Republic of Florence (2 gen 1115 anni – 1 gen 1532 anni)

Descrizione:

The newly independent Florence prospered in the 12th century through extensive trade with foreign countries. This provided a platform for the demographic growth of the city, mirroring the contsturction rate. This prosperity was shattered when Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa invaded the Italian Peninsula in 1185, and the margraves of Tuscany reacquired Florence. The Florentines reasserted their independence when Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI died in 1197.

Florence's population continued to grow, supporting trade and vice versa, with many new buildings. Competing political faction were barely able to maintain peace, failing in 1216 when the Guelph and Ghibelline factions began to war. The Ghibbilienes supported the nobility, while the Guelphs were populists. The Ghibellines ruled the city under Frederick of Antioch from 1244-50, when they were deposed by the Guelphs, who led Florence to prosper further. After a catastrophic defeat against Siena in the Battle of Montaperti in 1260, the Ghibellines resumed power and undid many of the advances of the Guelphs, including many demolitions. The fragility of their rule caused the Ghibellines to seek out an arbitrator in the form of Pope Clement IV, who openly favored the Guelphs and restored them to power. The Florentine economy reached a zenith in the latter half of the 13th century, with the merchant class ever-prospering. The Bonsignori family of Siena, one of the leading banking families of Europe, went bankrupt in 1298, and Siena lost its status as the most prominent banking center of Europe to Florence.

In 1304, war between the Ghibellines and the Guelphs led to a great fire that destroyed much of the city. Several new banking families sprung up in Florence, the Bardis, Peruzzis and Accaioli. The friction between the Guelphs and Ghibellines would not cease. A Europe-wide economic recession caused banks to perish, and Florence's reign as the foremost banking city in Europe ended, though Florentine literature would flourish. A coalition of Italian City states led by Florence, and Pope Gregory XI, brought about the end of the Avignon Papacy around 1376, in a war which strained the Florence regime. The Viscontis of Milan began expanding in 1389, beginning a period of three Florentine wars with Milan. The first in 1390-92 saw Milan contained, and the second in 1397-98 was inconclusive, between which the Medici Bank was founded. The war expenses necessitated tax raises and forced loans. Over the next two years Florentine control of Tuscany collapsed.

The Milanese were involved in a plot in Florence to open the gates to Milan. Milan defeated the Republic, but an outbreak of plague saved Florence in the third of the three wars. The Visconti sold Pisa to Florence, who only submitted to their long-time rivals after a long siege in 1406 full of atrocities. Milan had approached Florence with a treaty prohibiting Florence's interference with Milan's impending war with Genoa, but though Florence obliged, Milan disregarded the treaty themselves. Though the people of Florence did not want war, the republic chose it, and upon Venice's entry on their side, Florence won and the Visconti of Milan were forced to sign an unfavorable treaty. The debt forced the state to change the tax system, based on a citizen's entire wealth instead of income.

Cosimo de' Medici succeeded his father as head of the Medici Bank, and played a prominent role in Florentine government until his exile in 1433, after a disastrous war with Tuscany. The Florentine people overturned his exile less than a year later in a democratic vote, and Cosimo returned to acclaim and began de facto rule of Florence. His rule began the Renaissance, and his fervent patronage transformed Florence into the epitome of a Renaissance city.

A series of conflict between the Venetian Republic and the Duchy of Milan for hegemony in Northern Italy dominated Florence's foreign relations between 1423-1454. Filippo Maria Visconti of Milan invaded Milan twice in the 1430's and again in 1440, and was finally defeated that year. When Cosimo's ally Francesco Sforza established himself as Duke of Milan, alliances changed and Florence supported Milan against Venice. Eventually, the peace of Lodi recognized Venetian and Florentine territorial gains and the legitimacy of Sforza rule. The Milan-Florence alliance would majorly stabilize the Italian Peninsula for the next 40 years.

The first challenge to Medici rule was the political crisis of 1458, due to great families and political opponent bearing the brunt of the cost of wars. The opponents attempted to demand reforms but the Medici used threats of force and exiled opponents. Cosimo withdrew from official public role in 1458, but his influence was greater than ever.

Piero the Gouty, son of Cosimo, who suffered from gout and bad health, gained power on his father's death in 1474. With the death of Francesco Sforza in 1466, Florence lost a valuable ally and the same year a coup attempted to depose Piero. Piero died in 1469, succeeded by his son Lorenzo, who had been increasingly groomed for power. Lorenzo was the greatest artistic patron of the Renaissance. His brother was killed before him in an unsuccessful coup in 1478, and the conspirators were executed in 'sacrilegious' ways, leading to a two year war against the papacy during which Lorenzo tactfully secured peace diplomatically. He was succeeded by his son, Piero the Unfortunate, upon his death in 1492. Piero allowed Charles VIII of France passage to invade Italy in 1494, capitulating to his demands, and was branded a traitor in the city, being forced to flee with his family.

Girolamo Savonarola, a priest, ruled the state after, and ushered in democratic reforms on his way to pious changes, including a "Bonfire of Vanities." His rule collapsed when he was excommunicated, embarked on a miserably failed war with Pisa leading to food shortage and plague. He was blamed for these woes, tortured and burned at the stake by Florentina authorities in 1498.

Piero Soderini, having become ruler of Florence in 1498, was closed as the first Florentine ruler for life in 1502. He succeeded in recapturing Pisa thanks to Secretary of War Machiavelli, who introduced a standing army in Florence as opposed to traditional use of mercenaries.

During the War of the League of Cambrai, Cardinal Giovanni de' Medici captured Florence with Papal troops, repudiating Soderini and restoring Medici rule. Giovanni was elected Pope, taking the name Leo X and ruling Florence by proxy, first through brother Giuliano and then in 1513 replacing him with his cousin Lorenzo II. Lorenzo II was unpopular due to his disconnect from the citizens. He died from syphilis in 1519, after which point Cardinal Giulio de' Medici governed Florence, until he became pope in 1523. Giulio's administration was frugal and successful. He appointed Ippolito and Alessandro de' Medici to rule in his stead, under guardianship of Cardinal Passerini. The regency government proved unpopular.

In 1529, the Holy Roman Empire sacked Rome, destroying the city and imprisoning Pope Clement VII, while during the tumult a wave of Puritanism drove the Medici from Florence. Clement VII signed the Treaty of Barcelona with Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, in which Charles would restore the Medici in exchange for the Pope's blessing. Charles stated that he alone could determine the government of Florence, making the Medici hereditary rulers and naming them Dukes.

Aggiunto al nastro di tempo:

Data: