The States of Italy
Italy failed to, like Germany, France and England, maintain a strong government under the pope. While he still had control of most of central Italy he failed to stay in possession of North and South Italy. As mentioned previously, N. Italy was under attack by the German Hohenstaufen family and because of that was never able to be fully controlled and fell into a state in which many smaller states formed. South Italy was controlled by the French and Sicily had been altogether lost as a province of Italy to the Spaniards.
After years of larger states in N. Italy asserting their dominance upon the smaller states, the region began to take shape as three distinct, "mini-nations," took control, those of Venice, despotic Milan and republican Florence
After years of larger states in N. Italy asserting their dominance upon the smaller states, the region began to take shape as three distinct, "mini-nations," took control, those of Venice, despotic Milan and republican Florence
Duchy of Milan
Milan was located in the West of Northern Italy. More specifically it rested in the famous Po Valley. Milan possessed two characteristics that neither Florence nor Venice did, that is that it was both extremely wealthy and extremely politically unstable. Milan was overwhelmed by wealth because of the many trade routes that connected it to the Alpine passes. Likely due to the years of infighting to establish power, Milan lacked a strong government. This was the case in Milan until 1322, when a certain Giangaleazzo Visconti (1385-1402) instituted a type of hereditary duchy to govern the state in 1395; this duchy replaced the tyranny that had ravaged Milan for so many years.
Visconti was a strong leader and was unlike any other Milan had ever had before. On top of revamping the political system in Milan he also turned the state into a military power. He became a threat to all of North Italy including Lombardy. He would've taken Florence, but he died in 1402 just outside the city.
Visconti was a strong leader and was unlike any other Milan had ever had before. On top of revamping the political system in Milan he also turned the state into a military power. He became a threat to all of North Italy including Lombardy. He would've taken Florence, but he died in 1402 just outside the city.
Republic of Florence
Like many political systems, that of Florence became aristocratically dominated. This noble based government began early with the rise of grandi in political affairs. The nobles that made up the grandi ruled for a good time and like the economy and society of Milan, Florence flourished under these men and trade grew. The society grew so fast that in 1293 a separate group of rich local nobles appeared, the popolo grasso. The popolo grasso managed to obtain the upper hand in the government by instituting the Ordinances of Justice which allowed the political system of Florence to be ruled by the seven heads of the seven guilds, all aristocrats, and by doing so effectively uprooted the grandi. Eventually ultimate authority was given to an even more select group of elected officials called the signoria and by a less important official called the gonfaloniere. The government, however, wasn't done changing yet.
In 1378 the popolo minuto and the ciompi of Florence were in an uproar because the public had failed to be included in the governmental processes. Their small revolution led to the admittance of the workers in politics, but it didn't last long as the popolo grasso fought to regain the aristocrat dominated government four years later in 1382. From then on the government of Florence was primarily controlled by the rich and noble, specifically the merchants.
This time also brought some small military success for the state as Florence's army was able to obtain a good portion of Tuscany and had asserted itself as a major player in N. Italy.
In 1378 the popolo minuto and the ciompi of Florence were in an uproar because the public had failed to be included in the governmental processes. Their small revolution led to the admittance of the workers in politics, but it didn't last long as the popolo grasso fought to regain the aristocrat dominated government four years later in 1382. From then on the government of Florence was primarily controlled by the rich and noble, specifically the merchants.
This time also brought some small military success for the state as Florence's army was able to obtain a good portion of Tuscany and had asserted itself as a major player in N. Italy.
Republic of Venice
Venice had the best of both Florence and Milan and then some. Like the other two N. Italian states Venice was often successful in combat and conquered many lands East of Milan; Venice also became a trading empire as it established different colonies and trading posts all over the Eastern Mediterranean even so far as the Black Sea (Spielvogel). The thing Venice had that neither Florence nor Milan possessed was an outstanding stable government. In fact the Venetian government has been admired as the best both now and then by scholars. The government of Venice was primarily ruled by a group called the Great Council, which was established after the a constitution in 1297 by the wealthy. After the emergence of the Great Council the previous head, the Duke, became a face for media and held no real power.