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Mediaeval Times

Frederick Barbarossa

The struggle between the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire which involved bishops and feudal rulers, and also saw the involvement of the wealthy merchants and traders of the major cities began in the late 11th century AD. The Guelphs as they were known sided with the Pope, and the Ghibellines sided with the Emperor; the most famous Ghibelline was Frederick Barbarossa.

Many key figures evolved from these struggles and they became increasingly wealthy and independent. This trend started the formation of the Tuscan Communes which evolved impressive craftsmanship and trading skills that rapidly led to great wealth and influence for the region. Communes were a self-governing association of citizens and were marked by an unarmed taking over of power by the gentry and wealthy middle classes at the expense of the great feudal landowning nobility.

Most of the modern Tuscan cities and towns were 'Free Communes' in the 11th and 12th centuries. Some of these towns and cities developed into strong republics; Pisa, Lucca, Siena, Florence.

During this time the cities of Florence, Lucca, Pisa and Siena flourished and the Florentines became the bankers of southern Europe. Siena became wealthy growing and shipping wool, the Lucca concentrated on silk, and Pisa continued its trade across the seas.

Despite the struggles between the church and the empire, the country experienced a major economic and artistic boom during the 13th and first half of the 14th centuries, stimulated by the power of the communes. All this wealth resulted in richly adorned cities with 12th and 13th century walls and cathedrals that eventually gave way to more expansive 14th and 15th century walls and then the Renaissance.

Later, in the 14th to 15th century Florence emerged to gain control over most of the Tuscan cities with Siena being the last to fall under their control in 1559. This dominance can be seen today at both a cultural and artistic level; it was the influence of the Renaissance.