The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-15

tDCy ~ IGkutui bNdluttos ln6t6 HI2Iuta4
only formulated what had already existed
for some time.
As a matter OF fact we find, even In the
days Of Countess Matilda, which may be
roughly identified with the last quarter
of the eleventh century, tho mass Of tho
Florentine citizens divided and arranged
in groups. We see. on the one side, tho
ancient scholG surviving from Roman
lines, but transformed into association
of arts and trades containing the germs
Of future greater and lesser guilds; on tho
other, family associations and clans Of tho
Prdnci, or leading citizens, embryos Of the
future societies Of the towers. All these
associations already formed the practical
government Of the city in which the prin-
cipal Office were filed by grand Of Matilda
choice. Prof, Nilari deems il. probable
that the post of preside tprGses) was RI
served, in accordance with mediHval usage.
TO a single family or clan, perhaps to that
of the Uberti. who were among the most
powerful in the city. and boosted a Germanio
descent. A point 10 be noted il that there
was then no hostility, no separation be-
tween the great folk or grdRdi and the
people, all being united by common bonds
and interests. Our author IL inclined t.
believe that some Of the prdndi engaged
I'm were chief Of guilds, and
already had begun 10 fight side by sido
with the people against the outlying mobiles.
II was this alliance of all classes Of citizens
united by identity Of interest and single
ness of purpose against a common foe
tho rural nobility who's castles barred all
outlets for TN then constituted
the strength of that Florentine people whose
loyalty, purity and valor We're so fcrycutly
praised by Dante and the chroniclers.
II is well known that the Countess Matilda
when sho died in lll5 left a will bequeatning
all her possessions To the Church. This
donation, however, could only affect her
allodial estates, since all those held in feel
naturally reverted to the Empire. Hence
arose an endless succession of dispu'es
between the Emperor and the Pope, each
of whom asserted his right 10 the whole
inheritance, the one as Matilda's universal
lpgatee and the other as her ieudal superior.
No one could legally contest the right Of
the Emperor Henry ". to send a repre-
sentative to assume The Government OF
Tuscany in his name, but the papal oppo-
sition, the attitude of the cities, now dis
posed to assert their independence. and
the general disorder split Tuscany into frag-
ments. Accordingly, the representatives
Of the Empire could only place themselves
at the head of the feudal nobility Of the
various contddi (countShipsl, and by gather-
ing them together, form a Germanic party
opposed to the cities,
Al this crisis Florence, surrounded by the
castled nobility occupying the neighboring
hills. had to decide on one Of two courses,
She had either to yield TO those who had
always been her mortal enemies and we're
now emboldened by Henry's favor, or TO
com bat them openly and thus declare
enmity 20 the Empire, which would amount
TO a proclamation Of independence. The
latter course was adopted. Florence was
now conscious of her own strength and
recognized that safety could only be gained
10y force. The change was accomplished in
n simple and almost imperceptible way.
The same worthless who had administered
justice, governed the people and COM
manded the garrison In Matilda's name.
continued, now that she was dead,
to rule in the name OF the poo-
Pile, and asked its advice in all grave
emergencies. Thus these grand became
Consuls of th- C~ummiGe, which may he
said to have loaped into existence upper
Cnived This, IN \Illari'- opinion, il why
no chroniclers mention its birth, and no
documents record u I'm enieavoring 10
discover unknown events and lost docu-
ments which never existed, the solution
of a very easy problem has been hedged
around with imaginary difficulties We
are not TO suppose, indeed. that the acduia-
ton of practical independence by Florence
was accomplished without any shock. II
l. true that the actual government re-
NAMED almost intact, hut is basis was
altered. since II was now carried on Ia the
name Of the people instead Of that of the
Countess. MOreover,- during Matthias
reign the governing authorities had been
men of her choice: and, although an admin
istrative and judicial posts changed hands
from time To time, they had beCouc n
creasingly m~onopo,ized by a small cluster
Of families. Now, however, that the authIr
tiles were 20 be elected by the people, there
was a broader, though still somewhat
limited, range Of choice. Accordingly.
there vas more change of office, and men
were removed in turn from one 10 another
In such a state of things a good deal ~
friction bet ween the leading families was
inevitable Ultimately, there was a real
outbreak, almost a revolution, against
tho I berii. who had long been consllcu-
ously powerful
An event Of great significance In 'hs
early history ~ F%lorenc" was the capture
and sack Of fi"-ol In 1925. The current
account makes a commercial dispute
the chief cause of the war. Prof. Villain
points out. however, that there must have
been also q conflict Of jurisdiction Many
contemporary documents, II seems, refer
10 the county of Fl'spll a. II u were IN
di-'ilgu.shahle from the county Of fl'r-
encr. Hence II was only natural falf,
ON becoming an Independent commune
after MatildR's death. Florence should
s,gk 10 dominate over both counties, ana
II was equally natural that Fic-,le should
Ia violently opposed To the Idea To" ''-
tail- of the campaign ar" unknown o. -.
bat the uu'r.Tu. was the almost total Hr-
stulotipu - h.-.l".
The TIprru'lyo Go immune az We find %
Organized toward th" close of tH- int
halt 81 fhr twelfth century, rrsemN.'I .
confederation 81 Trade Guide and Nr.. -
~ fIr Iuv-r- 10, controlling H.f. .-
tics i.r u'ulf- - war. finance, jIs' T .HI
|N |N' N''t.' .' ~ INV lAENfFN IIl .
v.rr t.r fN,lNe consuls elr,t.d y...v
tu. 90 whom, ohos.n ln rotation. 100
los Nr4u. ui NJ" college. Tl,Ir NH- lat
-Hr" .r council - about % ..r|.l
u.r..- Utswi-" elected N'ur,. E
...I H Parliament. 81 assembly uf H .
.r, ~ nr A. should I.f. g. .'
.tnr. ~ thn outlying TERRITORY i..ri %
SOTO .N.'ul'd from ciulru-lI rr
.... rHfilrTr granted g. all dN. ..r- 70
." nI.-. thr lower cl.s- .f Hr sars
.H .~IuilHs ialuF tarrsi uuf uflr tie .
|r hn.turluuni wac concentrated .r ..H
.a. Do Ht q frv powerful fHmI.lrs 49,
' fHr guild and thlr pflu.It. uliHff =
o. iAH oven down tu a.. l..' itNr 70
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Haf@Ir FhtuHiHt 800 hr rI.H..
Boz ulHl that uH .ta.T t.I...U q
rtfH a. 90 900 u u#.lHIU ..rr
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