The Chronicle Of Dino Compagni

"A lively first-hand account of Florentine history in the lifetime of Dante and Giotto."--

Dino Campagni's classic chronicle gives a detailed account of a crucial period in the history of Florence, beginning about 1280 and ending in the first decade of the fourteenth century. During that time Florence was one of the largest cities in Europe and a center of commerce and culture. Its gold florin was the standard international currency; Giotto was revolutionizing the art of painting; Dante Alighieri and Guido Cavalcanti were transforming the vernacular love lyric. The era was marked as well by political turmoil and factional strife. The inexorable escalation of violence, as insult and reprisal led to arson and murder, provides the bitter content of Compagni's story. Dino Compagni was perfectly placed to observe the political turmoil. A successful merchant, a prominent member of the silk guild, an active member of the government. Gompagni—like Dante—sided with the Whites and, after their defeat in 1301, was barred from public office. He lived the rest of his life as an exile in his own city, mulling over the events that had led to the defeat of his party. This chronicle, the fruit of his observation and reflection, studies the damage wrought by uncontrolled factional strife, the causes of conflict, the connections between events, and the motives of the participants. Compagni judges passionately and harshly. Daniel Bornstein supplements his lucid translation with and extensive historical introduction and explanatory notes.

Excerpt from The Chronicle of Dino Compagni The said city of Florence is very well populated, and the good air promotes generation. The citizens are very courteous, and the women very handsome and well attired. The large houses are very beauti ful, and better supplied with comforts and conveni ences than those in the other cities of Italy. On this account many people come from distant lands to visit the city, not from necessity, but by reason of her flourishing industries, and for the sake of her beauty and adornment. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ...from the city, left his kinsmen in power and stayed away with his partners; and this came to pass through his greatness of soul. I. Le. the popolani who had joined the Blacks, and so identified themselves with that portion of the Guelfs which was, at bottom, hostile to the popolano government and desirous of increasing the power of the Magnates (cf. II. 16). CHAPTER XXVII The Blacks persuade Charles of Valois to attack Pistoja, which was still in the hands of the Whites (see I. 25). He does so (Dec. 1301), but without effect. Capture of the Pistojan fortresses of Serravalle (Sept. 1302) and Montale (May 1303). M. Scm.-'r1'A CANCELLIERI, the Captain (1), from whose family sprang the two accursed parties among the Guelfs in Florence (2), returned to Pistoja and began to arm and provision the.fortresses, and especially Montale towards Florence, and Serravalle towards Lucca The Black party came at once (4) to M. Charles of Valois to induce him to take Pistoja, and promised to give him a large sum of money if he did; and with this intention they prevailed upon him to go against it with his troops, who were in very bad order. The city was strong and furnished with good walls and great ditches, and with brave citizens; and they brought him thither several times in vain, so that Mainardo of Susinana ( 5) blamed him and told him that he was acting imprudently in going there. And in consequence of being badly guided, at a rainy season, he and his soldiers were brought into the marshes, where the Pistojans, if they had so wished, might-have captured him; but, fearing his high rank, they let him go. The Florentines and the Lucchese laid siege to Serravalle (6), knowing that it was not in a state of defence, because M. Schiatta had mentioned in...