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