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proceeded by the marshes to Rome； where he was crowned in the year
1312。 Then； having determined to subdue the Florentines； he approached
their city by the way of Perugia and Arezzo； and halted with his army
at the monastery of San Salvi； about a mile from Florence； where he
remained fifty days without effecting anything。 Despairing of success
against Florence； he returned to Pisa； where he entered into an
agreement with Frederick； king of Sicily； to undertake the conquest of
Naples； and proceeded with his people accordingly； but while filled
with the hope of victory； and carrying dismay into the heart of King
Robert； having reached Buonconvento； he died。
Shortly after this； Uguccione della Faggiuola； having by means of the
Ghibelline party become lord of Pisa and of Lucca； caused； with the
assistance of these cities； very serious annoyance to the neighbouring
places。 In order to effect their relief the Florentines requested King
Robert would allow his brother Piero to take the command of their
armies。 On the other hand； Uguccione continued to increase his power；
and either by force or fraud obtained possession of many castles in
the Val d'Arno and the Val di Nievole； and having besieged Monte
Cataini； the Florentines found it would be necessary to send to its
relief； that they might not see him burn and destroy their whole
territory。 Having drawn together a large army； they entered the Val di
Nievole where they came up with Uguccione； and were routed after a
severe battle in which Piero the king's brother and 2；000 men were
slain； but the body of the Prince was never found。 Neither was the
victory a joyful one to Uguccione； for one of his sons； and many of
the leaders of his army； fell in the strife。
The Florentines after this defeat fortified their territory； and King
Robert sent them； for commander of their forces； the Count d'Andria；
usually called Count Novello； by whose deportment； or because it is
natural to the Florentines to find every state tedious； the city；
notwithstanding the war with Uguccione； became divided into friends
and enemies of the king。 Simon della Tosa； the Magalotti； and certain
others of the people who had attained greater influence in the
government than the rest； were leaders of the party against the king。
By these means messengers were sent to France； and afterward into
Germany； to solicit leaders and forces that they might drive out the
count； whom the king had appointed governor； but they failed of
obtaining any。 Nevertheless they did not abandon their undertaking；
but still desirous of one whom they might worship； after an unavailing
search in France and Germany； they discovered him at Agobbio； and
having expelled the Count Novello； caused Lando d'Agobbio to be
brought into the city as Bargello sheriff）； and gave him the most
unlimited power of the citizens。 This man was cruel and rapacious； and
going through the country accompanied with an armed force； he put many
to death at the mere instigation of those who had endowed him with
authority。 His insolence rose to such a height； that he stamped base
metal with the impression used upon the money of the state； and no one
had sufficient courage to oppose him； so powerful had he become by the
discords of Florence。 Great； certainly； but unhappy city！ which
neither the memory of past divisions； the fear of her enemies； nor a
king's authority； could unite for her own advantage； so that she found
herself in a state of the utmost wretchedness； harassed without by
Uguccione； and plundered within by Lando d'Agobbio。
The friends of the king and those who opposed Lando and his followers；
were either of noble families or the highest of the people； and all
Guelphs； but their adversaries being in power they could not discover
their minds without incurring the greatest danger。 Being； however；
determined to deliver themselves from such disgraceful tyranny； they
secretly wrote to King Robert； requesting him to appoint for his vicar
in Florence Count Guido da Battifolle。 The king complied； and the
opposite party； although the Signory were opposed to the king； on
account of the good quality of the count； did not dare to resist him。
Still his authority was not great； because the Signory and
Gonfaloniers of the companies were in favor of Lando and his party。
During these troubles； the daughter of King Albert of Bohemia passed
through Florence； in search of her husband； Charles； the son of King
Robert； and was received with the greatest respect by the friends of
the king； who complained to her of the unhappy state of the city； and
of the tyranny of Lando and his partisans； so that through her
influence and the exertions of the king's friends； the citizens were
again united； and before her departure； Lando was stripped of all
authority and send back to Agobbio； laden with blood and plunder。 In
reforming the government； the sovereignty of the city was continued to
the king for another three years； and as there were then in office
seven Signors of the party of Lando； six more were appointed of the
king's friends； and some magistracies were composed of thirteen
Signors； but not long afterward the number was reduced to seven
according to ancient custom。
CHAPTER VI
War with CastruccioCastruccio marches against Prato and retires
without making any attemptThe emigrants not being allowed to
return； endeavor to enter the city by force； and are repulsed
Change in the mode of electing the great officers of stateThe
Squittini establishedThe Florentines under Raymond of Cardona
are routed by Castruccio at AltopascioTreacherous designs of
RaymondThe Florentines give the sovereignty of the city to
Charles duke of Cambria； who appoints the duke of Athens for his
vicarThe duke of Calabria comes to FlorenceThe Emperor Louis
of Bavaria visits ItalyThe excitement he producesDeath of
Castruccio and of Charles duke of CalabriaReform of government。
About the same time； Uguccione lost the sovereignty of Lucca and of
Pisa； and Castruccio Castracani； a citizen of Lucca； became lord of
them； who； being a young man； bold and fierce； and fortunate in his
enterprises； in a short time became the head of the Ghibellines in
Tuscany。 On this account the discords among the Florentines were laid
aside for some years； at first to abate the increasing power of
Castruccio； and afterward to unite their means for mutual defense
against him。 And in order to give increased strength and efficacy to
their counsels； the Signory appointed twelve citizens whom they called
Buonomini； or good men； without whose advice and consent nothing of
any importance could be carried into effect。 The conclusion of the
sovereignty of King Robert being come； the citizens took the
government into their own hands； reappointed the usual rectors and
magistracies； and were kept united by the dread of Castruccio； who；
after many efforts against the lords of Lunigiano； attacked Prato； to
the relief of which the Florentines having resolved to go； shut up
their shops and houses； and proceeded thither in a body； amounting to
twenty thousand foot and one thousand five hundred horse。 And in order
to reduce the number of Castruccio's friends and augment their own；
the Signory declared that every rebel of the Guelphic party who should
come to the relief of Prato would be restored to his country； they
thus increased their army with an addition of four thousand men。 This
great force being quickly brought to Prato； alarmed Castruccio so
much； that without trying the fortune of battle； he retired toward
Lucca。 Upon this； disturbances arose in the Florentine camp between
the nobility and the people； the latter of whom wished to pursue the
foe and destroy him； the former were for returning home； saying they
had done enough for Prato in hazarding the safety of Florence on its
account； which they did not regret under the circumstances； but now；
that necessity no longer existing； the propriety of further risk
ceased also； as there was little to be gained and much to lose。
Not being able to agree； the question was referred to the Signory；
among whom the difference of opinion was equally great； and as the
matter spread throughout the city； the people drew together； and used
such threatening language against the nobility that they； being
apprehensive for their safety； yielded； but the resolution being
adopted too late； and by many unwillingly； gave the enemy time to
withdraw in safety to Lucca。
This unfortunate circumstance made the people so indignant against the
great that the Signory refused to perform the promise made to the
exiles； and the latter； anticipating the fact； determined to be
beforehand； and were at the gates of Florence to gain admittance into
the city before the rest of the forces； but their design did not take
effect； for their purpose being foreseen； they were repulsed by those
who had remaine