Florence and Venice in the Renaissance HI320 Political Structures Florence and Venice in the Renaissance HI320

How does Venetian and Florentine government evolve in the period and why? What are the sources of power and who has it? How do you achieve stable government?

C11-12 communal governments elected own leaders riven with conflict Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Allegory of Justice, Palazzo Pubblico, Siena, C14th

The Venetian Commune general assembly elects dux (doge) no feudal nobility short terms of office Great Council (Maggior Consiglio)

Giovanni Bellini, Doge Leonardo Loredan (1501-2) The doge Giovanni Bellini, Doge Leonardo Loredan (1501-2)

Sala del Maggior Consilio, Ducal Palace Serrata late C13th: limiting of guild power closing of the Great Council c. 1297 hereditary status to nobles libro d’oro Sala del Maggior Consilio, Ducal Palace

cittadini class popolani excluded

Pyramid of Government Doge: elected for life Signoria: Doge + 6 councillors + 3 heads of the Forty (8 month term) Pien Collegio: Signoria + 16 Savi Senate (Pregadi): c. 300 (1 year term) Maggior Consilio: all adult male patricians

Chamber of the Council of Ten, Doge’s Palace created 1310 after Querini Tiepolo conspiracy state security by-pass bigger councils quick, secretive, summary justice Chamber of the Council of Ten, Doge’s Palace

Florence’s Palazzo dei Priori (Palazzo Vecchio), 1290s

The Florentine Republic Signoria = 8 priors (6 month term) Gonfaloniere della giustizia 12 Buonuomini + Gonfalonieri di compagnia + Signoria = Tre Maggiori scrutiny (scrutinio)

The Medici Giovanni di Bicci (c. 1360- 1429) builds fortune banker to pope Cosimo di Giovanni (1389- 1464) takes over 1420s 1433 exile 1434 triumphant return!

Cosimo ‘il vecchio’ de’ Medici Medici power accoppiatori elections a mano use of balìa Cento council created 1458 international network peasant army patronage: parenti, amici, vicini Cosimo ‘il vecchio’ de’ Medici

Piero di Cosimo ‘the gouty’ (1416-70)

Lorenzo di Piero ‘the Magnificent’ (1449-92) takes over 1469 charisma, international support ‘Golden age’ of culture Pazzi conspiracy 1478 Council of 70

Lorenzo de’ Medici’s death mask Lorenzo dies 1492 1494 son Piero di Lorenzo kicked out new Great Council influence of Savonarola 1502 Gonfaloniere a vita Piero Soderini Lorenzo de’ Medici’s death mask

Giovanni di Lorenzo de’ Medici, later Pope Leo X 1512 Medici return 1527 Florentine Republic Clement VII (r. 1523-34) 1532 Alessandro de’ Medici = ‘First Duke of the Florentine Republic’ Giovanni di Lorenzo de’ Medici, later Pope Leo X (r. 1513-21)

Duke Cosimo de’ Medici (r. 1537-74)

Government contado vs. distretto bigger towns left to administer, judge, tax negotiation with individual communities resistance revolt of Pisa 1494-1509

Italy at the Peace of Lodi, 1454

Renegotiation of statutes Venetian justice Rule by consent Degree of autonomy Renegotiation of statutes Venetian justice Elites could not join Great Council Major ecclesiastical positions for Venetians Lion of St. Mark, Verona