La veritate che qua non se puote havere. Spionaggio, verità e apparenza nella guerra di Ferrara (1482-84)

Abstract

This paper is about the so-called “War of Ferrara” (1482-84), and explains not the military and political background, but focuses on the spying activities. Both opponents (the duke of Ferrara and his allies on the one hand, the Venetians on the other) used spies massively to gain information about the enemy. Sometimes peasants and miserable people collected and sold news to earn money, in a time of huge poverty; moreover, captured mercenaries revealed precious military details to the enemy. But the most fascinating espionage involves the court itself and its courtiers; the strict and deep links between these people, who had parenthood, business and friendship ties, made transmitting information quite natural, as it was maintaining it, even in wartime. The clearest example was Roberto Sanseverino, who after being appointed commander-in-chief of the Venetian army and allowed his sons to communicate with Ercole d’Este and his courtiers.

Keywords

• espionage
• diplomacy
• este
• court
• kinship