Having thus recovered and confirmed their government, they then
turned their attention to external affairs. As observed above, Niccolo
Piccinino was abandoned by King Alfonso, and the count having been
aggrandized by the assistance of the Florentines, attacked and routed
him near Fermo, where, after losing nearly the whole of his troops,
Niccolo fled to Montecchio, which he fortified in such a manner that in
a short time he had again assembled so large an army as enabled him to
make head against the count; particularly as the season was now come for
them to withdraw into quarters. His principal endeavor during the winter
was to collect troops, and in this he was assisted both by the pope and
Alfonso; so that, upon the approach of spring, both leaders took the
field, and Niccolo, being the strongest, reduced the count to extreme
necessity, and would have conquered him if the duke had not contrived to
frustrate his designs. Filippo sent to beg he would come to him with
all speed, for he wished to have a personal interview, that he might
communicate matters of the highest importance. Niccolo, anxious to hear
them, abandoned a certain victory for a very doubtful advantage; and
leaving his son Francesco to command the army, hastened to Milan.
The count being informed of the circumstance, would not let slip the
opportunity of fighting in the absence of Niccolo; and, coming to an
engagement near the castle of Monte Loro, routed the father's forces and
took the son prisoner. Niccolo having arrived at Milan saw that the duke
had duped him, and learning the defeat of his army and the capture of
his son, he died of grief in 1445, at the age of sixty-four, having been
a brave rather than a fortunate leader. He left two sons, Francesco and
Jacopo, who, possessing less talent than their father, were still more
unfortunate; so that the arms of the family became almost annihilated,
while those of Sforza, being favored by fortune, attained augmented
glory. The pope, seeing Niccolo's army defeated and himself dead, having