But he changed the Florentines from an independent people to a dependent one.

In his capacity of Father of his Country he saw to it that his children lost their proud spirit.

He had to be absolute; and this end he achieved in many ways, but chiefly by his wealth, which made it possible to break the rich rebel and to enslave the poor.

His greatest asset--next his wealth--was his knowledge of the Florentine character.

To know anything of this capricious, fickle, turbulent folk even after the event was in itself a task of such magnitude that almost no one else had compassed it; but Cosimo did more, he knew what they were likely to do.