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regulations； deserves to be celebrated above any principality of
Italy。 But that this surprise may cease when the cause is known； I
shall speak of their city from a more remote period； that everyone may
understand what were their beginnings； and the causes which so long
withheld them from interfering in the affairs of Italy。
When Attila； king of the Huns； besieged Aquileia； the inhabitants；
after defending themselves a long time； began to despair of effecting
their safety； and fled for refuge to several uninhabited rocks；
situated at the point of the Adriatic Sea； now called the Gulf of
Venice； carrying with them whatever movable property they possessed。
The people of Padua； finding themselves in equal danger； and knowing
that； having became master of Aquileia； Attila would next attack
themselves； also removed with their most valuable property to a place
on the same sea； called Rivo Alto； to which they brought their women；
children； and aged persons； leaving the youth in Padua to assist in
her defense。 Besides these； the people of Monselice； with the
inhabitants of the surrounding hills； driven by similar fears； fled to
the same rocks。 But after Attila had taken Aquileia； and destroyed
Padua； Monselice； Vicenza； and Verona； the people of Padua and others
who were powerful； continued to inhabit the marshes about Rivo Alto；
and； in like manner； all the people of the province anciently called
Venetia； driven by the same events； became collected in these marshes。
Thus； under the pressure of necessity； they left an agreeable and
fertile country to occupy one sterile and unwholesome。 However； in
consequence of a great number of people being drawn together into a
comparatively small space； in a short time they made those places not
only habitable； but delightful； and having established among
themselves laws and useful regulations； enjoyed themselves in security
amid the devastations of Italy； and soon increased both in reputation
and strength。 For； besides the inhabitants already mentioned； many
fled to these places from the cities of Lombardy； principally to
escape from the cruelties of Clefis king of the Lombards； which
greatly tended to increase the numbers of the new city； and in the
conventions which were made between Pepin； king of France； and the
emperor of Greece； when the former； at the entreaty of the pope； came
to drive the Lombards out of Italy； the duke of Benevento and the
Venetians did not render obedience to either the one or the other； but
alone enjoyed their liberty。 As necessity had led them to dwell on
sterile rocks； they were compelled to seek the means of subsistence
elsewhere； and voyaging with their ships to every port of the ocean；
their city became a depository for the various products of the world；
and was itself filled with men of every nation。
For many years the Venetians sought no other dominion than that which
tended to facilitate their commercial enterprises； and thus acquired
many ports in Greece and Syria； and as the French had made frequent
use of their ships in voyages to Asia； the island of Candia was
assigned to them in recompense for these services。 While they lived in
this manner； their name spread terror over the seas； and was held in
veneration throughout Italy。 This was so completely the case； that
they were generally chosen to arbitrate in controversies between the
states； as occurred in the difference between the Colleagues； on
account of the cities they had divided among themselves； which being
referred to the Venetians； they awarded Brescia and Bergamo to the
Visconti。 But when； in the course of time； urged by their eagerness
for dominion； they had made themselves masters of Padua； Vicenza；
Trevisa； and afterward of Verona； Bergamo； and Brescia； with many
cities in Romagna and the kingdom of Naples； other nations were
impressed with such an opinion of their power； that they were a
terror； not only to the princes of Italy； but to the ultramontane
kings。 These states entered into an alliance against them； and in one
day wrested from them the provinces they had obtained with so much
labor and expense； and although they have in latter times reacquired
some portions； still possessing neither power nor reputation； like all
the other Italian powers； they live at the mercy of others。
Benedict XII。 having attained the pontificate and finding Italy lost；
fearing； too； that the emperor would assume the sovereignty of the
country； determined to make friends of all who had usurped the
government of those cities which had been accustomed to obey the
emperor； that they might have occasion to dread the latter； and unite
with himself in the defense of Italy。 To this end he issued a decree；
confirming to all the tyrants of Lombardy the places they had seized。
After making this concession the pope died； and was succeeded by
Clement VI。 The emperor； seeing with what a liberal hand the pontiff
had bestowed the dominions of the empire； in order to be equally
bountiful with the property of others； gave to all who had assumed
sovereignty over the cities or territories of the church； the imperial
authority to retain possession of them。 By this means Galeotto
Malatesti and his brothers became lords of Rimino； Pesaro； and Fano；
Antonio da Montefeltro； of the Marca and Urbino； Gentile da Varano； of
Camerino； Guido di Polenta； of Ravenna； Sinibaldo Ordelaffi； of Furli
and Cesena； Giovanni Manfredi； of Faenza； Lodovico Alidossi； of Imola；
and besides these； many others in divers places。 Thus； of all the
cities； towns； or fortresses of the church； few remained without a
prince； for she did not recover herself till the time of Alexander
VI。； who； by the ruin of the descendants of these princes； restored
the authority of the church。
The emperor； when he made the concession before named； being at
Tarento； signified an intention of going into Italy。 In consequence of
this； many battles were fought in Lombardy； and the Visconti became
lords of Parma。 Robert king of Naples； now died； leaving only two
grandchildren； the issue of his sons Charles； who had died a
considerable time before him。 He ordered that the elder of the two；
whose name was Giovanna or Joan； should be heiress of the kingdom； and
take for her husband Andrea； son of the king of Hungary； his grandson。
Andrea had not lived with her long； before she caused him to be
murdered； and married another cousin； Louis； prince of Tarento。 But
Louis； king of Hungary； and brother of Andrea； in order to avenge his
death； brought forces into Italy； and drove Queen Joan and her husband
out of the kingdom。
At this period a memorable circumstance took place at Rome。 Niccolo di
Lorenzo； often called Rienzi or Cola di Rienzi； who held the office of
chancellor at Campidoglio； drove the senators from Rome and； under the
title of tribune； made himself the head of the Roman republic；
restoring it to its ancient form； and with so great reputation of
justice and virtue； that not only the places adjacent； but the whole
of Italy sent ambassadors to him。 The ancient provinces； seeing Rome
arise to new life； again raised their heads； and some induced by hope；
others by fear； honored him as their sovereign。 But Niccolo；
notwithstanding his great reputation； lost all energy in the very
beginning of his enterprise； and as if oppressed with the weight of so
vast an undertaking； without being driven away； secretly fled to
Charles； king of Bohemia； who； by the influence of the pope； and in
contempt of Louis of Bavaria； had been elected emperor。 Charles； to
ingratiate himself with the pontiff； sent Niccolo to him； a prisoner。
After some time； in imitation of Rienzi； Francesco Baroncegli seized
upon the tribunate of Rome； and expelled the senators； and the pope；
as the most effectual means of repressing him； drew Niccolo from his
prison； sent him to Rome； and restored to him the office of tribune；
so that he reoccupied the state and put Francesco to death； but the
Colonnesi becoming his enemies； he too； after a short time； shared the
same fate； and the senators were again restored to their office。 The
king of Hungary； having driven out Queen Joan； returned to his
kingdom； but the pope； who chose to have the queen in the neighborhood
of Rome rather than the king； effected her restoration to the
sovereignty； on the condition that her husband； contenting himself
with the title of prince of Tarento； should not be called king。 Being
the year 1350； the pope thought that the jubilee； appointed by
Boniface VIII。 to take place at the conclusion of each century； might
be renewed at the end of each fifty years； and having issued a decree
for the establishment of it； the Romans； in acknowledgment of the
benefit； consented that he should send four cardinals to reform the
government of the city； and appoint senators according to his own
pleasure。 The pope again declared Louis of Tarento； king； and in
gratitude