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Italy
- a. Italy failed to develop a centralized monarchical state
- i. Papal opposition to rule of the Hohenstaufen emperors guaranteed that
- b. Southern Italy divided into Naples and Sicily
- i. Center of peninsula under shaky control of the papacy
- c. Numerous city sates
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Tendencies of 14th C.
- i. Replacement of republican gov’ts by tyrants
- ii. Expansion of larger city-states at expense of the less powerful ones
- 1. nearly all cities of northern Italy began existence as free communes with republican governments
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Intense internal strife-->
- i. intense internal strife led city-states to resort to temporary expedients, allowing rule by one man with dictatorial powers
- 1. limited rule, however, soon became long-term despotism as tyrants used force to maintain themselves in power
- a. tried to legitimize power by purchasing titles from emperor
- i. In this way, the Visconti became the dukes of Milan, and the deste, the dukes of Ferrara
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Other Changes
- a. Other change of great significance was the development of larger, regional states as the larger states conquered the smaller ones
- i. To fight, city-states relied on mercenaries, whose leader called condottieri sold the services of their bands to the highest bidder
- 1. Mercenaries wreaked havoc; many foreigners who went to Italy during periods of truce of Hundreds Year War
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a. By the end of the fourteenth century, three states dominated northern Italy:__
despotic state of Milan, republican states of Florence and Venice
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Duchy of Milan
- i. One of richest city-states, but one of most agitated until Visconti family established selves as hereditary despots of Milan in 1322
- 1. Giangaleazzo Visconti (1385-1402) transformed this despotism into hereditary duchy by purchasing title of duke from emperor in 1395
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Duchy of Milan: Giangaleazzo
1. Duchy of Milan extended power over all of Lombardy and even threatened to conquer much of northern Italy until the duke’s death before Florence gates in 1402
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Republic of Florence
- i. Initially a free commune dominated by patrician class of nobles called grandi
- ii. Economy’s rapid expansion à new wealthy merchant-industrialist class called popolo grasso
- 1. 1293: dominant role in government by establishing a new constitution known as the Ordinances of Justice
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Republic of Florence
Ordinances of Justice
- a. Provided republican government controlled by the seven major guilds of the city, which represented the interests of the wealthier classes
- b. Executive power in hands of council of elected priors—the signoria—and a standard-bearer of justice called the gonfalonier, assisted by a number of councils with advisory and overlapping powers
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Rep. of Florence:
Popolo Minute and Ciompi
- i. Mid-14th: revolutionary activity by popolo minute, small shopkeepers and artisans, won them a share in government
- ii. Even greater expansion when ciompi were allowed representation after 1378 revolt
- 1. Four years later, counterrevolution brought popolo grasso back into control
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1382: Florentine government
- i. 1382: Florentine government controlled by small merchant oligarchy that manipulated republican government
- 1. Florence also successful in wars against neighbors at this time, conquering most of Tuscany and establishing self as major territorial state
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Republic of Venice
Constitution of 1297
- i. Rich from commercial activityà merchant families became wealth
- ii. Constitution of 1297
- 1. Patricians took control of republic
- a. In this year, the Great council, the source of all political power, was closed to all but members of about two hundred families
- i. Hereditary patriciate
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Doge
Actual Power
gov't
- i. Doge was the executive head since Early Middle ages, but by 1300, largely a figurehead
- 1. Actual power in Great Council and Senate, while Council of Ten, formed in 1310, became real executive power
- ii. Venetian government respected by contemporaries for stability
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Policy of Expanision
- 1. Created a commercial empire by establishing colonies and trading posts in eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea as well a continuing commercial monopolies in byzantine Empire
- a. Venice began to conquer territory adjoining it to northern Italy
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