Republic of Florence: Map & History
The Republic of Florence, also known as the Florentine Republic, was a medieval and early modern state that was centered on the Italian city of Florence in Tuscany.
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The Republic of Florence, also known as the Florentine Republic, was a medieval and early modern state that was centered on the Italian city of Florence in Tuscany. The republic originated in 1115, when the Florentine people rebelled against the Margraviate of Tuscany upon the death of Matilda of Tuscany, who controlled vast territories that included Florence. The Florentines formed a commune in Rabodo's successors' place. The republic was ruled by a council known as the Signoria of Florence. The signoria was chosen by the gonfaloniere, who was elected every two months by Florentine guild members.
Modern Countries Once Part of Republic of Florence
At its mapped extent, Republic of Florence covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Republic of Florence's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Republic of Florence in Depth
History
The newly independent Florence prospered in the 12th century through extensive trade with foreign countries. This, in turn, provided a platform for the demographic growth of the city, which mirrored the rate of construction of churches and palazzi. This prosperity was shattered when Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa invaded the Italian Peninsula in 1185. As a result, the margraves of Tuscany reacquired Florence and its townlands. The Florentines reasserted their independence when Emperor Henry VI died in 1197.
Florence's population continued to grow into the 13th century, reaching 30,000 inhabitants. As has been said, the extra inhabitants supported the city's trade and vice versa.
Background
The city of Florence was established in 59 BC by Julius Caesar. Since 846 AD, the city had been part of the Marquisate of Tuscany. After Margravine Matilda of Tuscany died in 1115, the city did not submit readily to her successor, Rabodo (r. 1116–1119), who was killed in a dispute with the city.
It is not known precisely when Florence formed its own republican/oligarchical government independent of the marquisate, although the death of Rabodo in 1119 should be a turning point. The first official mention of the Florentine republic was in 1138, when several cities around Tuscany formed a league against the then-margrave of Tuscany, Duke Henry X of Bavaria. The country was nominally part of the Holy Roman Empire.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Republic of Florence (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Republic of Florence: Key Facts
| Capital | Florence |
|---|---|
| Official language | Tuscan |
| Religion | Catholic Church |
| Form of government | aristocracy |
| Currency | florin |
| Founded | 1115 |
| Dissolved | 1569 |
Preceded by
- March of Tuscany
- Signoria of Florence
Succeeded by
- Duchy of Florence
Facts from Wikidata Q148540 (CC0).
Republic of Florence Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Republic of Florence appears, with the other states of the time.
Republic of Florence Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 20,111 km² in 1586 CE.
Republic of Florence: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Republic of Florence exist?
The Republic of Florence is dated to 1260 CE – 1737 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the Republic of Florence?
The capital of the Republic of Florence was Florence.
How large was the Republic of Florence at its peak?
At its peak in 1586 the Republic of Florence covered about 20,111 km².
How did the map of the Republic of Florence change over time?
The Republic of Florence appears on 5 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1300 CE to 1700 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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