Dear foleypt,
I did my best to collect as much information as possible. This is the
result:
-- Della Scala State --
Ruler: Mastino II (1329-51).
Mastino was the nephew of his predecessor, Can Francesco (Can Grande)
della Scala (1291-1329), under whom the state had reached the zenith
of power. He attempted to continue his uncle's expansive policy by
conquering Brescia in 1332 and carrying his power beyond the Po as
well as by purchasing Parma (1335) and Lucca (1339). His enormous
wealth made him the second-richest European sovereign of his days. But
when a mighty alliance of hostile states united against him in 1337,
his territories were reduced to Verona and Vincenza in a three years
war.
-- The Republic of Pisa --
Ruler: Bonifazio Count of Donoratico, also known as Fazio Novello di
Donoratico, Fazio di Gaddo Count of Donoratico, Fazio Novello Della
Gherardesca. Signore and General Captain of Pisa (died 1340).
A very popular person, he came to power by chasing away emperor Ludwig
the Bavarian's Imperial Vicar of Pisa in 1329; after that, he was
elected Capitano Generale della Repubblica di Pisa, which meant ruler
of the state. His leadership was undisputed to his death in 1340. His
government brought a period of peace and relative prosperity. Apart
from that, not very much is known about him.
-- The Republic of Genoa --
Ruler: 1318-1335 Robert of Anjou, King of Naples (1258-1342);
1335-1339 Two Noble Captains.
The Republic of Genoa, shaken by a perpetual civil war among the
followers of the rivalling noble families Guelfs and Ghibelline and
thus at the edge of anarchy, chose king Robert of Naples as nominal
ruler in 1318 in a period of relative Guelf supremacy (for a short
biography of Robert, please see below), though the civil war did not
end before 1331. The war-weary Genoese allowed Robert to remain in
nominal rule, divided governmental offices equally between Guelfs and
Ghibellines, and consolidated the huge debts of both sides into a
great new funded debt. The internal struggle resurfaced in 1335, and
King Robert resigned as ruler of the city the same year. Two noble
captains, not known by name, ruled the city until in In 1339, the city
was restructured as an aristocratic republic, with leaders called
"Doge" (duke) elected from elite families to serve as head of council.
-- The Duchy of Milan --
Ruler: Azzone I Visconti (1302-1339; r.1329-39), Signore di Milano.
The Visconti family ruled Milan as Imperial Vicars from the 13th
century to 1447. Their name derived from the Imperial viscount title
they received in the 12th century. Azzone's father, Galeazzo I
(ca.1277-1328) fought a perpertual battle against the Pope and the
followers of the influential noble Guelph family. After Galeazzo's
death, the Pope sold the vicariat to his son Azzone, who consolidated
the state by making peace with the pope, and increased the Milanese
territories by gaining the cities Novara, Como, Lecco, Praises, Crema
and Brescia. A number of impressive buildings in Milan is erected
under his patronship. At his death his two uncles, Lucchino and
Giovanni, were proclaimed dukes.
To view a posthumous portrait of Azzone I, please follow this link:
melegnano.net: Azzone Visconti
http://www.melegnano.net/viscon06.jpg
-- The Republic of Florence --
Ruler: Six "Signori" forming the Council of the Commune.
Unfortunately, it proved impossible to find out any names of
Florentine Signori holding office in the mid-14th century. Even
Niccolo Machiavelli did, in his brillant "History of Florence", not
mention officeholders by name, although he provides much historical
detail and many names of important persons otherwise:
Project Gutenberg: History of Florence, by Niccolo Machiavelli
http://ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext01/hflit10.txt
-- The Kingdom of Naples --
Ruler: Robert of Anjou, King of Naples (1275-1343; r.1309-1343).
The son of Charles II of Naples spent a great part of his childhood as
a hostage, taken in custody by King Alfonso III of Aragon in 1288 in
exchange for the freedom of his father, Charles II, who had been
captured in a naval battle with Aragonese forces in 1284. It took
seven years before Charles II was able to obtain the release of his
son. He then was made duke of Calabria and viceroy of Naples in 1296,
before becoming king himself in 1309. Leader of the anti-imperial
powers in Italy, Robert was proclaimed viceroy of the Empire after
Emperor Henry VII's death in 1314. He tried, without success, to unite
Italy under his rule; his attempts of re-gaining Sicily for his realm
were equally futile.
To view a portrait of Robert of Naples, please follow this link:
Martini Simone c.1285 1344 S. Louis of Toulouse gives Robert of Anjou
the Crown
http://www.anu.edu.au/ArtHistory/renart/pics.art/0166/16605.JPG
-- The Papacy --
Ruler: Pope Benedict XII (1285-1342; r.1334-1342).
Benedict XII, born as Jacques Fournier in Saverdun (France), became a
Cistercensian monk in his youth, and studied at the University of
Paris, where he received the doctorate in theology. After being Bishop
of Pamiers and later of Mirapoix, he was elected Pope in December
1334. During his reign, he was deeply involved in political struggles
with Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian, who tried to install an Antipope in
Italy. Also, Benedict paid much attention to a necessary reform of the
Church and to fight corruption and dishonesty within the
ecclesiastical ranks. Among his achievements is the fundamental reform
of religious orders. Although head of the Papal State in Italy,
Benedict resided in Avignon (France) under the protection and
paternalism of French King Philip VI.
To view a portrait bust of Benedict XII, please follow this link:
Saint-Mike.org: The Writings of Pope Benedict
http://www.saint-mike.org/Library/Papal_Library/BenedictXII/BenedictXII.JPG
-- The Kingdom of Trinacria (Sicily) --
Ruler: Frederick II (1272-1337; r.1296-1337), King of Sicily
(Trinacria).
When his brother, the king of Sicily, became king of Aragón as James
II in 1291, Frederick was his regent in Sicily. In 1295 James
renounced Sicily in favor of the Angevin king of Naples, Charles II,
but the Sicilians rebelled and crowned Frederick. A war ensued in
which Frederick fought his own brother, now Charles' ally. In the
Peace of Caltabellotta (1302), Charles and Pope Boniface VIII
recognized Frederick as King of Trinacria, which was an ancient name
for Sicily, for his lifetime. At his death the kingdom was to revert
to the Angevin dynasty of Naples. Although Frederick married a
daughter of Charles, war with Naples resumed in 1312. Frederick,
allied successively with Holy Roman Emperors Henry VII and Ludwig the
Bavarian, retook the title king of Sicily and, with his son Peter, was
crowned in 1322. The war continued after Frederick’s death.
-- The Republic of Venice --
Ruler: Francesco Dandolo (1258-1342, r.1328-39), Doge of Venice.
Several Doges came from the old and influential Venetian Dandolo
family; Francesco Dandolo, also known as Dandolo Cane, was one of
them. During his reign, Venice went to war with Martino della Scala,
lord of Verona, with the result that they occupied Treviso and
otherwise extended their possessions on the terra firma.
A portrait of Francesco Dandolo can be viewed here (please click on
the image to enlarge):
Web Gallery of Art: Doge Francesco Dandolo and his Wife Presented to
the Madonna
http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/p/paolo/venezian/dandolo.html
Sources:
What's Up Tuscany: Tuscany - A Historical Survey
http://www.whatsuptuscany.com/HISTORY/TuscanyHistorical.htm
Cronologia.it: Cronologia Italia Anno 1335 (in Italian)
http://www.cronologia.it/storia/aa1335.htm
Alfea.it: Chronology
http://www.alfea.it/storie/storie_eng/burgundio/cronologia/crono_1300.html
Mittelalter-Genealogie.de: Robert der Weise, König von Neapel (in
German)
http://www.mittelalter-genealogie.de/internet_koenige/neapel/robert_der_weise_koenig_von_neapel_+_1343.html
Medieval Genoa: History and Municipal Institutions, by Stephen A.
Epstein
http://pom-nov3.pomona.edu/~ggorse%20/genoa/genoa2.htm
The Papal Library: Benedict XII
http://www.saint-mike.org/Library/Papal_Library/BenedictXII/Biography.html
New Advent: Catholic Encyclopedia - Pope Benedict XII
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02430a.htm
Decameron Web: History - Robert of Anjou
http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Italian_Studies/dweb/history/characters/robert_anjou.shtml
Genealogy.eu: Rulers of Milan - Visconti 2, by Miroslav Marek, 2002
http://genealogy.euweb.cz/italy/visconti2.html
Infoplease.com: Visconti
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0851018.html
Nonsolomilano: La grande storia di milano (in Italian)
http://www.nonsolomilano.it/La-grande-storia-di-milano/Milan-history/storiamilano.html
Bartleby.com: The Columbia Encyclopedia - Frederick II, king of Sicily
http://www.bartleby.com/65/fr/Fred2Sic.html
PageWise: The 1911 Edition Encyclopedia
http://56.1911encyclopedia.org/D/DA/DANDY.htm
Your Way To Florence: Art and History of Florence - Guelphs and
Ghibellines
http://www.arca.net/postcard/gourl.asp?URL=http://www.arca.net/db/storia/chp7.htm
I would like to thank my Fellow Researcher, revbrenda1st-ga, for
generously sharing her work with me. Thank you very much!
Dear foleypt, I hope, this answers your question.
Regards,
Scriptor |
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