History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy

by Niccolo Machiavelli

rise for the preservation of order, and being joined by many from the

  country, they compelled the leaders of both parties to lay aside their

  arms, and banished Corso, with many of the Neri. And as an evidence of

  the impartiality of their motives, they also banished many of the

  Bianchi, who, however, soon afterward, under pretense of some

  justifiable cause, returned.

  Corso and his friends, thinking the pope favorable to their party,

  went to Rome and laid their grievances before him, having previously

  forwarded a statement of them in writing. Charles of Valois, brother

  of the king of France, was then at the papal court, having been called

  into Italy by the king of Naples, to go over into Sicily. The pope,

  therefore, at the earnest prayers of the banished Florentines,

  consented to send Charles to Florence, till the season suitable for

  his going to Sicily should arrive. He therefore came, and although the

  Bianchi, who then governed, were very apprehensive, still, as the head

  of the Guelphs, and appointed by the pope, they did not dare to oppose

  him, and in order to secure his friendship, they gave him authority to

  dispose of the city as he thought proper.

  Thus authorized, Charles armed all his friends and followers, which

  step gave the people so strong a suspicion that he designed to rob

  them of their liberty, that each took arms, and kept at his own house,

  in order to be ready, if Charles should make any such attempt. The

  Cerchi and the leaders of the Bianchi faction had acquired universal

  hatred by having, while at the head of the republic, conducted

  themselves with unbecoming pride; and this induced Corso and the

  banished of the Neri party to return to Florence, knowing well that

  Charles and the Captains of the Parts were favorable to them. And

  while the citizens, for fear of Charles, kept themselves in arms,

  Corso, with all the banished, and followed by many others, entered

  Florence without the least impediment. And although Veri de Cerchi was

  advised to oppose him, he refused to do so, saying that he wished the

  people of Florence, against whom he came, should punish him. However,

  the contrary happened, for he was welcomed, not punished by them; and

  it behooved Veri to save himself by flight.

  Corso, having forced the Pinti Gate, assembled his party at San Pietro

  Maggiore, near his own house, where, having drawn together a great

  number of friends and people desirous of change, he set at liberty all

  who had been imprisoned for offenses, whether against the state or

  against individuals. He compelled the existing Signory to withdraw

  privately to their own houses, elected a new one from the people of

  the Neri party, and for five days plundered the leaders of the

  Bianchi. The Cerchi, and the other heads of their faction, finding

  Charles opposed to them, withdrew from the city, and retired to their

  strongholds. And although at first they would not listen to the advice

  of the pope, they were now compelled to turn to him for assistance,

  declaring that instead of uniting the city, Charles had caused greater

  disunion than before. The pope again sent Matteo d'Acquasparta, his

  legate, who made peace between the Cerchi and the Donati, and

  strengthened it with marriages and new betrothals. But wishing that

  the Bianchi should participate in the employments of the government,

  to which the Neri who were then at the head of it would not consent,

  he withdrew, with no more satisfaction nor less enraged than on the

  former occasion, and left the city interdicted for disobedience.

  Both parties remained in Florence, and equally discontented; the Neri

  from seeing their enemies at hand, and apprehending the loss of their

  power, and the Bianchi from finding themselves without either honor or

  authority; and to these natural causes of animosity new injuries were

  added. Niccolo de' Cerchi, with many of his friends, went to his

  estates, and being arrived at the bridge of Affrico, was attacked by

  Simone, son of Corso Donati. The contest was obstinate, and one each

  side had a sorrowful conclusion; for Niccolo was slain, and Simone was

  so severely wounded that he died on the following night.

  This event again disturbed the entire city; and although the Neri were

  most to blame, they were defended by those who were at the head of

  affairs; and before sentence was delivered, a conspiracy of the

  Bianchi with Piero Ferrante, one of the barons who had accompanied

  Charles, was discovered, by whose assistance they sought to be

  replaced in the government. The matter became known from letters

  addressed to him by the Cerchi, although some were of opinion that

  they were not genuine, but written and pretended to be found, by the

  Donati, to abate the infamy which their party had acquired by the

  death of Niccolo. The whole of the Cerchi were, however, banished,--

  with their followers of the Bianchi party, of whom was Dante the poet,

  --their property confiscated, and their houses pulled down. They

  sought refuge, with a great number of Ghibellines who had joined them,

  in many places, seeking fresh fortunes in new undertakings. Charles,

  having effected the purpose of his coming, left the city, and returned

  to the pope to pursue his enterprise against Sicily, in which he was

  neither wiser nor more fortunate than he had been at Florence; so that

  with disgrace and the loss of many of his followers, he withdrew to

  France.

  After the departure of Charles, Florence remained quiet. Corso alone

  was restless, thinking he did not possess that sort of authority in

  the city which was due to his rank; for the government being in the

  hands of the people, he saw the offices of the republic administered

  by many inferior to himself. Moved by passions of this kind, he

  endeavored, under the pretense of an honorable design, to justify his

  own dishonorable purposes, and accused many citizens who had the

  management of the public money, of applying it to their private uses,

  and recommended that they should be brought to justice and punished.

  This opinion was adopted by many who had the same views as himself;

  and many in ignorance joined them, thinking Corso actuated only by

  pure patriotism. On the other hand, the accused citizens, enjoying the

  popular favor, defended themselves, and this difference arose to such

  a height, that, after civil means, they had recourse to arms. Of the

  one party were Corso and Lottieri, bishop of Florence, with many of

  the nobility and some of the people; on the other side were the

  Signory, with the greater part of the people; so that skirmishes took

  place in many parts of the city. The Signory, seeing their danger

  great, sent for aid to the Lucchese, and presently all the people of

  Lucca were in Florence. With their assistance the disturbances were

  settled for the moment, and the people retained the government and

  their liberty, without attempting by any other means to punish the

  movers of the disorder.

  The pope had heard of the tumults at Florence, and sent his legate,

  Niccolo da Prato, to settle them, who, being in high
reputation both

  for his quality, learning, and mode of life, presently acquired so

  much of the people's confidence, that authority was given him to

  establish such a government as he should think proper. As he was of

  Ghibelline origin, he determined to recall the banished; but designing

  first to gain the affections of the lower orders, he renewed the

  ancient companies of the people, which increased the popular power and

  reduced that of the nobility. The legate, thinking the multitude on

  his side, now endeavored to recall the banished, and, after attempting

  in many ways, none of which succeeded, he fell so completely under the

  suspicion of the government, that he was compelled to quit the city,

  and returned to the pope in great wrath, leaving Florence full of

  confusion and suffering under an interdict. Neither was the city

  disturbed with one division alone, but by many; first the enmity

  between the people and the nobility, then that of the Ghibellines and

  the Guelphs, and lastly, of the Bianchi and the Neri. All the citizens

  were, therefore, in arms, for many were dissatisfied with the

  departure of the legate, and wished for the return of the banished.

  The first who set this disturbance on foot were the Medici and the

  Guinigi, who, with the legate, had discovered themselves in favor of

  the rebels; and thus skirmishes took place in many parts of the city.

  In addition to these evils a fire occurred, which first broke out at

  the garden of St. Michael, in the houses of the Abati; it thence

  extended to those of the Capoinsacchi, and consumed them, with those

  of the Macci, Amieri, Toschi, Cipriani, Lamberti, Cavalcanti, and the

  whole of the New Market; from thence it spread to the gate of St.

  Maria, and burned it to the ground; turning from the old bridge, it

  destroyed the houses of the Gherardini, Pulci, Amidei, and Lucardesi,

  and with these so many others that the number amounted to seventeen

  hundred. It was the opinion of many that this fire occurred by

  accident during the heat of the disturbances. Others affirm that it

  was begun willfully by Neri Abati, prior of St. Pietro Scarragio, a

  dissolute character, fond of mischief, who, seeing the people occupied

  with the combat, took the opportunity of committing a wicked act, for

  which the citizens, being thus employed, could offer no remedy. And to

  insure his success, he set fire to the house of his own brotherhood,

  where he had the best opportunity of doing it. This was in the year

  1304, Florence being afflicted both with fire and the sword. Corso

  Donati alone remained unarmed in so many tumults; for he thought he

  would more easily become the arbitrator between the contending parties

  when, weary of strife, they should be inclined to accommodation. They

  laid down their arms, however, rather from satiety of evil than from

  any desire of union; and the only consequence was, that the banished

  were not recalled, and the party which favored them remained inferior.

  CHAPTER V

  The emigrants attempt to re-enter Florence, but are not allowed to

  do so--The companies of the people restored--Restless conduct of

  Corso Donati--The ruin of Corso Donati--Corso Donati accused and

  condemned--Riot at the house of Corso--Death of Corso--His

  character--Fruitless attempt of the Emperor Henry against the

  Florentines--The emigrants are restored to the city--The citizens

  place themselves under the king of Naples for five years--War with

  Uguccione della Faggiuola--The Florentines routed--Florence

  withdraws herself from subjection to King Robert, and expels the

  Count Novello--Lando d'Agobbio--His tyranny--His departure.

  The legate being returned to Rome, and hearing of the new disturbance

  which had occurred, persuaded the pope that if he wished to unite the

  Florentines, it would be necessary to have twelve of the first

  citizens appear before him, and having thus removed the principal

  causes of disunion, he might easily put a stop to it. The pontiff took

  this advice, and the citizens, among whom was Corso Donati, obeyed the

  summons. These having left the city, the legate told the exiles that

  now, when the city was deprived of her leaders, was the time for them

  to return. They, therefore, having assembled, came to Florence, and

  entering by a part of the wall not yet completed, proceeded to the

  piazza of St. Giovanni. It is worthy of remark, that those who, a

  short time previously, when they came unarmed and begged to be

  restored to their country, had fought for their return, now, when they

  saw them in arms and resolved to enter by force, took arms to oppose

  them (so much more was the common good esteemed than private

  friendship), and being joined by the rest of the citizens, compelled

  them to return to the places whence they had come. They failed in

  their undertaking by having left part of their force at Lastra, and by

  not having waited the arrival of Tolosetto Uberti, who had to come

  from Pistoia with three hundred horse; for they thought celerity

  rather than numbers would give them the victory; and it often happens,

  in similar enterprises, that delay robs us of the occasion, and too

  great anxiety to be forward prevents us of the power, or makes us act

  before we are properly prepared.

  The banished having retired, Florence again returned to her old

  divisions; and in order to deprive the Cavalcanti of their authority,

  the people took from them the Stinche, a castle situated in the Val di

  Greve, and anciently belonging to the family. And as those who were

  taken in it were the first who were put into the new prisons, the

  latter were, and still continue, named after it,--the Stinche. The

  leaders of the republic also re-established the companies of the

  people, and gave them the ensigns that were first used by the

  companies of the Arts; the heads of which were called Gonfaloniers of

  the companies and colleagues of the Signory; and ordered, that when

  any disturbance arose they should assist the Signory with arms, and in

  peace with counsel. To the two ancient rectors they added an executor,

  or sheriff, who, with the Gonfaloniers, was to aid in repressing the

  insolence of the nobility.

  In the meantime the pope died. Corso, with the other citizens,

  returned from Rome; and all would have been well if his restless mind

  had not occasioned new troubles. It was his common practice to be of a

  contrary opinion to the most powerful men in the city; and whatever he

  saw the people inclined to do, he exercised his utmost influence to

  effect, in order to attach them to himself; so that he was a leader in

  all differences, at the head of every new scheme, and whoever wished

  to obtain anything extraordinary had recourse to him. This conduct

  caused him to be hated by many of the highest distinction; and their

  hatred increased to such a degree that the Neri faction to which he

  belonged, became completely divided; for Corso, to attain his ends,

  had availed himself of private force and authority, and of the enemies

  of the state. But so great was the influence attached t
o his person,

  that everyone feared him. Nevertheless, in order to strip him of the

  popular favor (which by this means may easily be done), a report was

  set on foot that he intended to make himself prince of the city; and

  to the design his conduct gave great appearance of probability, for

  his way of living quite exceeded all civil bounds; and the opinion

  gained further strength, upon his taking to wife a daughter of

  Uguccione della Faggiuola, head of the Ghibelline and Bianchi faction,

  and one of the most powerful men in Tuscany.

  When this marriage became known it gave courage to his adversaries,

  and they took arms against him; for the same reason the people ceased

  to defend him, and the greater part of them joined the ranks of his

  enemies, the leaders of whom were Rosso della Tosa, Pazino dei Pazzi,

  Geri Spini, and Berto Brunelleschi. These, with their followers, and

  the greater part of the people, assembled before the palace of the

  Signory, by whose command a charge was made before Piero Branca,

  captain of the people, against Corso, of intending, with the aid of

  Uguccione, to usurp the government. He was then summoned, and for

  disobedience, declared a rebel; nor did two hours pass over between

  the accusation and the sentence. The judgment being given, the

  Signory, with the companies of the people under their ensigns, went in

  search of him, who, although seeing himself abandoned by many of his

  followers, aware of the sentence against him, the power of the

  Signory, and the multitude of his enemies, remained undaunted, and

  fortified his houses, in the hope of defending them till Uguccione,

  for whom he had sent, should come to his Relief. His residences, and

  the streets approaching them, were barricaded and taken possession of

  by his partisans, who defended them so bravely that the enemy,

  although in great numbers, could not force them, and the battle became

  one of the hottest, with wounds and death on all sides. But the

  people, finding they could not drive them from their ground, took

  possession of the adjoining houses, and by unobserved passages

  obtained entry. Corso, thus finding himself surrounded by his foes, no

  longer retaining any hope of assistance from Uguccione, and without a

  chance of victory, thought only of effecting his personal safety, and

  with Gherardo Bordoni, and some of his bravest and most trusted

  friends, fought a passage through the thickest of their enemies, and

  effected their escape from the city by the Gate of the Cross. They

  were, however, pursued by vast numbers, and Gherardo was slain upon

  the bridge of Affrico by Boccaccio Cavicciulli. Corso was overtaken

  and made prisoner by a party of Catalan horse, in the service of the

  Signory, at Rovezzano. But when approaching Florence, that he might

  avoid being seen and torn to pieces by his victorious enemies, he

  allowed himself to fall from horseback, and being down, one of those

  who conducted him cut his throat. The body was found by the monks of

  San Salvi, and buried without any ceremony due to his rank. Such was

  the end of Corso, to whom his country and the Neri faction were

  indebted for much both of good and evil; and if he had possessed a

  cooler spirit he would have left behind him a more happy memory.

  Nevertheless, he deserves to be enumerated among the most

  distinguished men our city has produced. True it is, that his restless

  conduct made both his country and his party forgetful of their

  obligation to him. The same cause also produced his miserable end, and

  brought many troubles upon both his friends and his country.

  Uguccione, coming to the assistance of his relative, learned at Remoli

  that Corso had been overcome by the people, and finding that he could

  not render him any assistance, in order to avoid bringing evil upon

  himself without occasion, he returned home.

  After the death of Corso, which occurred in the year 1308, the

  disturbances were appeased, and the people lived quietly till it was

  reported that the Emperor Henry was coming into Italy, and with him