EARLY HISTORY. 
Though often distracted by factions, her history, compared 
with that of contemporary states, excepting perhaps Venice 
and Genoa, was one of advanced civilisation. The dissensions 
within the city arose from private sources of quarrel among the 
nobles, who summoned their peasantry from the country to 
their aid. These nobles were principally the descendants of 
German barons or marquises who had assisted the German 
emperors at various times in the conquest or subjugation of 
Italy. They held their lands in fief, acknowledging the em- 
peror as their liege lord, and exercising an independent juris- 
diction on their estates. The ancient Italian municipalities 
waged a continual warfare with these petty foreign tyrants, in 
defence of their rights and liberties ; and they were supported 
by the Church, whose power increased when men of superior 
ability and resolution occupied the pontifical throne. Countess 
Matilda, the ruler of Tuscany, though herself a noble, and de- 
scended from German nobles, espoused the cause of the 
Church against the Emperor with religious enthusiasm. She 
was warmly supported by the Florentines, and she obliged 
some of the nobles, who possessed territory in the vicinity of 
Florence, to yield their lands to the canons of Sta. Reparata, 
and to the monks of Vallombrosa. The Lombards had already 
set a good example to the rest of Italy by taking advantage of 
the disputes between rival sovereigns, to establish free institu¬ 
tions, such as a council to control their lords paramount, and 
a senate and parliament of the people. As the Florentine 
municipality increased in wealth and power, they attacked and 
destroyed the castles of the feudal nobles in Tuscany, and 
obliged their former oppressors to reside in Florence, where 
they intermarried with the families of the citizens. The nobles 
had not, however, abandoned their pride with their possessions, 
and the infection spread in the city, which became a scene of 
warlike clans rather than the abode of peaceful merchants. 
Good sense, and increasing power derived from higher educa- 
tion and commercial wealth, enabled the citizens to establish