complete. The Tornaquinci, Popoleschi, Tornabuoni, Giachiotti, Cavalcanti, Malatesta, and Ciampoli were among the Grandi who thus threw in their lot with the Popolani. Speaking of the early noble families associated with the trade of Florence Dante says:

In this way the division of the population into two parts was modified, and we find Florence arranged in three classes: I. Potente the ruling-class, 2. Grasso-the middle-class, and Minuto -the working-class.

The population of Florence, her trade, and her fame, increased by leaps and bounds; but along with her prosperity a dangerous rivalry was developed between the noble families and their retainers, and the merchants and their workpeople. The latter, whilst readily admitting nobles into their trading and industrial societies, resented the Grandi claims to pre-eminence in the control of public affairs.

Usurpation of power, on one hand, was met by encroachment of privilege, on the other. A spirit of rancour was engendered which for many generations embittered the conditions of Florentine life. The breach between the two extreme parties in the Commune widened gradually, and the influence of the middle-class was ineffectual to bridge the gulf.

The nobles formed themselves into defensive organisations under the designation of Consorterie-or Societa delle TorreSociety of the Towers. Each Consorteria consisted of a noble family, or a union of noble families, their households and dependants. They built embattled palaces, which served them as residences in times of peace, and as fortresses in times of popular tumult: "Famiglie di Torre e Loggie" became a common expression for families of distinction.

Early in the thirteenth century there were upwards of seventy

1 66 Paradiso," canto xvi. 121-123.

GROUND PLAN OF FLORENCE IN THE THIRTEENTH AND FOURTEENTH CENTURIES

WITH THE NAMES OF THE PRINCIPAL FAMILIES

"Towers," and twenty of them had "Loggie," or arcades, for festivities and show. Some of them rose to a height of 270 feet, but in 1250 they were all pulled down to a height of fifty feet in compliance with the demand of the Popolani. It is a thousand pities that no pictured representation of Florence and her Towers has been preserved; probably she presented a far more imposing appearance than even San Gimignano does to-day.

Of the noble families who as early as 1186 had Towers within the city boundaries were the Uberti, Malespini, Amidei, Buondelmonti, Donati, Adimari, Pazzi, Tosinghi, Ubaldini, Caponsacchi, Amieri, Nerli, Vecchietti, Tornaquinci, Soldanieri, Abati, and Infangati.

To counteract the power of the nobles the traders ranged themselves in Compagnie—Companies or Corporations; each one being made up of families of merchants engaged in similar industries, and their workpeople. These Compagnie were not only associations, with fixed rules and regulations for the prosecution of the trades, but they were also bands of men, trained in the art of self-defence, and quite able to give a good account of themselves in days of conflict.

Researches into the Archives of Florence1 reveal the existence of the following traders and trades during the eleventh and twelfth centuries:

:

1070. "Paganus, qui vocatur vinadro" Wine-merchant.

1 Dr Davidssohn, "Forschungen zür Älteren Geschichte von Florenz."

Ammirato gives an account of how the city was governed in 1204,1 and the order of precedence for the magistrates. At the head were two Consuls-called the Military Consuls,-precursors of the Podesta and Capitano del Popolo,--then three Priors of the three principal Guilds,—“ Calimala," " Wool," and "Bankers,”-next six Senators of the City, one Officer of Justice, twelve " Buonuomini," "Good Men"-two representing the people of each sestiere,—and lastly, Special and General Councils of influential citizens,-the latter including all the above officials with the exception of the members of the Special Council. In addition six Syndics or Inspectors were appointed by the three Priors-one for each sestiere, who reported to them daily all that passed-public and private-in their several quarters.

This magistracy exhibits the immense power of control in public business,—both commercial and political,-exercised by the representatives of the Guilds, for the six Senators of the city were appointed—one by each of the six Greater Trades,—in fact they were the Consuls of the Guilds.

The year 1204 is also memorable for a treaty between Florence and Siena, which, whilst safeguarding the liberties of the Sienese, vastly increased the renown and the fortune of the Florentines. 1 Ammirato, Lib. i. pp. 62-67.