Their history through this period, though not so uneventful, is scarcely less insignificant than that of San Marino.

Venice alone stood independent, still powerful enough to extinguish Bedmar's Spanish conspiracy in silence, still proud enough to resist the encroachments of Paul V.with spirit, yet sensible of her decline and spending her last energies on warfare with the Turk.
At the close of the century, by the Peace of Vervins in 1598 and two subsequent treaties, Spain and France settled their long dispute.

France was finally excluded from Italy by the cession of Saluzzo to Savoy, while Savoy at the same moment, through the loss of its Burgundian provinces, became an Italian power.

The old antagonism which, dating from the Guelf and Ghibelline contentions of the thirteenth century, had taken a new form after the Papal investiture of Charles of Anjou with the kingdoms of Sicily and Naples, now ceased.

That antique antagonism of parties, alien to the home interests of Italy, had been exasperated by the rivalry of Angevine and Aragonese princes; had assumed formidable intensity after the invasion of Charles VIII.