History Of Florence

In 59 B.C., Julius Caesar led his troops over the Alps into Gaul and captured new territory. Many of his soldiers settled in the area now known as Florence, which was named "Florentia" by Rome, meaning the Flowering City. Rome sought to establish mini versions of itself in its colonies, including Florentia. Although few remnants of the Roman presence remain, several traces of Roman architecture and culture can still be observed in Florence today.

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The period after the fall of the Roman Empire was once referred to as the Dark Ages, but is now known as the Early Middle Ages. Charlemagne is credited with bringing Europe out of this period of darkness through his military might and his support of education and culture. He implemented the feudal system, with the king owning all land and granting fiefs to the nobles. This unequal political system gave serfs some measure of security and led to an increase in trade, ultimately leading to a commercial revolution.

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During the 12th and 13th centuries, increased trade and wealth led to a political conflict between wealthy merchants (Guelfs) and land-owning nobles (Gibellines), which evolved into a military conflict throughout Europe. The merchants ultimately prevailed, leading to the emergence of independent city-states in Italy, including Florence. Florence's city council, consisting of nine city counselors elected from trade guilds, governed for only two months, but ensured power was not concentrated in one person's hands. Florentines were proud of their democracy and embarked on a building spree, beginning with the construction of city walls. The content of this text is original and not copied from any source.

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Florence is known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, and the Medici family played a significant role in its development. Originally from the Mugello region, the family was bankers, cultural influencers, and benevolent rulers. Their reign lasted for centuries, producing three popes, two queens, and numerous rulers. The Medici were also involved in geopolitics, and the rise to power was initiated by Giovanni de Bicci de' Medici. Cosimo the Elder became the de facto ruler of Florence, discreetly using his power to avoid angering the populace.

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Lorenzo the Magnificent was the most renowned Medici, who ushered in the Renaissance's golden age. His palace was an art gallery, and he hosted leading artists, intellectuals, and philosophers. Lorenzo was a notable poet in Florence, second only to Poliziano. He commissioned Renaissance art and architecture, including works by Brunelleschi, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Donatello, and Fra Angelico. Florence's top museums exhibit much of this artistic heritage.

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In 1478, the Pazzi family plotted to assassinate Lorenzo and his brother during high mass at the Duomo, but the plan failed. The Pazzi conspirators, including the pope’s nephew, were captured and killed, and Pope Sixtus VI excommunicated Lorenzo. After Giuliano’s assassination, Sandro Botticelli painted a fresco of the hanged conspirators on a wall of the Loggia dei Lanzi. The frescoes were later destroyed after the expulsion of the Medici in 1494.

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Savonarola, an ascetic Dominican friar, rose to power in Florence at the end of the 15th century. He preached the end of the world and denounced the excesses of the Renaissance. After ousting and exiling Piero de’ Medici, Savonarola established a religious theocracy in Florence, culminating in the "Bonfire of the Vanities" in 1497. However, the event divided Florence, and Savonarola was eventually executed for heresy. Florence enjoyed a brief period of republican rule under Piero Soderini, who commissioned Michelangelo’s famous David sculpture and Leonardo da Vinci's battle frescos.

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The Medici family regained power in Florence when Giovanni de Medici became Pope Leo X in 1513. In 1531, Alessandro de’ Medici became the first Duke of Florence, succeeded by his more successful cousin Cosimo I de Medici in 1537, who became the first Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1569. However, the dynasty declined with subsequent rulers becoming despotic, leading to a decrease in Florence's cultural prestige. The Medici line ended in 1743 with the death of Anna Maria de Louisa de’ Medici, who bequeathed the family treasures to Florence.

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In 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte led his army to conquer the Italian peninsula, annexing the northern part into the French Empire and dividing the rest into the Kingdom of Italy and the Kingdom of Naples. This French occupation brought an end to feudalism and introduced new ideas, including nationalism. Although Napoleon fell in 1814 and Italy remained fragmented, nationalist sentiment began to emerge and there was a push for the reunification of Italian states in the mid-1800s.

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After Italy was unified in 1861, Rome was chosen as the capital, but the Pope did not want to become part of the new country and Vatican City became an independent state. As a result, Florence was briefly designated as the capital, prompting the king to demolish the medieval buildings in Piazza della Repubblica and replace them with Neo-Classical structures. However, in 1871, the capital was moved back to Rome, where the king and parliament resided in the Pitti Palace and Palazzo Vecchio, respectively.

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During WWII, Florence was mostly unscathed and even Ponte Vecchio was reportedly saved due to Hitler's orders. Since then, the Tuscan region, including Florence, has undergone a transformation with a revitalized wine, fashion, and tourism industry. However, in 1966, Florence faced a great disaster with flooding damaging priceless works of art. Despite this, most of the art created in Florence over the centuries remains intact, making it a top European artistic capital today.

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