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Florence may have been occupied in the neolithic era, but no real historical informatuion exists until the Roman era. The city developed to become the most importan Roman city in northern Etruria. The importance of Florence declines with the Barbarian invasions of the 5th century. Florence ws ravaged by the fighting between the Lombard and Byzantines. Interestingly Florence like some other Italian cities developed republican institutions. It is not fully explained why republican cities developed in the middle of medieval Europe. It was the Meduci that brought feudal rule to Florence as well as overseeing perhaps the greatest floweing of Renaissance thought and art. It has never been explaine how such a small city could have produced such extrondinary genius. Florence was constantly caught in the conlicts between larger European powers and unable to compete because of its small size. After the Medici, Florence was riled by the house of Loraine and then after the Napoleonic War, the Austrians before finally becoming a pat of the new Kingdom of Italy.
Florence may have been occupied in the neolithic era, but no real historical informatuion exists until the Roman era. Florentia was one of Caesar's colonies. The city shows the imprint of a military mind. It is situated at the confluence of Arno and the Mugnone rivers. The center of the Roman settlement was the forum urbis which is now the Piazza della Repubblica. It was here that the the Curia
and the Temple dedicated to the Capitoline Triad (Jupiter, Juno, and
Minerva) were built. Florence in the Roman era was a port city. The river was navigable from its mouth up to its confluence with the Affrico, well upstream from Florence. The city developed to become the most importan Roman city in northern Etruria. Florence became an important economic center. A key factor in Florence's economic success in the Roman era as well as later times was the intersection of land and sea trade outes. Florence's economic success attracted oriental merchants and and cults like Isis and Christianity. The first Florentine church, San Lorenzo, was consecrated in 393. The first Floentine bishop was San Felice who participated in a Roman synod (313).
The importance of Florence declines with the Barbarian invasions of the 5th century. Floentia turned back an assault by Radagaisus (405). Becauuse of its strategic position, Floentia was assaulted by both the Germnanic tribes and the Byzantines as part of their military efforts to control Italy. Florentis was in effect a bridgehead on the Arno River. It was also an important strong point in line of communications between Rome and Padania. An effort was made to build new city walls using some of the larger Roman buildings (541-44). The new walls were not imposing, reflecting the decling fortunes of the city and reduced poulation.
One estimate syggests that less than a thoysand people were left in Floence.
The Lombards conquered northern and central Italy, including Floence (end of the 6th century). Historiand consider this to bev the lowest point of the city's history. Under the Lombards, Florence was no longer a major trading center. The trading routes upon which Florence depended were largely cut. The Lombards abandoned the central Bologna-Pistoia-Florence trade route as it was too vulnerable to Byzantine incursions. With this roye closed. Florence's principal reason for existence was gone. The Byzantinesat thime controlled much of eastern Italy. Lucca became the capital of the duchy of Tuscany because it was located along a more secure route that the Lombards used for internal communications. Duting the Lombard era, especially after Queen Theodolinda's conversion, Christian edifices were built in the city.
Northern Italy was part of the great Carolingian Holy Roman Empire of Charlemagne. It is an this time that Italy began to be organized along feudal lines. Under tCarolingian rule began to recover. Records indicate that a public
ecclesiastic school was established and the bridge over the Arno was repaired (9th century). New city-walls were built apparently out of concer over Hungarian attacks. Construction of city walls was an enormously expensive undertaking and thus reflects considerable prosperity. Countess Willa, widow of the Marquis of Tuscany, founded and endowed a Benedictine abbey. Her son Hugo left Lucca for Florence enhancing the prestuge of the city.
Florence emerged as the most important city in Tuscany (11th century). This occurred with the decline of Lucca which was no longer the seat of the marquisate.
Florence was drawn up in the struggle between the Emperor and the Papacy known as the Investure Controversy. San Giovanni Gualberto, the son of a Florentine knight, founded the order of Vallombrosa. An important council was held in Florence overseen by Pope Victor II with the participation of Emperor Henry III and 120 bishops (1055). Upon Countess Beatrice death, her daughter Matilda became sole countess of Tuscany when husband (Geoffrey the Bearded) also died. She had supported the Papacy in the Investiture Controversy. Her support for Hildebrand of Sovana who later became Pope Gregory VII brought her in conflict with Emperor Henry IV. After Henry's humiliation at Canossa, he achieved an important victory (1081). He then moved dispossess Countess Matilda. All of the Tuscan cities except Florence complied;. This trsilted in Henry moving against Florence, but the sirge failed (1082). The city walls and defenses were strenthened (1078).
Countess Matilda died (1115). As she was childless there was no fdirect heir. This left Florence wiyhout a feudal lord. This meant that Florence was essentially a republic whivch in Florence became known as the Commune. Countess Beatrice and Maltilda had ceeded many privliges to the city and as a result the Commune in practical terms had come about even before Matild's death. The Florentine populace had organized to resist imperial power. The last Franconian emperor, Henry V died (1125). The Florentines decided to take advantage of this event to attack Fiesole, a rival neighboring city that had supported the Emperor. The first use of the term Commune occurred during a meeting of Tuscan cities (1138). They were concerned that Imperialm Legate Henry the Proud who had oppressed them might become emperor. Tuscan society included both Church and secular representatives. The three dominant social groups were 1) the nobilituy organized into consorterie, 2) the merchants, and 3) the army dominated by horse soldiers. At first the nobility was dominant, but it was the merchants that were the heart of the city and responsible for its wealth and groewth. Thus under the Commune the merchants gradually increased their influence. Emperor Frederick Barbarossa moved an army into Italy and took Florence (1185). The Emperor ended the Commine and deprived Florence of the contado. The Emperor restored the marquisate of Tuscany. Frederick died in the crusades and was replaced with Henry VI. Upon Henry's deat, Florence rose up and restored the Commune (1197). The city had grown considerably in the 12th century and as a result, the Commine began to enlarge the city walls. The towers of the city walls gave rise to the "Tower Societies" which came to control adjacent sections of the city. Flrence in the 13th century was the commercial center of Tuscany. The population exceeded 30,000 people and was growing. The merchants begun to organize in corporate association (the Arte dei Mercanti) (1182) following the example of Society of Knights. These associations developed relations with other cities and representives traveled to participate in important fairs throughtout Europe. Thus Florence became an international economic power. The population continued to grow. Wealthy farmers moved to the city. They settled in the city district known for the contado where they originated. Religious orders (Franciscan, Dominican, Augustinian, Servite, Carmelite) played an important role in organizing the city.
The built churches as well as convents and monestaries with cloisters and other rooms for study and work. These facilities hekped to organize comminity life as religion was still a central concern. Religion played a major role in political and cultural as well as religious life.
A Government was established under a podestà (1216). There was a brief period of tranquilty. Feuds develop with in the city that became increasingly bitter. Florentines divuided among two nobel groups, the Guelphs and Ghibellines. The Guelphs were nobels who believed in feudal rule and supported the papacy in its struggles with the Holy Roman emperor. The Ghibellines were from more humble families, many were members of a Florentine 'Corporation of Arts and Crafts' and wwere supporters of the emperor. The Ghibellines were intent on broadening the social structure. They worked to extend the base of the giverning class to the merchant middle class (1244). This was the beginning of "Primo Popolo". The merchants abnd artisans soon seized control of the city governmebt from the Ghibelline nobles and launched an even more expansive political policy (1250). The new government abolished the city's Societas militum , centers of aristocratic power. The city towers, centers of the Tower Societies, had to be reduced to a maximum height of 29 meters. Control of the city by the middle class resulted in a period of substantial economic expansion.
One result was the gold florin (1252) which along with the already existing silver florin add great prestige to the city. Important public buildings were built. Construction of the Palazzo del Popolo, now the Bargello, was erected to house the Councils of the Commune (1255). The Sienese forces defeated the Florentines at the battle of Montaperti (1260). With the defeat, the Ghibellines nobels returned to power and undid the reforms of the merchant middle class. The Ghibellines restored the old institutions and ordered the destruction of the palaces and towers of the Guelph party. It resulted in masive destruction, including 103 palaces, 580 houses and 85 towers were totally demolished and many others damaged. This continued for 6 years. Farinata degli Uberti at the convention of Empoli demanded an end to the destruction. The Ghibellines nobels, concerned about a popular uprising, decided to accept the services of Pope Clement IV to make peace among the feuding factions. Pope Clement wasv not an even handed mediator, he sided with the Guelph faction. With the pope's backing, the Guelphs regained power and renwed the the populist reforms that had been rejected by the the Ghibellines.
New political relationships began to form in the Florence Commune. The "Magnati" or entrepeneurs. They included noble Guelphs and repatriated Ghibellines. Most were were wealthy men, owners of large houses and land. Many in Florence saw this group as a threat to the city. The other party was the "Popolani" or workers. These were thev merchant and artisans organized in guilds. The "Popolani were made up of two groups, the "grassi" and "minuti" separated principally by their economic status. The Poplani emerged as dominant and prohibited the Magnati from participation in politics (1293). During this political process, Florence continued to grow economically. The population also grew and the city walls were extended, requiring achuge finabcial commitment by the Commune. A new cathedral and Palazzo della Signoria were built at this times, buildings designed by Arnolfo di Cambio. He also designed the imposing Franciscan church of Santa Croce. The city and the countryside were organized into districts (1292). Successful merchants built many new palaces.
Political infighting intensified between the popolo minuto (middle and lower middle classes) and the popolo grasso (wealthy merchants) during the late 13th century and early 14th century. The The popolo grasso controlled the city government and resisted the efforts of the popolo minuto to expand the social base of political life. They were committed to achieve the participation of the Arti minori in the government. Eventually popular pressure forced the popolo
grasso to accept ew Guilds (Tintori, Farsettai, Dyers, Corseteers and Ciompi) (1378). These included the most humble occupations in the city. As is often the case, the popolo minuto were not as skilled as the higher class opponents and in the reaction the merchant middle classes again gained pwer.
Two important, but feuding nobel families brcame the center of Florentine politics. Factions formed arond the two families which became known as the Neri and Bianchi (Blacks and Whites). The Neri were ??? and the Bianchi were ????. The Neri and Bianchi alternated at the priorate (1290s), but afterward the political accomodation among the two parties deteriorated. The Priors in an effort to difuse rising political tension
exiled the leaders of the two factions. The Neri asked the pope to mediate the disputes. The pope selected Charles of Valois. Charles was the brother of yje French king. He made no secret of his preference for the Neri and ordered the the leading Bianchi arrested and exiled many others. The poet Dante Alighieri was one of those exiles. The city outside as well as internal concerns. The city was engaged in a war with the Visconti Ghibelline signorias and the Scaligeri. They were joined by the Pisans and the Luccans. Florence experienced two debilitating defeats in battle (1315 and 1325). Florence was forced to ask for assistance from Angevin military forces. The city
also placed themselve under the protection of Duke Charles of Calabria, a member of Anjou dynasty. This meant the end of the Commune. but Duke Charles death (1327) meant that Florence was again independent. Florence again tried to conquer neighboring Pisa and Lucca, but the result was a military dissaster.
Martino della Scala, lord of Verona, led the Ghibelline forces and deciively defeated the Florentines (1339). This time Florence was forced to ask King
Robert for military assistance. A tyranny followed but was overthrown by a popular insurection after whic civil liberties were once again restored.
Florence was not only affected by internal and external strife, butnatural disastes as well. There was a distructive flood (1333). The horrific Black Death which ravished the rest of Europe also struck in Florence, destating the population (1348). Following the plague, even more vilentb political infighting occurred which culminated in the 'Ciompi Riot' an action by the lower classes to support the state. The important Abizi family resisted the popular forces and the influence of Cosimo il Vecchio de' Medici, who succed iduring the 15th century in seizing control of the city while retaining a republican facade.
It was during the 14th century that the spirit of the Fenaissance rose in Florence. Interest in Greek and Roman antiquity helped to fuel a spirit of humanism. Florence became the heart of the Italian Renaissance. For centuries God had been the center of man's world focus. The new spirit of humanism shifted himan outlook so that man himself became the central focus. This shift can be observed in all aspects of culture including literature and art. Florence was the city of some oif the leading lights of the Renaissance. Filippo Brunelleschi created works which told the history of Florence (1420-46). European art until the Renaissance focused on religious scenes not secular historical scenes. Brunelleschi and other Floretine artists vaused Florence to present itself from as the "Renaissance city". The artistic talent that emerged from Florence is staggering, including Donatello, Masaccio, Filippo Lippi, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Sandro Botticelli, Beato Angelico, Michelozzo, Giuliano da Sangallo, Benedetto da Maiano, and of course Michelangelo. It is not all together clear why Florence emerged as a center of the Italian Renaissance. The weath of the city was cerainly an important factor. The patrinage of Lorenzo the Magnificent was another factor. I have not noted, however, a full explnation of this phenomenon,
The popolo grasso part in Florence gained political power near the end of the 14th century. The city for 40 years was ruled by a small group of middle=class merchants. Gradually opposition grew. Merchants who had been excluded from power incited popular opposition. Giovanni de' Medici who was head of the richest and company of Calimala emerged as the leader of the popular forces. Giovanni died (1429). Political tensions grew and poular loyalties increasingly focused on the Medici. Giovanni's oldest son emerged as a virtual feudal lord of Florence, but retained a republican facade. He died (1464) and was replaced by the weak Piero the Gouty (1464-1469). Next came Piero's son, Lorenzo the Magnificent. Lorenzo continued the Medici practice of maintaing the republican facade of the Commune, but in effect turned the city into a feudal duchy. Except in name, Lorenzo was every bit a feudal lord. He is best known as a lover and patron of the arts and philosophy. He was a strong force in promoting humanism. Lorenzo was wounded during the Pazzi conspiracy (1478). Popular opinion swing against thev Medici. An aestetic, purtanical Dominican priest named Savanarola who was critical of humanism and the art of the Renaissance seized control of Florence briefly before being burned as a heritic. The Florentine Republic formally came to an end with Alessandro (1530). The armies of the Pope Clemente VII and the Emperor Charles V beseiged the city with a Spanish army (1529) and installed Allesandro first Duke of Florence. Cosimo expanded the borders and became Grand Duke of Tuscany. After Cosimo the influence of Florence gradually declined.
The Medici were powerful patrins of the arts. They commission work from the great lights of the Italian Renaissance. Leonardo worked in the Medici court. He eventually left for Milan (1482) as he found philosophical differences with the Medici. Leonardo returned (1500). Michelangelo and Raffaello by that time had had altered the artistic environment. Michelangelo pushed by the pope had in effect shifted the focus of Renaissance art to Rome (1504). The great Renaissance art patrons shifted from Lorenzo and Florence to the great Renaissance popes (Clement VII, Julius II and Leo X). Raffaello arrived in Florence from
Urbino in the same year that Michelangelo left Florence for Rome. He stayed 4 years. Leonardo, Micelangelo, and Raffaello had a huge impact on Floentine art, some call their influence and ability to achieve the ideal was the basis for mannerism. Michelangelo returned to Florence (1516). Pope Leo X commissioned him to design the facade of the San Lorenzo Church. This commission was cancelled an Michelangelo instead worked on the tombs tombs of Lorenzo and Giuliano dei Medici.
The last Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany, Gian Gastone, died without heirs. The European powers decided to grant the Grand Duchy to the House of Loraine. The first Loraine ruler was Francis I Duke of Lorraine. He was followed by Peter Leopold I, Ferdinando II, Ferdinando III, and finally by Leopoldo II. The Lorraine dynasty persuing liberal policies helped revive the Florentine economy. It had, however, devestating influences on the city's culture. A kind of provincial outlooked develoed in the city. Florence was no longer an important cultural center.
The Neapolitan government intervened during the Napoleonic era.
After the defeat of Napoleon, Austrian troops reinstalled Leopoldo II. The House of Loraine remained in power until 1859.
Savoy and France united to defeat the Austrians in Second War of Independence , driving them out of much of Austria (1859). Florence was united with Savoy and other Italian provinces within the new Kingdom of Italy. Florence was the temprary capital of the Kingdom for a few years (1865-71).
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