Power Plays in Late Medieval Northern Italy At that time what we cali ly was made up of a number of independent states, based around the large citles. The most important were Vénic Milan, Florence, Napies, and the Papal States (ruled by the Pope). Each state had ts own ruler, and was ‘constantly trying to gin superiority over the others. Verona Is shown as having its own ‘Prince’, though it ams to have been part of the larger state of Venice. The foud between the two familias in the play tells us a lot about the constant bates and Inrgues botween the re tuling tarniiies of these allan a, Italian superiority ‘Shakespeare families states Sp KTALY FIFTEENTH CENTURY ‘not certain when Romeo and Julletis supposed lo have been set, but itis supposed to a long time belore Shakespeare was wriling his time, Italy was divided into a Trent number of warring city states the most powerful being Milan, Florence, Pisa, Siena, * Genoa, Ferrara, Mantua Verona and Venice. They were often divided by a long- running power struggle for supremacy between the forces of the Church, namely the Papal states, and the Kings of the Holy Roman Empire. Each city was usually dominated by supporters of one side or the other, for the Cor Papacy it was the Guelphs and for the Holy Roman Empire it was the Ghibellines. Yet each city was also divided internally between the two. Rome! Pont fs Bene ‘Themain Hao ifpy-sttesin Warfare between the states was common, while factions within also battled for dominance. GOVERNMENT The city-s defences and made their own trade laws Some city-states, such as Florence, were republics governed by elected councils The couneil members were drawn from. the common people as well as from the upper classes» a type of government which was very similar to that of ancient Greece and Rome, In theory, power in these republics lay in the hands ofthe citizens, rather than with priests and powerful barons. In fact, rich merchants, soldiers or churchmen were often the leaders. Real power in Florence, for example, was concentrated in the hands of the leaders ofthe seven great guilds, or Arti Maggion, and, for along period, the Medici family “nS \ Rome republics guilds councils soldiers tates raised their own taxes, built hot 1550, Some north Naples" (itt uc as Flnec ond Vi, ce epubis,Altogh tnd th Holy Ramon Exper \ from hom of tbe Pope thir itz fil had fle (Roman / factions Ghibellines supremacy Papal GREAT FAMILIES The leaders the ciy-states, who were lle ead nee pow Na mse ths power onto he fae ‘Rong the mot power rling fis were the Mei tn Forence the Visont nd Sforza in Milan the Gonzaga fay in Mantas and the Este fay in Ferrara There was reat vary between the fami, They were aways ooking for td tei estate the ofambitions signori Palermo alse 1494 arertine| VERONA AND MANTUA “Thecity of Verona, in which most of the play’ action takes place, was one of many Walan cites ruled by @ Prince and under his protection. Law and order were ced by him. Henee the appearance ofthe Prine in ‘Act {scene Ito condemn the tee ighting between the and cloely-Anit communities often speaking thee own Giaets, with regional cultures and flerce egional loyaliles, Fortis reason exile fom a city was as bad os anishment of expatition fromm a country today, THs im some mensre explains Remec's et th his “There is no world without Verona walls (111.3)Power Plays in Late Medieval Northern Italy ETALY Shin THe FIFTEENTH CENTURY is not certain when Romoo and Julletis supposed tohave ‘been set. but itis supposed to be quite a long ume belore are was wling his ‘Version In 1895. At this time, Italy was divided into a number of warring city states the most powerful being Milan, Florence, Pisa, Siena, Genoa, Ferrara, Mantua Verona and Venice. They were often divided by a long- running power struggle for between the forces of the Church, namely the states, and the Kings of the Holy Empire. Each city was usually dominated by supporters of one side or the other, for the Papacy it was the Guelphs and for the Holy Roman Empire it was the each city was also divided internally between the two. Warfare between the states was common, within also battled for while dominance. GOVERNMENT ‘The city-states raised their own taxes, built defences and made their own trade laws. Some city-states, such as Florence, were republics governed by elected, é ‘The council members were drawn from the common people as well as from the upper classes ~ a type of government which was very similar to that of ancient Greece and In theory; power in these lay in the hands of the citizens, rather tian with priests and powerful barons. Infact, rich merchants, or churchmen. ‘were often the cadens Real power in Florence, fr example, was concentrated in the hands ofthe leaders of the seven great vor Ari Maggio, and, for a long ‘At that time what we cait lily was made up of a number of independent. large citles. The most important were Venice, Milan, Florence, Naples, and the Papal States (ruled by the Pope}. Each state had its own ruler, and was constantly trying to gain Verona Is shown as having its own ‘Prince’, though it ‘Seems fo have been part of the larger state of Venice. The feud between the two the constant battles and intrigues between the important ruling families of thes , based around the Italian superiority Shakespeare families over the other others. ones In the play tells us a lot about -Yet ‘Thai lan its hot 1550, Some ath ‘y-tats,uh a: Free and | Veni, sarees, Fre fom te contr ofthe Pope ‘andthe Holy Roman Emp, ‘heir citcme sl had efler thereof abit signori Roman factions Ghibellines supremacy Papal Mig ey Verma oh mx of he lays acon SREAT FAMIL s tales pe was nf ny an he ed by 2 ‘he leader ofthe ciy-ates, who were cada inmense we: any fase Ts power on wo the Eis. Kimong the mot powerful ang tre the Media Florence, the Vicon ‘period, the Medici family land Sforzas in Milan, the Gonzaga family in Mantua, and the Este family in Ferrara. “There was great rivalry between the families. They were always looking for ways to increase the of themselves ‘and their city-states republics councils AES varisvment or expat passes judgement on the feuding families. The Prince ‘represents sabiity and order. ‘Cher lke Verona and Mantua were self-contained and closely knit communis often speaking thelr own, inlets, with regional cultures and Merce regional loyaties, For this reason, eile froma city was as bd 0s rom a county 1 in" some measure explains Romeo's grief hit “Therein mo workd without Verona walls” (1.3)