In Pisa and in Siena Charles IV’s entry into the city and the political action of the imperial vicars produced, both in 1355 and in 1368-69, radical changes in the political context. This article aims to understand why in these two cities the presence of the Emperor and his representatives triggered political unrest. The key argument is that the Emperor’s entry into the city deprived city governments of the levers of power, that is to say of the repressive tools through which the ruling groups shored up their hegemony and stifled political dissent. Without these supports, political regimes collapsed more or less rapidly. The protected space that was created under the safeguard of the imperial authority not only opened up new opportunities for existing factions that were already active in the political arena, even though in a disadvantaged position, but also favoured the rise of new political actors that became the protagonists of political confrontation. These actors were the expression of social groups – woollen cloth manufactures, retail cloth merchants, other merchants that were “new men” and were not part of the city’s political and economic elite, artisans – that in the previous decades had been totally excluded from the political arena.
"Viva lo 'nperadore, e muoia lo Conservadore". Carlo IV come fattore di cambiamento politico a Pisa e a Siena
Poloni Alma
2022-01-01
Abstract
In Pisa and in Siena Charles IV’s entry into the city and the political action of the imperial vicars produced, both in 1355 and in 1368-69, radical changes in the political context. This article aims to understand why in these two cities the presence of the Emperor and his representatives triggered political unrest. The key argument is that the Emperor’s entry into the city deprived city governments of the levers of power, that is to say of the repressive tools through which the ruling groups shored up their hegemony and stifled political dissent. Without these supports, political regimes collapsed more or less rapidly. The protected space that was created under the safeguard of the imperial authority not only opened up new opportunities for existing factions that were already active in the political arena, even though in a disadvantaged position, but also favoured the rise of new political actors that became the protagonists of political confrontation. These actors were the expression of social groups – woollen cloth manufactures, retail cloth merchants, other merchants that were “new men” and were not part of the city’s political and economic elite, artisans – that in the previous decades had been totally excluded from the political arena.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
