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in the night took him prisoner。 And although the people of Anagnia set
him at liberty shortly after； yet from grief at the injury he died
mad。 Boniface was founder of the jubilee in 1300； and fixed that it
should be celebrated at each revolution of one hundred years。 In those
times various troubles arose between the Guelph and Ghibelline
factions； and the emperors having abandoned Italy； many places became
free； and many were occupied by tyrants。 Pope Benedict restored the
scarlet hat to the cardinals of the Colonnesi family； and reblessed
Philip； king of France。 He was succeeded by Clement V。； who； being a
Frenchman； removed the papal court to Avignon in 1305。
CHAPTER VI
The Emperor Henry comes into ItalyThe Florentines take the part
of the popeThe Visconti originate the duchy of MilanArtifice
of Maffeo Visconti against the family of de la TorreGiovanni
Galeazzo Visconti； first duke of MilanThe Emperor Louis in Italy
John； king of Bohemia； in ItalyLeague against the king of
Bohemia and the pope's legateOrigin of VeniceLiberty of the
Venetians confirmed by Pepin and the Greek emperorGreatness of
VeniceDecline of VeniceDiscord between the pope and the
emperorGiovanna； queen of NaplesRienziThe jubilee reduced to
fifty yearsSuccession of the duke of MilanCardinal Egidio the
pope's legateWar between the Genoese and the Venetians。
At this time； Charles II。 of Naples died； and was succeeded by his son
Robert。 Henry of Luxemburg had been elected to the empire； and came to
Rome for his coronation； although the pope was not there。 His coming
occasioned great excitement in Lombardy； for he sent all the banished
to their homes； whether they were Guelphs or Ghibellines； and in
consequence of this； one faction endeavoring to drive out the other；
the whole province was filled with war； nor could the emperor with all
his endeavors abate its fury。 Leaving Lombardy by way of Genoa； he
came to Pisa； where he endeavored to take Tuscany from King Robert；
but not being successful； he went to Rome； where he remained only a
few days； being driven away by the Orsini with the consent of King
Robert； and returned to Pisa； and that he might more securely make war
upon Tuscany； and wrest the country from the hands of the king； he
caused it to be assailed by Frederick； monarch of Sicily。 But when he
was in hope of occupying Tuscany and robbing the king of Naples of his
dominions； he died； and was succeeded by Louis of Bavaria。 About the
same period； John XXII。 attained the papacy； during whose time the
emperor still continued to persecute the Guelphs and the church； but
they were defended by Robert and the Florentines。 Many wars took place
in Lombardy between the Visconti and the Guelphs； and in Tuscany
between Castruccio of Lucca and the Florentines。 As the family of
Visconti gave rise to the duchy of Milan； one of the five
principalities which afterward governed Italy； I shall speak of them
from a rather earlier date。
Milan； upon recovering from the ruin into which she had been thrown by
Frederick Barbarossa； in revenge for her injuries； joined the league
formed by the Lombard cities for their common defense； this restrained
him； and for awhile preserved alive the interests of the church in
Lombardy。 In the course of the wars which followed； the family of La
Torre became very potent in that city； and their reputation increased
so long as the emperor possessed little authority in the province。 But
Frederick II。 coming into Italy； and the Ghibelline party； by the
influence of Ezelin having grown powerful； seeds of the same faction
sprang up in all the cities。 In Milan were the Visconti； who expelled
the La Torres； these； however； did not remain out； for by agreement
between the emperor and the pope they were restored to their country。
For when the pope and his court removed to France； and the emperor；
Henry of Luxemburg； came into Italy； with the pretext of going to Rome
for his crown； he was received in Milan by Maffeo Visconti and Guido
della Torre； who were then the heads of these families。 But Maffeo；
designing to make use of the emperor for the purpose of expelling
Guido； and thinking the enterprise not difficult； on account of the La
Torre being of the contrary faction to the imperial； took occasion；
from the remarks which the people made of the uncivil behavior of the
Germans； to go craftily about and excite the populace to arm
themselves and throw off the yoke of these barbarians。 When a suitable
moment arrived； he caused a person in whom he confided to create a
tumult； upon which the people took arms against the Germans。 But no
sooner was the mischief well on foot； than Maffeo； with his sons and
their partisans； ran to Henry； telling him that all the disturbance
had been occasioned by the La Torre family； who； not content to remain
peaceably in Milan； had taken the opportunity to plunder him； that
they might ingratiate themselves with the Guelphs of Italy and become
princes in the city； they then bade him be of good cheer； for they；
with their party； whenever he wished it； were ready to defend him with
their lives。 Henry； believing all that Maffeo told him； joined his
forces to those of the Visconti； and attacking the La Torre； who were
in various parts of the city endeavoring to quell the tumult； slew all
upon whom they could lay hands； and having plundered the others of
their property； sent them into exile。 By this artifice； Maffeo
Visconti became a prince of Milan。 Of him remained Galeazzo and Azzo；
and； after these； Luchino and Giovanni。 Giovanni became archbishop of
Milan； and of Luchino； who died before him； were left Bernabo and
Galeazzo； Galeazzo； dying soon after； left a son called the Count of
Virtu； who after the death of the archbishop； contrived the murder of
his uncle； Bernabo； became prince of Milan； and was the first who had
the title of duke。 The duke left Filippo and Giovanmaria Angelo； the
latter of whom being slain by the people of Milan； the state fell to
Filippo； but he having no male heir； Milan passed from the family of
Visconti to that of Sforza； in the manner to be related hereafter。
But to return to the point from which we deviated。 The Emperor Louis；
to add to the importance of his party and to receive the crown； came
into Italy； and being at Milan； as an excuse for taking money of the
Milanese； he pretended to make them free and to put the Visconti in
prison； but shortly afterwards he released them； and； having gone to
Rome； in order to disturb Italy with less difficulty； he made Piero
della Corvara anti…pope； by whose influence； and the power of the
Visconti； he designed to weaken the opposite faction in Tuscany and
Lombardy。 But Castruccio died； and his death caused the failure of the
emperor's purpose； for Pisa and Lucca rebelled。 The Pisans sent Piero
della Corvara a prisoner to the pope in France； and the emperor；
despairing of the affairs of Italy； returned to Germany。 He had
scarcely left； before John king of Bohemia came into the country； at
the request of the Ghibellines of Brescia； and made himself lord of
that city and of Bergamo。 And as his entry was with the consent of the
pope； although he feigned the contrary； the legate of Bologna favored
him； thinking by this means to prevent the return of the emperor。 This
caused a change in the parties of Italy； for the Florentines and King
Robert； finding the legate was favorable to the enterprises of the
Ghibellines； became foes of all those to whom the legate and the king
of Bohemia were friendly。 Without having regard for either faction；
whether Guelph or Ghibelline； many princes joined them； of whom； among
others； were the Visconti； the Della Scala； Filippo Gonzao of Mantua；
the Carrara； and those of Este。 Upon this the pope excommunicated them
all。 The king； in fear of the league； went to collect forces in his
own country； and having returned with a large army； still found his
undertaking a difficult one； so； seeing his error； he withdrew to
Bohemia； to the great displeasure of the legate； leaving only Reggio
and Modena guarded； and Parma in the care of Marsilio and Piero
de' Rossi； who were the most powerful men in the city。 The king of
Bohemia being gone； Bologna joined the league； and the leaguers
divided among themselves the four cities which remained of the church
faction。 They agreed that Parma should pertain to the Della Scalla；
Reggio to the Gonzaga； Modena to the family of Este； and Lucca to the
Florentines。 But in taking possession of these cities； many disputes
arose which were afterward in a great measure settled by the
Venetians。 Some； perhaps； will think it a species of impropriety that
we have so long deferred speaking of the Venetians； theirs being a
republic； which； both on account of its power and internal
regulations； deserves to be celebrated above any principality of
Italy。 But that this surprise may cease when