Italy in the High Middle Ages

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Italy in the High Middle Ages
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Rise of the Commune

• 10th and 11th centuries increased trade
  political instability between Papacy and Holy
  Roman Empire massive urban growth in Northern
  Italy.
• First half of the eleventh century, local
  landowners (maiores) with some urban craftsmen
  and peasants (minores) were granted some legal
  control of the city and its contado often after
  considerable conflicts.
• The Commune was an institution through which
  citizens ruled their city and its contado (area
  of land under the legal and fiscal jurisdiction
  of the city). Ruled by consuls elected by a
  general assembly of citizens. Established in Pisa
  - 1081-5, Milan - 1097, Genoa - 1099, Bologna -
  1123, Siena 1125, Pavia - 1183 (after Peace of
  Constance).

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Factionalism

• A number of competing and at times unclear social
  divisions such as maiores and minores, magnati
  and popolo, grandi, nobili, potentes. These were
  divisions based on perceived status rather than
  modern socio-economic structures such as class.
• In the late twelfth century two factions emerged,
  the Guelfs and the Ghibellines. Initially, this a
  division between Italys noble and knightly
  families. The Guelfs sided with the papacy and
  the Ghibellines the Holy Roman Empire. By the
  early thirteenth century the majority of
  politically active men were committed to one
  faction or the other.
• These factions actively sought to control the
  city and its political and fiscal apparata by
  force. To do this they would supplement their own
  military force with German mercenaries if they
  were Ghibellines, and Northern French mercenaries
  if they Guelfs. Once defeated, a faction would be
  exiled, their property seized or razed.
• Consorteria. An association based on kinship and
  united by the need to defend the group. Their
  houses were joined to each other and surrounded a
  central tower that was a defensive stronghold as
  well as a place from which to launch attacks by
  crossbow, catapult or sortie.

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Political Experimentation

• Frequent changes to consular government and its
  eventual failure.
• Podesta (from Latin potestas a power) was a
  foreign noble who was appointed as a citys chief
  magistrate so that the judicial system would not
  be corrupted by factional interests. He was never
  a ruler the podesta could not make laws. The
  earliest Podestas were appointed by the Holy
  Roman Emperor such as in Milan in 1162. However,
  from later in the C12th they were elected by the
  citizens.
• Popolo (NOT to be confused with the people or
  the masses) were members of the citys guilds.
  They were an increasingly powerful political
  force in thirteenth century Italy. Formed their
  own government in a number of cities, such as
  Florence and Siena. However, they tended to be
  dominated by an oligarchy of the wealthiest
  merchants, but there were attempts to make more
  inclusive governments such as the Ordinances of
  Justice in Florence (begun 1293).
• Despotism most of the Communes became
  despotisms and principalities by the early
  fourteenth century. Notable exceptions are
  Florence, Siena and Venice.

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Architecture of Government
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• The Urban Mentality
• The psychological importance of walls the
  countryside was something to be feared in the
  High Middle Ages and walls provided protection
  from invading armies as well as wolves, bandits
  and the like. Walls also gave the city a sense of
  identity that was immediately distinct from the
  surrounding countryside.
• However, the wilderness beyond the walls was
  increasingly tamed in the High Middle Ages.
  Monasteries annexed sections of land, often in
  remote places, and made them inhabitable. New
  farming techniques were employed and wilderness
  was cleared and swamps drained to make way for
  larger farms to support the growing populations.
• The city was increasingly the centre of
  culture. Increasing interest in Roman texts
  particularly republican texts such as Cicero.
  Communes created an education system this not
  only increased literacy but also gave greater
  numbers of people the basic tools of civic life
  such as rhetoric.
• The city also began to be redeveloped in the late
  C13th and early C14th main roads were widened,
  new suburbs were built, walls were extended, and
  areas around civic and sacred buildings were
  cleared. Major churches were also expanded. The
  city was to be an orderly, pious and safe place.

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Lorenzetti Effects of Good Government (late
1330s)
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Lorenzetti Effects of Good Government
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Lorenzetti Effects of bad government (late
1330s)
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Lorenzetti Effects of bad government
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The Sacred Community

• Despite the growth of independent government, we
  should see this period as secular. Government was
  to be guided by piety and good government was
  inseparable from faith.
• Each city had a set of patron saints and
  elaborate ritual life developed around their
  veneration so that the city would gain their
  protection. The saint would also become the
  overlord of the city.
• Communes also helped fund the building of
  churches and the expansion of a citys major
  churches so that they were better able to
  accommodate the growing population as well as
  honouring God. By doing so, the Commune was a
  patron of the city.
• The relationship between the commune and religion
  is no more apparent than in Baptisteries. Often,
  all citizens were to be baptised in the citys
  common baptismal fount, usually in a separate
  building beside the Cathedral. From the C11th and
  C12th baptisteries were built, rebuilt or
  enlarged and communes created strong laws to
  protect the sanctity of these areas. However,
  baptisteries were not just about baptism. Many
  citys kept their carroccio (battle wagon with a
  standard) in the baptistery, along with the war
  booty that represented the citys success and
  martial virtue. The Often, the cathedral was also
  used in this way.

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Duccio Entry into Jerusalem (late C13th)