Republic of Siena
Republic of Siena Repubblica di Siena ( Latin ) | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1125–1555 | |||||||||||||||
Motto: Libertas ( Constitutional republic | |||||||||||||||
• 1487–1512 | Pandolfo Petrucci (first signore) | ||||||||||||||
History | |||||||||||||||
• Deposition of the bishop who ruled the city | 1125 | ||||||||||||||
• Creation of the Governo dei Nove | 1287 | ||||||||||||||
1432 | |||||||||||||||
1554 | |||||||||||||||
• Disestablished | 1555 | ||||||||||||||
Population | |||||||||||||||
• Estimate | 50,000–70,000 (Siena only) in the 14th century | ||||||||||||||
Currency | Senese d'oro, Quattrino | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Today part of | Italy |
The Republic of Siena (
From 1287 to 1355, during the rule of the
A combination of economic decline, sparked by the Black Death, and political instability led to its absorption by the rival Duchy of Florence during the Italian War of 1551–1559. Despite resisting for 18 months, it surrendered on 21 April 1555, marking the end of the republic.[5]
History
Origins
The foundation of the Republic of Siena is traditionally dated to 1125, the year in which the last reigning representative of the Government of Bishops was deposed, at the time at the head of the city and the surrounding countryside. A consular government was appointed to administer the state in its early term. As in most of the medieval municipal cities, Siena too had the Consuls as its first development of the judiciary. In 1125 the office of Consul Sænensis was attributed to Manco.[6][7]
Growth
Siena prospered as a
In 1286 the Nove ("the Nine") government was established to rule Siena. The Nove was backed by the Noveschi, a political party formed by the merchant families that sat on the council. Eventually, the Noveschi party grew to include not only members of the Nove council, but also many prominent noble families of the city. Under the guide of the Nove and the Noveschi, Siena grew in both economic and military dominance.
The Battle of Montaperti
In the 13th century, Siena was predominantly
On 4 September 1260 the Sienese Ghibellines, supported by the forces of King
The period 1260–1355 has been characterized as a "golden age" in Siena.[8]
Ports of the Republic of Siena
The Republic of Siena in its progressive territorial growth saw its borders expanding especially in the territories of southern Tuscany in the current province of Grosseto. The possession of an "access to the sea" by Siena was therefore a natural continuation of its expansionary and commercial policy in the Maremma with the conquest of the ports of Talamone, Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano.[9][10][11]
In order to ensure access to maritime traffic and a competitive sales network, Siena already tried to secure the use of the Grosseto river port in the 13th century. However, the port, swept away during the 14th century by the violent flood that removed the course of the Ombrone from the city, never had any development, also due to the incorrect economic policy of Siena and the lack of a productive background.[12]
Decline
Siena was devastated by the
Five years later, the House of Visconti was expelled in 1404, and a new government of Ten Priors was established, this time in alliance with Florence against King Ladislaus of Naples. With the election of the Sienese Enea Silvio Piccolomini of the prominent Piccolomini noble family as Pope Pius II in 1458, the nobles who had been expelled due to association with the Noveschi party were allowed to return to the city.
In 1472 the Siena magistrates founded a "mount of piety", the Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which would survive into the 21st century as "the world's oldest bank".
Petrucci Era
The Noveschi returned to the city under
End of the Republic
With the end of the Petrucci era internal strife resumed, with the popular faction ousting the Noveschi party supported by Pope Clement VII: the latter sent an army, but was defeated at Camollia in 1526. Emperor Charles V took advantage of the chaotic situation to put a Spanish garrison in Siena. From 1529 until 1541 the republic was governed by Alfonso Piccolomini. The citizens expelled it in 1552, allying with France: this was unacceptable for Charles, who sent his general Gian Giacomo Medici to lay siege to it with a Florentine-Imperial army.
The Sienese government entrusted its defence to
Territory
Siena possessed most of the modern day provinces of Grosseto and Siena in the region of Tuscany in central Italy, including a coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea. A notable exception is the hill town of Montepulciano 70 km (43 mi) southeast of Siena, which was claimed by the neighbouring Florence, and was a constant source of hostility between the two city-states. In the mid-16th century the Republic's territory had an area of approximately 8,000 km2 (3,100 sq mi) and a population of 80,000, including some 15,000 living in the town of Siena.
Culture
Art
Siena rivaled Florence in the arts throughout the 13th and 14th centuries: the important late medieval painter Duccio (1253–1319) was a Sienese, but worked across the peninsula. The mural titled "Allegory of Good Government" (Italian: Allegoria del Buon Governo) painted by Ambrogio Lorenzetti in 1338–39 at the Palazzo Pubblico, Siena's town hall, is considered a magnificent example of civil Gothic art in the world.[14]
Architecture
During the early 13th century that the majority of the construction of the Siena Cathedral (Duomo) was completed. During the same period the Piazza del Campo grew in importance as the centre of secular life. New streets were constructed leading to it, and it served as the site of the market and the location of various sporting events (perhaps better thought of as riots, in the fashion of the Florentine football matches that are still practised to this day). A wall was constructed in 1194 at the current site of the Palazzo Pubblico to stop soil erosion, an indication of how important the area was becoming as a civic space.
Walls
The limits on the Roman town were the earliest known walls to the city. During the 10th and 11th centuries, the town grew to the east and later to the north, in what is now the Camollia district. Walls were built to totally surround the city, and a second set was finished by the end of the 13th century. Much of these walls still exist today.[15]
Siena University
On December 26, 1240, Ildebrandino Cacciaconti, the then
Economy
In 1472 the Republic founded the
The Republic was an important commercial center: wheat and salt were produced, coming from the Maremma region. It also controlled, thanks to a monopoly agreement stipulated with the Aldobrandeschi family, wool and other agricultural products, such as wine.[19]
The main economic resource of the city came from the money exchange and loan activity that the bankers carried out in the city.
The oldest documentation regarding Siena's salt customs date back to the 13th century. The revenues from the salt monopoly were a significant source of income for the state. The various centers of the Sienese countryside and their citizens were required to stock up on salt from the Sienese Maremma area, purchasing the good at a fixed price. The growth of trade linked to Grosseto salt pans, capable of satisfying the needs of nearby Perugia and neighboring nations, led to the establishment in 1323 of a new organization, called "Monte e Sale", which simultaneously performed the administration of the monopoly and banking duties. From the end of the 14th century part of the proceeds deriving from the salt monopoly were destined to the payment of rents on the capital lent by state creditors, in order to face the growing public debt of the Republic. Subsequently, a union of the "Dogane dei paschi" and the salt was also attempted to improve the state financial capacities; however, as early as 1519 the various administrations returned divided.[19]
The vast plots of grazing land in the Valdichiana and the Maremma Senese attracted shepherds from both territories under the direct control of Siena and from neighboring states. For an efficient exploitation of grazing activity, the Sienese government decided to create a special office, called "Dogana dei paschi", which was responsible for managing the tariff system connected to livestock breeding. The internal structure of the Dogana dei Paschi was made up of a treasurer and nine officers among whom a "unimpeachable chief" was elected. The latter was stationed in Maremma, from where he directed a group of vergari submitted to him for the observance of the laws of the Republic and control of the territory.[19]
Mining sector
From the 12th century the interest of Siena towards mining research increased as silver and copper mines in the Sienese Maremma that were abandoned in the Roman period were re-established. Besides the mines of Montieri, Siena obtained other silver mines in the surroundings of Montebeccari in 1177 from Count Tedini of Frosini, and in the following century those of Roccastrada and Muceto from the Aldobrandeschi family. The Republic of Siena, however, did not directly manage the extractive activities on its own, but preferred to contract out the mines so as not to have the expenses fall on the state budget. Sienese interests in Maremma grew progressively over time: in 1334 the "government of the Nine" sent one of its officials to the territories of Grosseto and Massa to study possible interventions for the improvement of the road network and the following year with the conquest of the Republic of Massa, Siena was able to take possession of its rich mining district. The plague of 1348, however, caused a violent collapse of the mining activities of the Sienese Maremma which could no longer return to its previous production levels.[20]
Chronology
Government | Years active | Description |
---|---|---|
Consular | 1125–1199 | When ruled by a bishop, the elected consuls would represent the nobles, as well as the people. As episcopal power declined, theirs grew until 1167, when episcopal rule was expelled. The consuls continued to rule until a new government was deemed necessary. |
Podestà | 1199–1234 | A Podestà was an executive elected by the people as an absolute ruler. |
Ventiquattro (24) | 1234–1270 | Siena replaced its Podestà government with that of a council of elected officials. The number of officials fluctuated throughout the years, as shown by this chart. |
Trentasei (36) | 1270–1280 | |
Quindici (15) | 1280–1286 | |
Nove (9) | 1286–1355 | |
Dodici (12) | 1355–1385 | |
Quindici (15) | 1385 | |
Priori | 1385–1399 | The council of the Priori (priors) was established in an attempt to stabilize the government and compete with Florence. It failed, however, with the number of priors constantly fluctuating and Florence continuing its aggression. |
Visconti lordship | 1399–1404 | The priors of Siena gave the city's command to the House of Visconti to protect it from Florence. |
Priori | 1404–1487 | With the House of Visconti expelled, the people set up another Priori government, this time with 10 priors. Unlike the former Priori government, this one was stable. |
Petrucci lordship
|
1487–1525 | The House of Petrucci gathered a great deal of influence and became quasi-rulers of the city-state until 1500, when Pandolfo Petrucci seized control of the city completely. Petrucci rule was a stable and prosperous time for Siena. |
Priori | 1525–1548 | A Priori government was installed in an attempt to bring stability back to Siena, which it never did. |
Spanish Lordship | 1548–1552 | Taking advantage of the chaotic political situation, Spain sent a garrison to take control of the city |
Capitano del Popolo
|
1552–1555 | To protect the city, the people empowered a single ruler, the Capitano del Popolo, or Captain of the People. |
Republic of Siena at Montalcino | 1555–1559 | Following the conquest of Siena, the noble families held out at Montalcino. |
See also
Sources
- Mario Ascheri and Bradley Franco (2019). A History of Siena: From Its Origins to the Modern Day. Routledge. ISBN 978-0367253486
- Hook, Judith (1973). "The Fall of Siena". History Today. 23 (2).
References
- ISBN 9789004444829.
- ^ Ascheri, Mario. Storia di Siena dalle origini ai giorni nostri (in Italian). Biblioteca dell'Immagine.
- ^ "Siena nell'Enciclopedia Treccani". www.treccani.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-11-09.
- ISBN 8815012214.
- ^ Hook 1973.
- ISBN 8886507771.
- ^ "Repubblica Senese". www.ilpalio.siena.it. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
- S2CID 198805251. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
- ^ "I porti della Maremma senese durante la repubblica narrazione storica con documenti inediti di Luciano Banchi". archive.org. 1871. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ "Siena, quasi città di mare 2 - Cronache dal Medioevo". Cronache dal Medioevo. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ "Siena, (quasi) città di mare – Cronache dal Medioevo". Cronache dal Medioevo. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ "Porto fluviale di Grosseto".
- S2CID 234882264.
- ^ "Palazzo Pubblico e la Torre del Mangia" (in Italian). Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Cenni storici - Le mura di Siena" (in Italian). Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Short Story of University of Siena: 760 years of history". Università degli Studi di Siena. Archived from the original on 2008-03-09. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ^ De Ridder-Symoens, Universities in the Middle Ages. p. 93
- ^ Waley, Siena and the Sienese in the thirteenth century. p. 159
- ^ a b c "Archivio di Stato di Siena" (PDF) (in Italian).
- ^ Toderi, Toderi Fiorenza, Paolozzi Strozzi, Giuseppe, Vannel, Beatrice (1992). Le Monete della Repubblica Senese. Monte dei Paschi di Siena. p. 71.
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