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government of the city； and elected twelve men who； as the supreme
power； were to hold their magistracy two months； and were not called
Anziani or 〃ancients；〃 but Buono Uomini or 〃good men。〃 They also
formed a council of eighty citizens； which they called the Credenza。
Besides these； from each sixth； thirty citizens were chosen； who； with
the Credenza and the twelve Buono Uomini； were called the General
Council。 They also appointed another council of one hundred and twenty
citizens； elected from the people and the nobility； to which all those
things were finally referred that had undergone the consideration of
the other councils； and which distributed the offices of the republic。
Having formed this government； they strengthened the Guelphic party by
appointing its friends to the principal offices of state； and a
variety of other measures； that they might be enabled to defend
themselves against the Ghibellines； whose property they divided into
three parts； one of which was applied to the public use； another to
the Capitani； and the third was assigned to the Guelphs； in
satisfaction of the injuries they had received。 The pope； too； in
order to keep Tuscany in the Guelphic interest； made Charles imperial
vicar over the province。 While the Florentines； by virtue of the new
government； preserved their influence at home by laws； and abroad with
arms； the pope died； and after a dispute； which continued two years；
Gregory X。 was elected； being then in Syria； where he had long lived；
but not having witnessed the working of parties； he did not estimate
them in the manner his predecessors had done； and passing through
Florence on his way to France； he thought it would be the office of a
good pastor to unite the city； and so far succeeded that the
Florentines consented to receive the Syndics of the Ghibellines in
Florence to consider the terms of their recall。 They effected an
agreement； but the Ghibellines without were so terrified that they did
not venture to return。 The pope laid the whole blame upon the city；
and being enraged excommunicated her； in which state of contumacy she
remained as long as the pontiff lived； but was reblessed by his
successor Innocent V。
The pontificate was afterward occupied by Nicholas III。 of the Orsini
family。 It has to be remarked that it was invariably the custom of the
popes to be jealous of those whose power in Italy had become great；
even when its growth had been occasioned by the favors of the church；
and as they always endeavored to destroy it； frequent troubles and
changes were the result。 Their fear of a powerful person caused them
to increase the influence of one previously weak； his becoming great
caused him also to be feared； and his being feared made them seek the
means of destroying him。 This mode of thinking and operation
occasioned the kingdom of Naples to be taken from Manfred and given to
Charles； but as soon as the latter became powerful his ruin was
resolved upon。 Actuated by these motives； Nicholas III。 contrived
that； with the influence of the emperor； the government of Tuscany
should be taken from Charles； and Latino his legate was therefore sent
into the province in the name of the empire。
CHAPTER III
Changes in FlorenceThe Ghibellines recalledNew form of
government in FlorenceThe Signory createdVictory over the
AretinsThe Gonfalonier of Justice createdUbaldo Ruffoli the
first GonfalonierGiano della BellaNew reform by his advice
Giano della Bella becomes a voluntary exileDissensions between
the people and the nobilityThe tumults composedReform of
GovernmentPublic buildingsThe prosperous state of the city。
Florence was at this time in a very unhappy condition； for the great
Guelphic families had become insolent； and set aside the authority of
the magistrates； so that murders and other atrocities were daily
committed； and the perpetrators escaped unpunished； under the
protection of one or other of the nobility。 The leaders of the people；
in order to restrain this insolence； determined to recall those who
had been expelled； and thus gave the legate an opportunity of uniting
the city。 The Ghibellines returned； and； instead of twelve governors；
fourteen were appointed； seven for each party； who held their office
one year； and were to be chosen by the pope。 The Florentines lived
under this government two years； till the pontificate of Martin； who
restored to Charles all the authority which had been taken from him by
Nicholas； so that parties were again active in Tuscany； for the
Florentines took arms against the emperor's governor； and to deprive
the Ghibellines of power； and restrain the nobility； established a new
form of government。 This was in the year 1282； and the companies of
the Arts； since magistrates had been appointed and colors given to
them； had acquired so great influence； that of their own authority
they ordered that； instead of fourteen citizens； three should be
appointed and called Priors； to hold the government of the republic
two months； and chosen from either the people or the nobility。 After
the expiration of the first magistracy they were augmented to six；
that one might be chosen from each sixth of the city； and this number
was preserved till the year 1342； when the city was divided into
quarters； and the Priors became eight； although upon some occasions
during the interim they were twelve。
This government； as will be seen hereafter； occasioned the ruin of the
nobility； for the people by various causes excluded them from all
participation in it； and then trampled upon them without respect。 The
nobles at first； owing to their divisions among themselves； made no
opposition； and each being anxious to rob the other of influence in
the state； they lost it altogether。 To this government a palace was
given； in which they were to reside constantly； and all requisite
officers were appointed； it having been previously the custom of
councils and magistrates to assemble in churches。 At first they were
only called Priors； but to increase their distinction the word
signori； or lords； was soon afterward adopted。 The Florentines
remained for some time in domestic quiet； during which they made war
with the Aretins for having expelled the Guelphs； and obtained a
complete victory over them at Campaldino。 The city being increased in
riches and population； it was found expedient to extend the walls； the
circle of which was enlarged to the extent it at present remains；
although its diameter was previously only the space between the old
bridge and the church of St。 Lorenzo。
Wars abroad and peace within the city had caused the Guelph and
Ghibelline factions to become almost extinct； and the only party
feeling which seemed occasionally to glow； was that which naturally
exists in all cities between the higher classes and the people； for
the latter； wishing to live in conformity with the laws； and the
former to be themselves the rulers of the people； it was not possible
for them to abide in perfect amity together。 This ungenial
disposition； while their fear of the Ghibellines kept them in order；
did not discover itself； but no sooner were they subdued than it broke
forth； and not a day passed without some of the populace being
injured； while the laws were insufficient to procure redress； for
every noble with his relations and friends defended himself against
the forces of the Priors and the Capitano。 To remedy this evil； the
leaders of the Arts' companies ordered that every Signory at the time
of entering upon the duties of office should appoint a Gonfalonier of
Justice； chosen from the people； and place a thousand armed men at his
disposal divided into twenty companies of fifty men each； and that he；
with his gonfalon or banner and his forces； should be ready to enforce
the execution of the laws whenever called upon； either by the Signors
themselves or the Capitano。 The first elected to this high office was
Ubaldo Ruffoli。 This man unfurled his gonfalon； and destroyed the
houses of the Galletti； on account of a member of that family having
slain one of the Florentine people in France。 The violent animosities
among the nobility enabled the companies of the Arts to establish this
law with facility； and the former no sooner saw the provision which
had been made against them than they felt the acrimonious spirit with
which it was enforced。 At first it impressed them with greater terror；
but they soon after returned to their accustomed insolence； for one or
more of their body always making part of the Signory； gave them
opportunities of impeding the Gonfalonier； so that he could not
perform the duties of his office。 Besides this； the accuser always
required a witness of the injury he had received； and no one dared to
give evidence against the nobility。 Thus in a short time Florence
again fell into the same disorders as before； and the tyranny
exercised against the pe