History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy

by Niccolo Machiavelli

frequent divisions, destroyed the nobility, and their republic being

  wholly in the hands of men brought up to trade, they followed the

  usages and example of others.

  Thus the arms of Italy were either in the hands of the lesser princes,

  or of men who possessed no state; for the minor princes did not adopt

  the practice of arms from any desire of glory, but for the acquisition

  of either property or safety. The others (those who possessed no

  state) being bred to arms from their infancy, were acquainted with no

  other art, and pursued war for emolument, or to confer honor upon

  themselves. The most noticed among the latter were Carmignola,

  Francesco Sforza, Niccolo Piccinino the pupil of Braccio, Agnolo della

  Pergola, Lorenzo di Micheletto Attenduli, il Tartaglia, Giacopaccio,

  Cecolini da Perugia, Niccolo da Tolentino, Guido Torello, Antonia dal

  Ponte ad Era, and many others. With these, were those lords of whom I

  have before spoken, to which may be added the barons of Rome, the

  Colonnesi and the Orsini, with other lords and gentlemen of the

  kingdoms of Naples and Lombardy, who, being constantly in arms, had

  such an understanding among themselves, and so contrived to

  accommodate things to their own convenience, that of those who were at

  war, most commonly both sides were losers; and they had made the

  practice of arms so totally ridiculous, that the most ordinary leader,

  possessed of true valor, would have covered these men with disgrace,

  whom, with so little prudence, Italy honored.

  With these idle princes and such contemptible arms, my history must,

  therefore, be filled; to which, before I descend, it will be

  necessary, as was at first proposed, to speak of the origin of

  Florence, that it may be clearly understood what was the state of the

  city in those times, and by what means, through the labours of a

  thousand years, she became so imbecile.

  BOOK II

  CHAPTER I

  The custom of ancient republics to plant colonies, and the

  advantage of it--Increased population tends to make countries more

  healthy--Origin of Florence--Aggrandizement of Florence--Origin of

  the name of Florence--Destruction of Florence by Totila--The

  Florentines take Fiesole--The first division in Florence, and the

  cause of it--Buondelmonti--Buondelmonti slain--Guelphs and

  Ghibellines in Florence--Guelphic families--Ghibelline families--

  The two factions come to terms.

  Among the great and wonderful institutions of the republics and

  principalities of antiquity that have now gone into disuse, was that

  by means of which towns and cities were from time to time established;

  and there is nothing more worthy the attention of a great prince, or

  of a well-regulated republic, or that confers so many advantages upon

  a province, as the settlement of new places, where men are drawn

  together for mutual accommodation and defense. This may easily be

  done, by sending people to reside in recently acquired or uninhabited

  countries. Besides causing the establishment of new cities, these

  removals render a conquered country more secure, and keep the

  inhabitants of a province properly distributed. Thus, deriving the

  greatest attainable comfort, the inhabitants increase rapidly, are

  more prompt to attack others, and defend themselves with greater

  assurance. This custom, by the unwise practice of princes and

  republics, having gone into desuetude, the ruin and weakness of

  territories has followed; for this ordination is that by which alone

  empires are made secure, and countries become populated. Safety is the

  result of it; because the colony which a prince establishes in a newly

  acquired country, is like a fortress and a guard, to keep the

  inhabitants in fidelity and obedience. Neither can a province be

  wholly occupied and preserve a proper distribution of its inhabitants

  without this regulation; for all districts are not equally healthy,

  and hence some will abound to overflowing, while others are void; and

  if there be no method of withdrawing them from places in which they

  increase too rapidly, and planting them where they are too few the

  country would soon be wasted; for one part would become a desert, and

  the other a dense and wretched population. And, as nature cannot

  repair this disorder, it is necessary that industry should effect it,

  for unhealthy localities become wholesome when a numerous population

  is brought into them. With cultivation the earth becomes fruitful, and

  the air is purified with fires--remedies which nature cannot provide.

  The city of Venice proves the correctness of these remarks. Being

  placed in a marshy and unwholesome situation, it became healthy only

  by the number of industrious individuals who were drawn together.

  Pisa, too, on account of its unwholesome air, was never filled with

  inhabitants, till the Saracens, having destroyed Genoa and rendered

  her rivers unnavigable, caused the Genoese to migrate thither in vast

  numbers, and thus render her populous and powerful. Where the use of

  colonies is not adopted, conquered countries are held with great

  difficulty; districts once uninhabited still remain so, and those

  which populate quickly are not relieved. Hence it is that many places

  of the world, and particularly in Italy, in comparison of ancient

  times, have become deserts. This has wholly arisen and proceeded from

  the negligence of princes, who have lost all appetite for true glory,

  and of republics which no longer possess institutions that deserve

  praise. In ancient times, by means of colonies, new cities frequently

  arose, and those already begun were enlarged, as was the case with

  Florence, which had its beginning from Fiesole, and its increase from

  colonies.

  It is exceedingly probable, as Dante and Giovanni Villani show, that

  the city of Fiesole, being situate upon the summit of the mountain, in

  order that her markets might be more frequented, and afford greater

  accommodation for those who brought merchandise, would appoint the

  place in which to told them, not upon the hill, but in the plain,

  between the foot of the mountain and the river Arno. I imagine these

  markets to have occasioned the first erections that were made in those

  places, and to have induced merchants to wish for commodious

  warehouses for the reception of their goods, and which, in time,

  became substantial buildings. And afterward, when the Romans, having

  conquered the Carthaginians, rendered Italy secure from foreign

  invasion, these buildings would greatly increase; for men never endure

  inconveniences unless some powerful necessity compels them. Thus,

  although the fear of war induces a willingness to occupy places strong

  and difficult of access, as soon as the cause of alarm is removed, men

  gladly resort to more convenient and easily attainable localities.

  Hence, the security to which the reputation of the Roman republic gave

  birth, caused the inhabitants, having begun in the manner described,

  to increase so much as to form a town, this was at first called the

  Villa Arnina. After this occurred
the civil wars between Marius and

  Sylla; then those of C�sar, and Pompey; and next those of the

  murderers of C�sar, and the parties who undertook to avenge his death.

  Therefore, first by Sylla, and afterward by the three Roman citizens,

  who, having avenged the death of C�sar, divided the empire among

  themselves, colonies were sent to Fiesole, which, either in part or in

  whole, fixed their habitations in the plain, near to the then rising

  town. By this increase, the place became so filled with dwellings,

  that it might with propriety be enumerated among the cities of Italy.

  There are various opinions concerning the derivation of the word

  Florentia. Some suppose it to come from Florinus, one of the principal

  persons of the colony; others think it was originally not Florentia,

  but Fluentia, and suppose the word derived from /fluente/, or flowing

  of the Arno; and in support of their opinion, adduce a passage from

  Pliny, who says, "the Fluentini are near the flowing of the Arno."

  This, however, may be incorrect, for Pliny speaks of the locality of

  the Florentini, not of the name by which they were known. And it seems

  as if the word Fluentini were a corruption, because Frontinus and

  Cornelius Tacitus, who wrote at nearly the same period as Pliny, call

  them Florentia and Florentini; for, in the time of Tiberius, they were

  governed like the other cities of Italy. Besides, Cornelius refers to

  the coming of ambassadors from the Florentines, to beg of the emperor

  that the waters of the Chiane might not be allowed to overflow their

  country; and it is not at all reasonable that the city should have two

  names at the same time. Therefore I think that, however derived, the

  name was always Florentia, and that whatever the origin might be, it

  occurred under the Roman empire, and began to be noticed by writers in

  the times of the first emperors.

  When the Roman empire was afflicted by the barbarians, Florence was

  destroyed by Totila, king of the Ostrogoths; and after a period of two

  hundred and fifty years, rebuilt by Charlemagne; from whose time, till

  the year 1215, she participated in the fortune of the rest of Italy;

  and, during this period, first the descendants of Charles, then the

  Berengarii, and lastly the German emperors, governed her, as in our

  general treatise we have shown. Nor could the Florentines, during

  those ages, increase in numbers, or effect anything worthy of memory,

  on account of the influence of those to whom they were subject.

  Nevertheless, in the year 1010, upon the feast of St. Romolo, a solemn

  day with the Fiesolani, they took and destroyed Fiesole, which must

  have been performed either with the consent of the emperors, or during

  the interim from the death of one to the creation of his successor,

  when all assumed a larger share of liberty. But then the pontiffs

  acquired greater influence, and the authority of the German emperors

  was in its wane, all the places of Italy governed themselves with less

  respect for the prince; so that, in the time of Henry III. the mind of

  the country was divided between the emperor and the church. However,

  the Florentines kept themselves united until the year 1215, rendering

  obedience to the ruling power, and anxious only to preserve their own

  safety. But, as the diseases which attack our bodies are more

  dangerous and mortal in proportion as they are delayed, so Florence,

  though late to take part in the sects of Italy, was afterward the more

  afflicted by them. The cause of her first division is well known,

  having been recorded by Dante and many other writers; I shall,

  however, briefly notice it.

  Among the most powerful families of Florence were the Buondelmonti and

  the Uberti; next to these were the Amidei and the Donati. Of the

  Donati family there was a rich widow who had a daughter of exquisite

  beauty, for whom, in her own mind, she had fixed upon Buondelmonti, a

  young gentleman, the head of the Buondelmonti family, as her husband;

  but either from negligence, or, because she thought it might be

  accomplished at any time, she had not made known her intention, when

  it happened that the cavalier betrothed himself to a maiden of the

  Amidei family. This grieved the Donati widow exceedingly; but she

  hoped, with her daughter's beauty, to disturb the arrangement before

  the celebration of the marriage; and from an upper apartment, seeing

  Buondelmonti approach her house alone, she descended, and as he was

  passing she said to him, "I am glad to learn you have chosen a wife,

  although I had reserved my daughter for you"; and, pushing the door

  open, presented her to his view. The cavalier, seeing the beauty of

  the girl, which was very uncommon, and considering the nobility of her

  blood, and her portion not being inferior to that of the lady whom he

  had chosen, became inflamed with such an ardent desire to possess her,

  that, not thinking of the promise given, or the injury he committed in

  breaking it, or of the evils which his breach of faith might bring

  upon himself, said, "Since you have reserved her for me, I should be

  very ungrateful indeed to refuse her, being yet at liberty to choose";

  and without any delay married her. As soon as the fact became known,

  the Amidei and the Uberti, whose families were allied, were filled

  with rage, and having assembled with many others, connections of the

  parties, they concluded that the injury could not be tolerated without

  disgrace, and that the only vengeance proportionate to the enormity of

  the offence would be to put Buondelmonti to death. And although some

  took into consideration the evils that might ensue upon it, Mosca

  Lamberti said, that those who talk of many things effect nothing,

  using that trite and common adage, /Cosa fatta capo ha/. Thereupon,

  they appointed to the execution of the murder Mosca himself, Stiatti

  Uberti, Lambertuccio Amidei, and Oderigo Fifanti, who, on the morning

  of Easter day, concealed themselves in a house of the Amidei, situate

  between the old bridge and St. Stephen's, and as Buondelmonti was

  passing upon a white horse, thinking it as easy a matter to forget an

  injury as reject an alliance, he was attacked by them at the foot of

  the bridge, and slain close by a statue of Mars. This murder divided

  the whole city; one party espousing the cause of the Buondelmonti, the

  other that of the Uberti; and as these families possessed men and

  means of defense, they contended with each other for many years,

  without one being able to destroy the other.

  Florence continued in these troubles till the time of Frederick II.,

  who, being king of Naples, endeavored to strengthen himself against

  the church; and, to give greater stability to his power in Tuscany,

  favored the Uberti and their followers, who, with his assistance,

  expelled the Buondelmonti; thus our city, as all the rest of Italy had

  long time been, became divided into Guelphs and Ghibellines; and as it

  will not be superfluous, I shall record the names of the families

  which took part with each faction. Those who adopted the cause of the

  Guelphs were the Buo
ndelmonti, Nerli, Rossi, Frescobaldi, Mozzi,

  Bardi, Pulci, Gherardini, Foraboschi, Bagnesi, Guidalotti, Sacchetti,

  Manieri, Lucardesi, Chiaramontesi, Compiobbesi, Cavalcanti,

  Giandonati, Gianfigliazzi, Scali, Gualterotti, Importuni, Bostichi,

  Tornaquinci, Vecchietti, Tosinghi, Arrigucci, Agli, Sizi, Adimari,

  Visdomini, Donati, Passi, della Bella, Ardinghi, Tedaldi, Cerchi. Of

  the Ghibelline faction were the Uberti, Manelli, Ubriachi, Fifanti,

  Amidei, Infangati, Malespini, Scolari, Guidi, Galli, Cappiardi,

  Lamberti, Soldanieri, Cipriani, Toschi, Amieri, Palermini,

  Migliorelli, Pigli, Barucci, Cattani, Agolanti, Brunelleschi,

  Caponsacchi, Elisei, Abati, Tidaldini, Giuochi, and Galigai. Besides

  the noble families on each side above enumerated, each party was

  joined by many of the higher ranks of the people, so that the whole

  city was corrupted with this division. The Guelphs being expelled,

  took refuge in the Upper Val d'Arno, where part of their castles and

  strongholds were situated, and where they strengthened and fortified

  themselves against the attacks of their enemies. But, upon the death

  of Frederick, the most unbiased men, and those who had the greatest

  authority with the people, considered that it would be better to

  effect the reunion of the city, than, by keeping her divided, cause

  her ruin. They therefore induced the Guelphs to forget their injuries

  and return, and the Ghibellines to lay aside their jealousies and

  receive them with cordiality.

  CHAPTER II

  New form of government in Florence--Military establishments--The

  greatness of Florence--Movements of the Ghibellines--Ghibellines

  driven out of the city--Guelphs routed by the forces of the king

  of Naples--Florence in the power of the king of Naples--Project of

  the Ghibellines to destroy Florence opposed by Farinata degli

  Uberti--Adventures of the Guelphs of Florence--The pope gives his

  standard to the Guelphs--Fears of the Ghibellines and their

  preparations for the defense of their power--Establishment of

  trades' companies, and their authority--Count Guido Novello

  expelled--He goes to Prato--The Guelphs restored to the city--The

  Ghibellines quit Florence--The Florentines reform the government

  in favor of the Guelphs--The pope endeavors to restore the

  Ghibellines and excommunicates Florence--Pope Nicholas III.

  endeavors to abate the power of Charles king of Naples.

  Being united, the Florentines thought the time favorable for the

  ordination of a free government, and that it would be desirable to

  provide their means of defense before the new emperor should acquire

  strength. They therefore divided the city into six parts, and elected

  twelve citizens, two for each sixth, to govern the whole. These were

  called Anziani, and were elected annually. To remove the cause of

  those enmities which had been observed to arise from judicial

  decisions, they provided two judges from some other state,--one called

  captain of the people, the other podesta, or provost,--whose duty it

  was to decide in cases, whether civil or criminal, which occurred

  among the people. And as order cannot be preserved without a

  sufficient force for the defense of it, they appointed twenty banners

  in the city, and seventy-six in the country, upon the rolls of which

  the names of all the youth were armed; and it was ordered that

  everyone should appear armed, under his banner, whenever summoned,

  whether by the captain of the people or the Anziani. They had ensigns

  according to the kind of arms they used, the bowmen being under one

  ensign, and the swordsmen, or those who carried a target, under

  another; and every year, upon the day of Pentecost, ensigns were given

  with great pomp to the new men, and new leaders were appointed for the

  whole establishment. To give importance to their armies, and to serve

  as a point of refuge for those who were exhausted in the fight, and