They ran outside, and saw the Palazzo Vecchio up in flames, an explosion having ripped off the main tower. As the Tuscan soldiers rushed to the scene they were quickly cut down by a volley of crossbow fire, as a large groups of Florentine rebels rounded the corner. Seemingly out of every corner came more and more rebels, firing at the soldiers and pushing them back, until they were forced out of the city completely. The Florentines celebrated, but not for long, as they knew that there was still much work to be done.

Word spread quickly throughout the countryside of the Florentine rebellion, and as this reached the cities of Pisa and Sienna, the citizens there took it as the signal they were looking for. Thousands of rebels emerged from the woodwork, pushing back Tuscan soldiers, and declaring the rebirth of their respective republics. It would take more than an overreaching pope and an overzealous duke to put down the Italian people.

Pisan Rebels:

• 1000 militia
• 500 pikemen
• 300 swordsmen
• 200 crossbowmen

Sienese Rebels

• 1500 militia
• 400 pikemen
• 400 swordsmen
• 200 crossbowmen

Florentine Rebels

• 2000 militia
• 750 pikemen
• 750 swordsmen
• 500 crossbowmen