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Why did Pope Nicholas V allow Palestrina to be rebuilt?

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Montúfar, Antonio: Saint Francis of Assisi Appearing Before Pope Nicholas V, with Donors — Nicholas V *Saint Francis of Assisi Appearing Before Pope Nicholas V, with Donors*, oil on canvas by Antonio Montúfar, 1628; in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. 107.95 × 87.63 cm.

Pope Nicholas V allowed the town of Palestrina to be rebuilt as part of his broader strategy to restore peace and stability within the Papal States.1

Rather than relying on mercenary armies, which he disbanded, Nicholas V sought to secure his authority through diplomatic concessions and by being conciliatory toward the nobility and restive citizens. By permitting the reconstruction of Palestrina—which had been destroyed by his predecessor—he aimed to pacify the region and foster political peace, a goal he pursued throughout his pontificate to ensure the stability of Italy.1