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From Villani, Giovanni, Selfe, Rose E., translator. Villani’s Chronicle being selections from the First Nine Books of the Croniche Fiorentine of Giovanni Villani. London: Archibald Constable & Co. LTD, 1906; pp. vii-xxiv.

[CLICK on Chapter Number, description or page number to jump around in the book, they are all active links — Elf.ED.]

vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PAGE

INTRODUCTION xxv

BOOK I

THIS book is called the New Chronicle, in which many past things are treated of, and especially the root and origins of the city of Florence; then all the changes through which it has passed and shall pass in the course of time: begun to be compiled in the year of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, 1300. Here begins the preface and the First Book.

§  1. — 2

§  2. — How through the confusion of the Tower of Babel the world began to be inhabited. 2

§  5. — Of the third part of the world called Europe, and its boundaries. 4

§  7. — How King Atlas first built the city of Fiesole. 4

§  8. — How Atlas had three sons, Italus and Dardanus and Sicanus. 6

§  9. — How Italus and Dardanus came to agree which should succeed to the city of Fiesole and the kingdom of Italy. 7

§  10. — How Dardanus came to Phrygia and built the city of Dardania, which was afterwards the great Troy. 8

§  11. — How Dardanus had a son which was named Tritamus, which was the father of Trojus, after whose name the city of Troy was so called. 8

§  17. — How Antenor and the young Priam, having departed from Troy, built the city of Venice, and that of Padua. 9

viii§  21. — How Æneas departed from Troy and came to Carthage in Africa. 10

§  22. — How Æneas came into Italy. 13

§  23. — How the King Latinus ruled over Italy, and how Æneas had his daughter to wife, and all his kingdom. 14

§  29. — How Rome was ruled for a long time by the government of the consuls and senators, until Julius Cæsar became Emperor. 16

§  30. — How a conspiracy was formed in Rome by Catiline and his followers. 18

§  31. — How Catiline caused the city of Fiesole to rebel against the city of Rome. 19

§  32. — How Catiline and his followers were discomfited by the Romans in the plain of Piceno. 20

§  33. — How Metellus with his troops made war upon the Fiesolans. 22

§  34. — How Metellus and Fiorinus discomfited the Fiesolans. 22

§  35. —How the Romans besieged Fiesole the first time, and how Fiorinus was slain. 23

§  36. — How, because of the death of Fiorinus, the Romans returned to the siege of Fiesole. 24

§  37. — How the city of Fiesole surrendered itself to the Romans and was destroyed and laid waste. 26

§  38. — How the city of Florence was first built. 27

§  39. — How Cæsar departed from Florence, and went to Rome, and was made consul to go against the French. 30

§  40. — Of the ensign of the Romans and of the Emperors, and how from them it came to the city of Florence and other cities. 31

§  42. — How the Temple of Mars, which is now called the Duomo of S. Giovanni, was built in Florence. 32

§  50. — Of the city of Luni. 34

§  57. — The story returns to the doings of the city of Florence, and how S. Miniato there suffered martyrdom under Decius, the Emperor. 35

ix§  59. — Of Constantine the Emperor, and his descendants, and the changes which came thereof in Italy. 38

§   60. — How the Christian faith first came to Florence. 39

BOOK II.

§  1. — HERE begins the Second Book: how the city of Florence was destroyed by Totila, the scourge of God, king of the Goths and Vandals. 43

§  2. — How Totila caused the city of Fiesole to be rebuilt. 47

§  4. — How the Goths remained lords of Italy after the death of Totila. 47

§  10. — How Charles Martel came from France to Italy at the summons of the Church against the Lombards; and of the origin of the city of Siena. 48

§  12. — How Telofre [Astolf], king of the Lombards, persecuted Holy Church, and how King Pepin at the summons of Pope Stephen came from France and defeated him, and took him prisoner. 49

§  13. — How Desiderius, son of Telofre, began war again with Holy Church, for the which thing Charles the Great passed into Italy, and defeated him, and took away and destroyed the lordship of the Lombards. 51

§  15. — How Charles the Great, king of France, was made Emperor of Rome. 54

§  21. — How the city of Florence lay waste and in ruins for 350 years. 56

BOOK III.

GOES back somewhat to tell how the city of Florence was rebuilt by the power of Charles the Great and the Romans.

§  1. — 59

§  2. — Of the form and size in which the city of Florence was rebuilt. 62

x§  3. — How Charles the Great came to Florence, and granted privileges to the city, and caused Santo Apostolo to be built. 65

BOOK IV.

§  2. — Of the Emperor Otho III., and the Marquis Hugh, which built the Badia of Florence. 69

§  4. — Of the progeny of the Kings of France, which descended from Hugh Capet. 71

§  6. — How in the time of the said Henry, the Florentines took the city of Fiesole, and destroyed it. 71

§  7. — How that many Fiesolans came to dwell in Florence, and made one people with the Florentines. 74

§  8. — How the city of Florence increased its circuit, first by moats and palisades, and then by walls. 75

§  9. — How Conrad I. was made Emperor. 78

§  10. — Of the nobles which were in the city of Florence in the time of the said Emperor Conrad, and first of those about the Duomo. 79

§  11. — Concerning the houses of the nobles in the quarter of the Porta San Piero. 80

§  12. — Of them of the quarter of Porta San Brancazio. 81

§  13. — Concerning them of the great quarter of Porta Santa Maria and of San Piero Scheraggio. 81

§  18. — Narration of many things that were in those times. 83

§  19. — Of Robert Guiscard and his descendants, which were kings of Sicily and of Apulia. 84

§  20. — Concerning the successors of Robert Guiscard which were kings of Sicily and Apulia. 89

§  21. — Of the Countess Matilda. 92

§  29. — How the Florentines defeated the Vicar of the Emperor Henry IV. 95

§  30. — How the city of Florence took fire twice, whence a great part of the city was burnt. 95

§  31. — How the Pisans took Majorca, and the Florentines protected the city of Pisa. 96

xi§  32. — How the Florentines took and destroyed the fortress of Fiesole. 98

§  36. — How the Florentines destroyed the fortress of Montebuono. 98

Book V.

HERE begins the Fifth Book: How Frederick I. of Staufen of Suabia was Emperor of Rome, and of his descendants, and concerning the doings of Florence which were in their times, and of all Italy.

§  1. — 101

§  2. — How Pope Alexander returned from France to Venice, and the Emperor returned to obedience. 105

§  3. — How the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa was reconciled with the Church, and went over seas, and there died. 106

§  8. — Of the great fires which were in the city of Florence. 108

§  9. — How civil war began in Florence between the Uberti and the government of the Consuls. 109

§  I. — How the Emperor Frederick I. took their territory from the city of Florence, and many other cities of Tuscany. 110

§  13. — How the Florentines took the cross, and went over seas to conquer Damietta, and therefore recovered their territory. 111

§  16. — How Henry of Suabia was made Emperor by the Church, and how Constance, queen of Sicily, was given him to wife.112

§  24. — How the order of the Minor Friars began. 114

§  25. — How the Order of the Preaching Friars began. 114

§  26. — How the Florentines destroyed the castle of Frondigliano. 115

§  30. — How the Florentines destroyed the strongholds of Simifonti and of Combiata. 116

xii§  31. — Destruction of Montelupo, and how the Florentines gained Montemurlo. 116

§  32. — How the Florentines elected their first Podestà. 116

§  36. — How during Otho’s lifetime Frederick II. of Suabia was elected Emperor by the desire of the Church of Rome. 116

§  37. — Concerning the death of the old Count Guido, and of his progeny. 116

§  38. — How the parties of the Guelfs and Ghibellines arose in Florence. 116

§  39. — Of the families and the nobles which became Guelfs and Ghibellines in Florence. 116

§  41. — How the Florentines caused the dwellers in the country around to swear fealty to the city, and how the new Carraia Bridge was begun. 116

Book VI.

HOW Frederick II. was consecrated and made Emperor, and the great things which came to pass.

§  1. — 127

§  5. — How the Florentines led an army against Pistoia, and laid waste the country round about. 129

§  14. — How the Emperor Frederick came to enmity with the Church. 130

§  22. — How the Emperor laid hold of King Henry, his son. 133

§  23. — How the war began between Innocent IV. and the Emperor Frederick. 134

§  24. — Of the sentence which Pope Innocent pronounced at the council of Lyons-on-Rhone, upon the Emperor Frederick. 135

§  25. — How the Pope and the Church caused a new Emperor to be elected in place of Frederick, the deposed Emperor. 138

xiii§  26. — We will tell an incident in the affairs of Florence. 140

§  33. — How the Guelf party was first driven from Florence by the Ghibellines and the forces of the Emperor Frederick. 140

§  34. — How the host of the Emperor Frederick was defeated by the Parmesans, and by the Pope’s legate. 146

§  35. — How the Guelf refuges from Florence were taken in the fortress of Capraia. 147

§  39. — How the Primo Popolo was formed in Florence to be a defence against the violence and attacks of the Ghibellines. 149

§  41. — How the Emperor Frederick died at Firenzuola in Apulia. 151

§  42. — How the Popolo of Florence peaceably restored the Guelfs to Florence. 152

§  43. — How at the time of the said Popolo the Florentines discomfited the men of Pistoia, and afterwards banished certain families of the Ghibellines from Florence. 153

§  44. — How King Conrad, son of Frederick the Emperor, came from Germany into Apulia, and had the lordship over the realm of Sicily, and how he died. 154

§  45. — How Manfred, natural son of Frederick, took the lordship of the kingdom of Sicily and of Apulia, and caused himself to be crowned. 156

§  46. — Of the war between Pope Alexander and King Manfred. 158

§  50. — How the bridge Santa Trinita was built. 160

§  53. — How the golden florins were first made in Florence. 161

§  55. — How the Florentines marched against Siena, and the Sienese came to terms with them, and there was peace 162

§  65. — How the Popolo of Florence drave out the Ghibellines for the first time from Florence, and the reason why. 164

xiv§  69. — Incidents of the doings that were in Florence at the time of the Popolo. 166

§  72. — How the great tyrant, Ezzelino da Romano, was defeated by the Cremonese and died in prison. 167

§  73. — How both the king of Castille and Richard, earl of Cornwall, were elected king of the Romans. 169

§  74. — How the Ghibelline refugees from Florence, sent into Apulia to King Manfred for succour. 169

§  75. — How the commonwealth and people of Florence led a great host up to the gates of Siena with the carroccio. 170

§  76. — How King Manfred sent Count Giordano with 800 Germans to succour the Sienese and the Ghibelline refugees from Florence. 173

§  77. — How the Ghibelline refugees from Florence prepared to deceive the commonwealth and people of Florence, and cause them to be betrayed. 174

§  78. — How the Florentines raised an army to fortify Montalcino and were discomfited by Count Giordano and by the Sienese at Montaperti. 174

§  79. — How the Guelfs of Florence, after the said discomfiture, departed from Florence and went to Lucca. 181

§  80. — How the news of the defeat of the Florentines came to the court of the Pope, and the prophecy which was made thereupon by Cardinal Bianco. 183

§  81. — How the Ghibellines of Tuscany purposed to destroy the city of Florence, and how M. Farinata degli Uberti defended it. 184

§  83. — How the Guelf refugees from Florence sent their ambassadors into Germany to stir up Conradino against Manfred. 187

§  86. — How the Guelf refugees from Florence, and the other exiles of Tuscany, drave out the Ghibellines from Modena and afterwards from Reggio. 188

§  87. — How Manfred persecuted Pope Urban and the Church with his Saracens of Nocera, and how a crusade was proclaimed against them. 190

xv§  88. — How the Church of Rome elected Charles of France to be king of Sicily and of Apulia. 192

§  89. — How Charles, count of Anjou and of Provence, accepted the election offered him by the Church of Rome to Sicily and to Apulia. 193

§  90. — Incident relating to the good Count Raymond of Provence. 195

BOOK VII.

HERE begins the Seventh Book, which treats of the coming of King Charles, and of many changes and events which followed thereupon.

§  1. — 199

§  2. — How the Guelf refugees from Florence took the arms of Pope Clement, and how they joined the French army of Count Charles. 201

§  3. — How Count Charles departed from France, and passed by sea from Provence to Rome. 202

§  4. — How Count Guy of Montfort, with the horse of Count Charles, passed through Lombardy. 204

§  5. — How King Charles was crowned in Rome king of Sicily, and how he straightway departed with his host to go against King Manfred. 205

§  6. — How, after King Charles had taken the pass of Cepperano, he stormed the city of San Germano. 207

§  7. — How King Manfred went to Benivento, and how he arrayed his troops to fight against King Charles. 209

§  8. — How King Charles arrayed his troops to fight against King Manfred. 211

§  9. — Concerning the battle between King Charles and King Manfred, and how King Manfred was discomfited and slain. 213

§  13. — How the Thirty-six were established in Florence, and how the Guilds of Arts were formed and standards given thereto. 217

xvi§  14. — How the second Popolo rose in Florence, for the which cause Count Guido Novello, with the Ghibelline leaders, left Florence. 220

§  15. — How the Popolo restored the Guelfs to Florence, and how they afterwards drave out the Ghibellines. 223

§  16. — How, after the Ghibellines had been driven from Florence, the ordinances and councils of the city were reorganized. 225

§  17. — How the Guelfs of Florence instituted the Ordinances of the Party. 226

§  23. — How the young Conradino, son of King Conrad, came from Germany into Italy against King Charles.228

§  24. — How the marshal of King Charles was defeated at Ponte a Valle by Conradino’s army. 231

§  25. — How Conradino entered into Rome, and afterwards with his host passed into the kingdom of Apulia. 232

§  26. — How the host of Conradino and that of King Charles met in battle at Tagliacozzo. 233

§  27. — How Conradino and his people were defeated by King Charles. 235

§  28. — Of the vision that came to Pope Clement concerning the discomfiture of Conradino. 240

§  31. — How the Florentines defeated the Sienese at the foot of Colle di Valdelsa. 242

§  34. — How there was a great flood of waters which carried away the Santa Trinita Bridge and the Carraia Bridge. 245

§  37. — How King Louis of France made an expedition to Tunis, wherein he died. 246

§  38. — How King Charles concluded a treaty with the king of Tunis, and how the host departed. 249

§  39. — How Gregory X. was made pope at Viterbo, and how Henry, son of the king of England, there died. 251

§  42. — How Pope Gregory came with his court to Florence, and caused peace to be made between the Guelfs and Ghibellines. 255

xvii§  50. — Of the death of Pope Gregory, and of three other Popes after him. 258

§  54. — How Nicholas III., of the Orsini, was made Pope, and concerning that which he did in his time. 261

§  56. — How the Cardinal Latino, by the Pope’s command, made peace between the Guelfs and Ghibellines of Florence, and composed all the other feuds in the city. 263

§  61. — 61. How and after what manner the island of Sicily rebelled against King Charles. 267

§  79. — How the Office of Priors was first created in Florence. 269

§  81. — How M. Jean d’ Appia, count of Romagna, was defeated at Forlì by the count of Montefeltro. 272

§  95. — How the good King Charles passed from this life at the city of Foggia in Apulia. 274

§  105. — How the king of France departed from Aragon, and died at Perpignan. 277

§  114. — Of a notable thing which came to pass in Florence at this time. 279

§  121. — How the judge of Gallura and the Guelf party were driven from Pisa, and the Count Ugolino taken prisoner. 280

§  128. — How the Pisans chose for captain the count of Montefeltro, and how they starved to death Count Ugolino and his sons and grandsons. 283

§  130. — Of the coronation of King Charles II., and how he passed through Florence, and left Messer Amerigo di Nerbona as captain of war for the Florentines. 284

§  131. — How the Florentines defeated the Aretines at Certomondo in Casentino. 286

§  132. — How the Florentines besieged the city of Arezzo, and laid waste the region round about. 291

§  145. — How the soldan of Babylon conquered by force the city of Acre, to the great hurt of the Christians. 294

§  146. — Of the death of King Rudolf of Germany. 298

§  149. — How the city of Forlì in Romagna was taken by Maghinardo da Susinana 298

xviii

BOOK VIII.

HERE begins the Eighth Book. It tells how the second Popolo arose in the city of Florence, and of many great changes which by reason thereof came afterwards to pass in Florence, following on with the other events of those times.

§  1. —301

§  5. — How Celestine V. was elected and made Pope, and how he renounced the papacy. 304

§  6. — How Boniface VIII. was elected and made Pope. 306

§  8. — How the great man of the people, Giano della Bella, was driven out of Florence. 309

§  10. — How M. Gianni di Celona came into Tuscany as Imperial Vicar. 312

§  12. — How the magnates of Florence raised a tumult in the city to break up the Popolo. 313

§  13. — How King Charles made peace with King James of Aragon. 315

§  23. — How the Colonnesi came to ask pardon of the Pope, and afterwards rebelled a second time. 317

§  26. — When the palace of the people of Florence was begun, where dwell the Priors. 318

§  36. — How Pope Boniface VIII. gave pardons to all Christians which should go to Rome, in the year of the jubilee, 1300. 320

§  38. — How the parties of the Blacks and Whites first began in the city of Pistoia. 321

§  39. — How the city of Florence was divided and brought to shame by the said White and Black parties. 323

§  40. — How the Cardinal d’ Acquasparta came as legate from the Pope to make peace in Florence, and could not do it. 327

§  41. — Concerning the evils and dangers which followed afterwards to our city. 329

§  42. — Of the same. 330

xix§  43. — How Pope Boniface sent into France for M. Charles of Valois. 331

§  45. — How the Black party were driven out of Pistoia. 332

§  49. — How M. Charles of Valois of France came to Pope Boniface, and afterwards came to Florence and drove out the White party. 333

§  59. — How Folcieri da Calvoli, Podestà of Florence, caused certain citizens of the White party to be beheaded. 339

§  60. — How the White party and the Ghibelline refugees from Florence came to Puliciano and departed thence in discomfiture. 340

§   61. — Incident, relating how M. Maffeo Visconti was driven from Milan. 342

§  62. — How there arose strife and enmity between Pope Boniface and King Philip of France. 344

§  63. — How the king of France caused Pope Boniface to be seized in Anagna by Sciarra della Colonna, whence the said Pope died a few days afterwards. 346

§  64. — We will further tell of the ways of Pope Boniface. 350

§  67. — How King Edward of England recovered Gascony and defeated the Scots. 352

§  68. — How there were in Florence great changes and civic battles through desire that the accounts of the commonwealth should be examined. 353

§  69. — How the Pope sent into Florence as legate the Cardinal da Prato to make peace, and how he departed thence in shame and confusion. 356

§  70. — How the bridge of Carraia fell, and how many people died there. 360

§  71. — How Florence was set on fire, and a great part of the city burnt. 361

§  72. — How the Whites and Ghibellines came to the gates of Florence, and departed thence in discomfiture. 364

§  80. — How Pope Benedict died; and of the new election of Pope Clement V. 369

xx§  84. — How there arose in Lombardy one Fra Dolcino with a great company of heretics, and how they were burnt. 375

§  88. — Of the great war which was begun against the marquis of Ferrara, and how he died. 376

§  92. — How and after what fashion was destroyed the Order and mansion of the Temple of Jerusalem by the machinations of the king of France. 377

§  96. — How Corso Donati, the great and noble citizen of Florence, died. 382

§  101. — After what manner Henry, count of Luxemburg, was elected emperor of Rome. 386

§  102. — How Henry the Emperor was confirmed by the Pope. 389

§  112. — How Robert was crowned king over the kingdom of Sicily and Apulia. 390

§  120. — How the ambassadors of Henry, king of the Romans, came to Florence. 391

BOOK IX.

HERE begins the Ninth Book. How Henry, count of Luxemburg, was made Emperor.

§  1. — 393

§  7. — How the Emperor Henry departed from Germany to go into Italy. 394

§  8. — How King Robert came to Florence as he returned from his coronation. 395

§  9. — How the Emperor Henry passed into Italy and gained the city of Milan. 396

§  10. — How the Florentines enclosed the new circle of the city with moats. 397

§  11. — How the della Torre were driven out of Milan. 398

§  12. — How there was great scarcity in Florence, and concerning other events. 400

§  14. — How the Emperor besieged Cremona, and his people took Vicenza. 400

xxi§  15. — How the Emperor took the city of Cremona. 401

§  16. — How the Florentines, by reason of the Emperor’s coming, recalled from banishment all the Guelfs. 402

§  17. — How the Florentines, with all the Guelf cities of Tuscany, made league together against the Emperor. 402

§  20. — How the Emperor Henry took the city of Brescia by siege. 403

§  22. — How Pope Clement sent legates to crown the Emperor Henry. 405

§  26. — How the ambassadors from the Emperor came to Florence, and were driven thence. 406

§  28. — How the empress died in Genoa. 407

§  29. — How the Emperor put the Florentines under the ban of the Empire. 407

§  32. — How the city of Brescia rebelled against the Emperor. 407

§  34. — How the city of Cremona rebelled against the Emperor. 408

§  35. — How the marshal of the Emperor came to Pisa, and began war with the Florentines. 408

§  36. — How the Paduans rebelled against the lordship of the Emperor. 409

§  39. — Of the gathering together made by King Robert and the league of Tuscany at Rome to oppose the coronation of the Emperor Henry. 409

§  40. — How the Emperor Henry departed from Pisa and came to Rome. 410

§  43. — How Henry of Luxemburg was crowned Emperor at Rome. 411

§  44. — How the Emperor departed from Rome to go into Tuscany. 413

§  45. — How the Emperor came to the city of Arezzo, and afterwards how he came towards the city of Florence. 414

§  46. — How the Florentines were well-nigh discomfited at the fortress of Ancisa by the army of the Emperor. 415

xxii§  47. — How the Emperor Henry encamped with his host before the city of Florence. 416

§  48. — How the Emperor abandoned the siege, and departed from San Salvi, and came to San Casciano, and then to Poggibonizzi. 419

§  49. — How the Emperor departed from Poggibonizzi and returned to Pisa, and issued many bans against the Florentines. 421

§  50. — How the Emperor condemned King Robert. 422

§  51. — How the Emperor made ready to enter into the Kingdom against King Robert, and departed from Pisa. 423

§  52. — How the Emperor Henry died at Bonconvento, in the country of Siena. 424

§  53. — Relates how, when the Emperor was dead, his host was divided, and the barons carried his body to the city of Pisa. 425

§  56. — How the Florentines gave the lordship of Florence to King Robert for five years. 426

§  59. — Of the death of Pope Clement. 427

§  63. — How the Paduans were discomfited at Vicenza by M. Cane della Scala. 428

§  66. — Of the death of Philip, king of France, and of his sons. 428

§  70. — How Uguccione, lord of Lucca and of Pisa, laid siege to the castle of Montecatini. 430

§  71. — How, when the prince of Taranto was come to Florence, the Florentines sallied forth with their army to succour Montecatini, and were defeated by Uguccione della Faggiuola. 431

§  72. — More about the said battle and defeat of the Florentines and of the prince. 432

§  81. — Of the election of Pope John XXII. 434

§  86. — How Uguccione da Faggiuola sought to re-enter Pisa, and what came of it in Pisa, and of the Marquis Spinetta. 436

§  87. — How the Ghibelline party left Genoa. 437

§  89. — How M. Cane della Scala led an army against the Paduans, and took many castles from them. 438

xxiii§  90. — How the exiles from Genoa with the force of the Ghibellines of Lombardy besieged Genoa. 438

§  92. — How the exiles from Genoa took the suburbs of Prea. 439

§  93. — How King Robert came by sea to succour Genoa. 440

§  94. — How the Genoese gave the lordship of Genoa to King Robert. 441

§  95. — Of the active war which the exiles of Genoa with the Lombards made against King Robert. 442

§  97. — How King Robert’s followers discomfited the exiles from Genoa at the village of Sesto, and how they departed from the siege of the city. 443

§  99. — How the exiles from Genoa with the Lombards returned to the siege of Genoa. 444

§  100. — How M. Cane della Scala took the suburbs of Padua. 445

§  121. — How M. Cane della Scala being at the siege of Padua, was defeated by the Paduans and by the count of Görtz. 446

§  136. — Concerning the poet Dante Alighieri of Florence. 448

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