Crónicas urbanas e historiografía en la Toscana bajomedieval. Urban chronicles and Historiography in medieval Tuscany
Authors: Villa Prieto Josué 
Published: November 2018

Este trabajo propone una aproximación a la historiografía urbana en Toscana durante la Baja Edad Media. Su cronística se interpreta como resultado de dos fenómenos: la consolidación de Florencia como autoridad política hegemónica en la región y como principal foco cultural del humanismo italiano. Cada epígrafe está dedicado a las historias realizadas sobre una ciudad concreta, interpretándose el contexto de su elaboración, la relación existente entre el autor y los hechos narrados, las características literarias de la obra, su contenido, y las posibilidades y límites que ofrecen para el conocimiento histórico. El catálogo de autores y obras incluye una tipología de las mismas en función de la cronología abordada (periodizaciones acotadas, historias universales y sucesos concretos). Asimismo se precisa los métodos y técnicas de elaboración histórica empleados por los cronistas, y sus esfuerzos humanistas en el tratamiento de las fuentes y por conseguir un estilo literario de inspiración clásica.The aim of this article is to offer a closest view of the urban chronicles made in the Toscana during the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The analysis is both historiographic and historic in order to achieve a better comprehension of these Works, taking into account the political evolution of the region and the cultural background that defines it. There for it must be kept in mind that during the Late Medieval Ages Florence gradually grows stronger as the govern authority within the region, as well as the main role in the Italian Humanism.Each one of the sections in this article studies one city. The first one studies the case of Florence, followed by the other cities in the Toscana: Arezzo, Pisa, Pistoia, Prat, San Miniato, Sienna (only city that stays away from the Florentine sovereignty, remaining as a republic) and Volterra. In each case it is studied the historic, institutional and cultural reality surrounding the redaction of the chronicles, the relation between the author and the facts he relates, the literary aspect of the chronicles, in addition its content is summarized, and finally the opportunities and boundaries that the chronicles can offer to the historic knowledge is valued.The chronicles are also classified attending to its characterization. A first differentiation appears when focusing into the way the chronicles deal with the information: some offer just statements that contain the news, with no explanatory recounting, in order to achieve objectivity (Annali Fiorentini, Annali Pisani, Annali Arretonirum); other are detailed essay containing the author’s most intimate feelings (Giovanni de Bonis, Baldasarre Boniaiuti, Antonio Ivani da Sarzana); and there are also Works that join together the explanatory narration with the transcription of public documents from the Comune (Giovanni Villani, Leonardo Bruni, Matteo Palmieri). In order to study this last type of chronicles its been followed the methodology by G. Arnaldi and M. Zabbia about the notary-chronicler, his academic education and notarial work, which leads them to act as attestor and to recount History based in reliable documentation.Another classification can be made according to the chronological period in each chronicle. The Universal Histories go back to the city founding during mythological era and ancient times; they have the most original historical conception, offering chronological frameworks, interpretations and purely humanistic styles (Ricordano Malispini, Baldasarre Bonaiuti, Giovanni Villano, Leonardo Bruni, Niccolò Machiavelli). On the other hand, the cronache cittadine focus in a very precise period and, mostly, contemporary to the writing (Bartolomeo di ser Gorello, Raniero Granchi, Gregorio Dati, Paolo di Tommaso Montauri, Domenico Buoninsegni, Sozomeno da Pistoia, Tommaso Fecini, Francesco Guicciardini). Finally, the ricordanze analyse a very specific and exceptional event (Alamanno Acciaioli, Luigi Guicciardini, Simone Peruzzi, Guccio Benvenuti, Antonio Ivani da Sarzana, Bastiano, Francesco Pezzati, Guasparri Spadari); belonging to this last group there are also some rhymed pieces (Carmen in victoriam Pisanorum, Ricordi di Firenze in 1459, Sacco di Prato de Stefano Guizzalotti). Besides all these chronicle types there are some others in the form of diaries and domestic chronicles (Ugolino di Niccolò Martelli, Matteo Castellani, Filippo Rinuccini).Finally the study focus in the methods and techniques used by the chroniclers in the elaboration of History. They make a record of what they see or know through probative testimonies (oral or written), valuing the document as a source for the elaboration of History. Besides the humanistic way in which the chroniclers handle the sources, they also make an effort to achieve a literary style of classic inspiration.