The war in Lombardy was concluded; but the dissensions in the kingdom
of Naples continued, and the inability to compose them occasioned the
resumption of those arms which had been so recently laid aside. Alfonso,
of Aragon, had, during these wars, taken from René the whole kingdom
except Naples; so that, thinking he had the victory in his power, he
resolved during the siege of Naples to take Benevento, and his other
possessions in that neighborhood, from the count; and thought he might
easily accomplish this while the latter was engaged in the wars of
Lombardy. Having heard of the conclusion of peace, Alfonso feared the
count would not only come for the purpose of recovering his territories,
but also to favor René; and René himself had hope of his assistance for
the same reason. The latter, therefore, sent to the count, begging he
would come to the relief of a friend, and avenge himself of an enemy.
On the other hand, Alfonso entreated Filippo, for the sake of the
friendship which subsisted between them, to find the count some other
occupation, that, being engaged in greater affairs, he might not have
an opportunity of interfering between them. Filippo complied with this
request, without seeming to be aware that he violated the peace recently
made, so greatly to his disadvantage. He therefore signified to pope
Eugenius, that the present was a favorable opportunity for recovering
the territories which the count had taken from the church; and, that he
might be in a condition to use it, offered him the services of Niccolo
Piccinino, and engaged to pay him during the war; who, since the peace
of Lombardy, had remained with his forces in Romagna. Eugenius eagerly
took the advice, induced by his hatred of the count, and his desire to
recover his lost possessions; feeling assured that, although on a former
occasion he had been duped by Niccolo, it would be improper, now that
the duke interfered, to suspect any deceit; and, joining his forces to
those of Niccolo, he assailed La Marca. The count, astonished at such an
unexpected attack, assembled his troops, and went to meet the enemy. In