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Chapter 111: The Signorias of Italy
On the southern side of the Alps lies the Italian Peninsula, which is a heavily urbanized society. The Po Valley, which has been organized as the Lombard League previously in opposition to any possible German expansion further southwards. As hinted before, the loose confederacy of the Lombard League collapses, especially as the interests of its member states gradually diverge more and more.
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The city of Venice is one of the most iconic Italian cities
Practically all of Lombardy has dismembered into a variety of city-states, among them Genoa and Venice being the most prominent. Other city-states of northern Italy include Milan, Novarra, Ivrea, Monteferrat, Saluzzo, Piacenza, Lodi, Bergamo, Lodi, Cremona, Brescia, Verona, Matova, Vicenza, Padova, Treviso, Ferrara, Bologna, Modena, Reggio and Parma.
View attachment 533842
Political fragmentation of the Peninsula reigns supreme. Venice, the Patriarchate of Aquilea and the Despotate of Trinacria are among the largest countries.
The areas of northern Italy are home to a large urban culture, caused by a population explosion. At least a third of the population of northern Italy was urbanized, and there was a substantial move of population from the rural areas to the city. Northern Italy is thought to be home to some of the largest cities of western Europe, perhaps comparable only to those in Bética; roughly a dozen of them have more than 50 000 people, and a handful have over 100 000 as well.
The urban civilization of Lombardy is notable for improving farming techniques, resulting in an agricultural revolution, giving large yields and able to support such large populations. The concentration of the people at such a scale results in development of commerce.
Especially Genoa and Venice are more and more engaged in Mediterranean trade; the Venetians virtually take over the trade between the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe, having close relations with merchants in Kemet and Phoenicia, as well as the Rhomaic Empire.
Genoese merchants compete with Afirkan and Pisan one is the western Mediterranena basin, pulling the shorter end of the string
View attachment 533844
The city-states (pink) dominate northern Italy. The majority of them have, however falled under the control of one family, the notale exceptions being Venice, Pisa, Genoa and Florence.
As regarding the political system many of the city-states eventually become dominated by a few noble families, establishing the Signoria system. The ones that don´t are by nature the more populated ones , where it has become much more difficult for one of the families to dominate the entire city, and a handful of other competing families manage to block the ambitions and aspirations of the strongest ones for dominance over the city. Such is the case in Venice.
The spread of literacy and the general openness of the urban society has made it possible for the spread of dissenting religious views. Especially those arriving from Guyany and Burgundy: the Waldensian teaching has gained popularity also on the Italian side of the western Alpine Valleys. Meanwhile Catharism , having its base in the Guyany and Septimania regions also spreads into Lombardy, with Vicenza, Mantova and Bergamo being the major centres of the this faith in Lombardy. There are also records of Cathar presence in other cities of Lombardy, such as Brescia or Novara. However, only Vicenza, Bergamo and Mantova where the Signoria openly embraces the teaching of the Cathars (2).
View attachment 533845
Religious breakdown of the Peninsula. While most of Italy remains Catholic, Waldensians dominate the Alpine foothills, and Catharism has also found its way into northern Italy. Orthodoxy remains vibrant in the south.
Tuscany located further southwards is also home to a handful of city-states, Florence, Lucca, Pisa and Sienna being the most prominent. The city of Pisa is a powerful competitor for commercial dominance in the western Mediterranean, especially in the Tyrrhenian Sea; their possession of Corsica gives them a major advantage over chief competitors in Genoa and Lucca. The rivalry between Pisa and Genoa results in a number of wars; from which however Pisa emerges victorious.
To their east, there was the Republic of Ancona on the coast and the duchy of Spoleto controlling the Upper Tiberus Valley in Umbria. The Duchy of Spoleto is amongst the odlest existing polities in Italy, dating back to the crumbling of the Langobardic kingdom and has continued its existence since the Carolingians in practically the same form unaltered, at times coming into conflict with the Roman Pontiff.
View attachment 533847
Roman Catholic jurisdictions inside Italy. Venice has recieved its own Archbishop, much to the gruniting of the Aquilean Patriarch
The temporal authority of the Roman Pontiff is been reduced essentially to the region of Latium, and his spiritual authority was in heavy decline as well (3). Without the threat of a militaristic staunchly monotheist religion at the gates, the Papacy has failed to unite the chivalry of Western Christendom under a common cause; rather the feudal lords fight their own petty wars, and are far from anything that could be described as a paragon of virtue. Even the prince-bishops, controlling large estates and principalities act like feudal as well as spiritual lords, with the Pope being the largest of them; his conspiring with some city-states against the others in the fragmented late medieval Italy has left many people disgusted of the Catholic hierarchy and the feudal order of the society altogether.
The southern part of Italy is dominated by the Duchy of Benevento, which can trace its existence to the Langobards as well. The Dukes of Benevento had been allied themselves with the Papacy, providing a buffer between Rome and Rhomaic-held territories in Magna Graecia. However, the Dukes of Benevento time and again come into conflict with the rising cities of the Campanian coast, which are increasing in both size and prosperity, and the Dukes gradually lose their control over these coastal cities, which try to copy the trends found further northwards.
View attachment 533850
The city of Benevento is the seat of the Dukes, who had been controlling much of south-central Italy
Rhomaic control over Salerno, Apulia, Calabria and Sicily has often been contested, especially by the Latin population of Salerno. After efforts of the Rhomaic Emperors to impose Greek rather than Latin in church, the population was highly concerned and the area was in unrest. With the Rhomaic authority weakened, Salerno was the first to assume independence.
The independence of Salerno was soon followed by aspirations of some military commander in Messina, who declared himself the lord of Trinacria (4), and establishes his seat in Syracusa. Trinacria is a mixed Greco-Latin realm, with Greek being dominant in southern Calabria and the more urban eastern coast of Sicily; Latinate dialects continue to be spoken in the northern parts of Calabria and western Sicily. The Despots of Trinacria are known to be fairly tolerant rulers, allowing both the Latins and the Greeks , as well as sizeable Jewish communities to practice openly .Trinacria, controlling the Strait of Messina seeks to posit itself as a competitor for control over the Mediterranean trade. Its greatest competitor: Afirka, on the coast of Tamazgha, positing itself as heir of ancient Carthage. A bitter rivalry between the two is to follow, as their mercantile aspirations are very similar.
Ultimately, Apoulia remains the only part of Rhomaic rule in the Appenine Peninsula, being at the heel of the Italian boot. The garrisons in the area remain undermanned, and the area retains its predominantly Greek character.
As for Sardinia, Logudoro, the last of the independent judicati was conquered by the Afirkans in the 1240s, with most of the island under direct control of the Afirkans; only the northeastern tip remains under the control of Pisans. Pisan rule over the island of Corsica has resulted in the Tuscan dialect almost fully displacing a native Southern Romance Corsican variety.
View attachment 533846
Adding the linguistic map as well, although nothing has changed since the last time we visited Italy
View attachment 533849
The city of Venice is one of the most iconic Italian cities
Practically all of Lombardy has dismembered into a variety of city-states, among them Genoa and Venice being the most prominent. Other city-states of northern Italy include Milan, Novarra, Ivrea, Monteferrat, Saluzzo, Piacenza, Lodi, Bergamo, Lodi, Cremona, Brescia, Verona, Matova, Vicenza, Padova, Treviso, Ferrara, Bologna, Modena, Reggio and Parma.
View attachment 533842
Political fragmentation of the Peninsula reigns supreme. Venice, the Patriarchate of Aquilea and the Despotate of Trinacria are among the largest countries.
The areas of northern Italy are home to a large urban culture, caused by a population explosion. At least a third of the population of northern Italy was urbanized, and there was a substantial move of population from the rural areas to the city. Northern Italy is thought to be home to some of the largest cities of western Europe, perhaps comparable only to those in Bética; roughly a dozen of them have more than 50 000 people, and a handful have over 100 000 as well.
The urban civilization of Lombardy is notable for improving farming techniques, resulting in an agricultural revolution, giving large yields and able to support such large populations. The concentration of the people at such a scale results in development of commerce.
Especially Genoa and Venice are more and more engaged in Mediterranean trade; the Venetians virtually take over the trade between the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe, having close relations with merchants in Kemet and Phoenicia, as well as the Rhomaic Empire.
Genoese merchants compete with Afirkan and Pisan one is the western Mediterranena basin, pulling the shorter end of the string
View attachment 533844
The city-states (pink) dominate northern Italy. The majority of them have, however falled under the control of one family, the notale exceptions being Venice, Pisa, Genoa and Florence.
As regarding the political system many of the city-states eventually become dominated by a few noble families, establishing the Signoria system. The ones that don´t are by nature the more populated ones , where it has become much more difficult for one of the families to dominate the entire city, and a handful of other competing families manage to block the ambitions and aspirations of the strongest ones for dominance over the city. Such is the case in Venice.
The spread of literacy and the general openness of the urban society has made it possible for the spread of dissenting religious views. Especially those arriving from Guyany and Burgundy: the Waldensian teaching has gained popularity also on the Italian side of the western Alpine Valleys. Meanwhile Catharism , having its base in the Guyany and Septimania regions also spreads into Lombardy, with Vicenza, Mantova and Bergamo being the major centres of the this faith in Lombardy. There are also records of Cathar presence in other cities of Lombardy, such as Brescia or Novara. However, only Vicenza, Bergamo and Mantova where the Signoria openly embraces the teaching of the Cathars (2).
View attachment 533845
Religious breakdown of the Peninsula. While most of Italy remains Catholic, Waldensians dominate the Alpine foothills, and Catharism has also found its way into northern Italy. Orthodoxy remains vibrant in the south.
Tuscany located further southwards is also home to a handful of city-states, Florence, Lucca, Pisa and Sienna being the most prominent. The city of Pisa is a powerful competitor for commercial dominance in the western Mediterranean, especially in the Tyrrhenian Sea; their possession of Corsica gives them a major advantage over chief competitors in Genoa and Lucca. The rivalry between Pisa and Genoa results in a number of wars; from which however Pisa emerges victorious.
To their east, there was the Republic of Ancona on the coast and the duchy of Spoleto controlling the Upper Tiberus Valley in Umbria. The Duchy of Spoleto is amongst the odlest existing polities in Italy, dating back to the crumbling of the Langobardic kingdom and has continued its existence since the Carolingians in practically the same form unaltered, at times coming into conflict with the Roman Pontiff.
View attachment 533847
Roman Catholic jurisdictions inside Italy. Venice has recieved its own Archbishop, much to the gruniting of the Aquilean Patriarch
The temporal authority of the Roman Pontiff is been reduced essentially to the region of Latium, and his spiritual authority was in heavy decline as well (3). Without the threat of a militaristic staunchly monotheist religion at the gates, the Papacy has failed to unite the chivalry of Western Christendom under a common cause; rather the feudal lords fight their own petty wars, and are far from anything that could be described as a paragon of virtue. Even the prince-bishops, controlling large estates and principalities act like feudal as well as spiritual lords, with the Pope being the largest of them; his conspiring with some city-states against the others in the fragmented late medieval Italy has left many people disgusted of the Catholic hierarchy and the feudal order of the society altogether.
The southern part of Italy is dominated by the Duchy of Benevento, which can trace its existence to the Langobards as well. The Dukes of Benevento had been allied themselves with the Papacy, providing a buffer between Rome and Rhomaic-held territories in Magna Graecia. However, the Dukes of Benevento time and again come into conflict with the rising cities of the Campanian coast, which are increasing in both size and prosperity, and the Dukes gradually lose their control over these coastal cities, which try to copy the trends found further northwards.
View attachment 533850
The city of Benevento is the seat of the Dukes, who had been controlling much of south-central Italy
Rhomaic control over Salerno, Apulia, Calabria and Sicily has often been contested, especially by the Latin population of Salerno. After efforts of the Rhomaic Emperors to impose Greek rather than Latin in church, the population was highly concerned and the area was in unrest. With the Rhomaic authority weakened, Salerno was the first to assume independence.
The independence of Salerno was soon followed by aspirations of some military commander in Messina, who declared himself the lord of Trinacria (4), and establishes his seat in Syracusa. Trinacria is a mixed Greco-Latin realm, with Greek being dominant in southern Calabria and the more urban eastern coast of Sicily; Latinate dialects continue to be spoken in the northern parts of Calabria and western Sicily. The Despots of Trinacria are known to be fairly tolerant rulers, allowing both the Latins and the Greeks , as well as sizeable Jewish communities to practice openly .Trinacria, controlling the Strait of Messina seeks to posit itself as a competitor for control over the Mediterranean trade. Its greatest competitor: Afirka, on the coast of Tamazgha, positing itself as heir of ancient Carthage. A bitter rivalry between the two is to follow, as their mercantile aspirations are very similar.
Ultimately, Apoulia remains the only part of Rhomaic rule in the Appenine Peninsula, being at the heel of the Italian boot. The garrisons in the area remain undermanned, and the area retains its predominantly Greek character.
As for Sardinia, Logudoro, the last of the independent judicati was conquered by the Afirkans in the 1240s, with most of the island under direct control of the Afirkans; only the northeastern tip remains under the control of Pisans. Pisan rule over the island of Corsica has resulted in the Tuscan dialect almost fully displacing a native Southern Romance Corsican variety.
View attachment 533846
Adding the linguistic map as well, although nothing has changed since the last time we visited Italy
- The spread of Waldensian teachings into the Upper Piedmont can be explained through the fact that the dialects spoken also on the Italian side of the Alps are the same Arpitan dialects as spoken in Savoy. Therefore, it was much easier to spread the message there, and the natural environment was also very much the same, meaning the mentality of the people was similar as well.
- What is intriguing is that ascetic or dualistic religious movements have become popular only in heavily urbanized societies. Take for example the presence of Buddhism and Jainism in Mauryan India, which has been supplanted by Hinduism, as India has gotten more and more feudalized. Or the appeal of Buddhism to Greeks or Gnosticisim and Manichaeism in the Late Antiquity – the early centres of these communities were always heavily urbanized societies where people were actually developing critical religious thinking. Therefore, if Catharism is going to make any inroads outside of its native region, Lombardy is the perfect candidate for this. The cities of Vicenza and Mantova were chosen because they were historically the seat of Cathar bishops. Bergamo was chosen because… why not?
- The Late Medieval Papacy was losing ground in OTL to reform movements such as the Cathars, the Waldensians, the Lollards, the Hussites and ultimately the Protestants. All these movements claimed that the Catholic Church has diverged greatly from the original early Christian Church. Without the Muslim threat and the creation of Monastic Holy Orders, such as the Templars and the Teutonic Knight or the Knights Hospitaller, the Catholic Church is not going to be in weaker situation than in OTL; and given the fact that Manicheism is still vibrant in Asia and not as persecuted as in OTL, Catharism is going to be in much more trouble.
- Supposedly one of the Greek names for the island, Trniacria encompasses as a realm both Sicily and Sardinia
- Tomislav Addai
- Word Count: 1.6k