The day of reckoning arrives as the circle of conspirators tightens around the Medicis during Mass, and rivals attempt to take control of Florence.

Lorenzo allows Bernardi to convince him that the only solution not to lose everything is to kill Savonarola, whose following gets bigger and bigger. By now, the friar openly preaches the overthrow of the established order to found a new Jerusalem. Lorenzo's plan is ready and the assassins recruited ...

Pazzi has managed to convince the Pope to remove the Medici as Church bankers, but Cosimo is disinclined to surrender what he has worked so hard to attain.

Sixtus IV is dead. Lorenzo and Clarice travel to Rome to support the election of their candidate for the papal throne, but they have to deal with the plots of Riario. The Medici find an unexpected ally in Caterina Sforza, Riario's wife. Despite the family's efforts, the new Pope Cybo proves difficult to control. In Florence, Savonarola harangues against Lorenzo for his influence in the conclave.

Savonarola, who had taken Tommaso's confession, denounces his killing and openly accuses Lorenzo, who however continues to deny. Clarice begins to suspect the truth. To continue his strategy of control over the Holy See, the Magnificent makes a promise that triggers a family crisis.

Lorenzo begins to show the first symptoms of a serious illness while his political enemies decide to attack him, questioning the solidity and provenance of Medici Bank's capital. Among these, Tommaso Peruzzi, once a supporter of the family, is now eager to bring to light a scandal that would condemn the Medici to exile. To cover up the crime and avoid losses, the Magnificent risks a new war and plans to kill Peruzzi.

The papal army advances as important coalitions shift. Meanwhile, Lorenzo negotiates a crucial treaty, and Jacopo attempts a major power grab.

After a surprise attack, Lorenzo and Giuliano search for the culprits. The trail leads the brothers to the Pazzis, but treachery lies closer at hand.

Lorenzo's power play comes at a cost and stirs up outrage. With leadership comes sacrifice as he travels to Rome and weighs an advantageous match.

The Medici family suffers a great loss with the death of its patriarch Giovanni. When the designated heir Cosimo discovers that his father was poisoned, he decides to put Marco Bello on the assassin's trail.

In opposition to the pope, Lorenzo moves quickly to acquire the strategic city of Imola. A forbidden love flowers between Giuliano and Simonetta.

A few months after the Pazzi Conspiracy, Lorenzo is still animated by the spirit of revenge. There is a distant clash between Lorenzo and Pope Sixtus IV; the cruel count Riario - the last of the conspirators left alive - tries to take advantage of this conflict. A Dominican friar arrives in Florence who seems capable of reading Lorenzo's heart: Girolamo Savonarola.

The war is throwing Florence into chaos. Piero, Cosimo's only son, is eager to fight. Meanwhile, Cosimo manages to "buy" the withdrawal of Milan's troops, thus saving the city, but in the meantime Florence has again fallen into the plague.

The death of the pope brings strategic challenges as Lorenzo negotiates with the Duke of Milan and welcomes his new bride, Clarice, to Florence.