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The Chronicle of Dino Compagni / Translated by Else C. M. Benecke

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The Chronicle of Dino Compagni / Translated by Else C. M. Benecke #m hbl.stx DG 737.2.C613 le i?mnP/!f? of Dino Compagni / 3 1153 0DSMS117 t, % n WRITTEN •T$' FIRST PRINTED • IN • 1726- PLEASE NOTE It has been necessary to replace some of the original pages in this book with photocopy reproductions because of damage or mistreatment by a previous user. Replacement of damaged materials is both expensive and time-consuming. Please handle this volume with care so that information will not be lost to future readers. Thank you for helping to preserve the University's research collections. THE TEMPLE CLASSICS THE CHRONICLE OF DINO COMPAGNI Digitized'by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/chronicleofdinocOOcomp mmyi CHRPNICE 92DINO COMPAGNI TRANSITED ^ELSE CM. BENECKE S§ FERRERS HOWELL MDCCCCVI PUBL15H6D- BY-^M D6NT- •AMP-CO : ALDlNe-HOUSe-LOMDON-W-O PRELIMINARY NOTE vii PRELIMINARY NOTE Though Dino Compagni calls his work a Chronicle, it is not (like Giovanni Villani's, for example) a Chronicle in the sense in which the term is now used to express a particular kind of narration dis- " tinguished from a history ; the terms " chronicle and "history" being in Dino's time interchange- able. Dino's book is in form the history of a particular fact, namely, the division of the Guelf party in Florence into the White and the Black Guelfs, with its attendant circumstances, its causes, and its results : but under this form is unfolded at the same time the history of the steps by which the wealthy traders of Florence (jfropolani, popolani grassi, and collectively popolo grasso) organised in the greater guilds (see Appendix II.) acquired and retained the control of the machinery of govern- ment in the city and its outlying territory (contado), excluding (practically) from all participation therein on the one hand the Magnates (i.e. the old feudal nobility, and other persons more recently ennobled by knighthood or by marriage), and on the other hand the smaller traders and the populace (popolo minuto}. The first book, starting (after a brief preface and two introductory chapters) with the peace of v A vi PRELIMINARY NOTE Cardinal Latino in 1280, describes the causes which led to the schism in the Guelr party, its outbreak, and the initial triumph of the White Guelfs (1301). The second book describes the overthrow of the government of the Whites by the Blacks, with the assistance of Pope Boniface VIII. and Charles of Valois (autumn of 1301), the expulsion of the Whites from Florence, and their first attempts to return by force of arms (1302, 1303): the conclusion of this stage of the narrative being marked by the death of Boniface VIII. (11th Oct. 1303). The third book describes the fruitless attempts of the new Pope, Benedict XL, to make peace between the two parties (1303, 1304), the last struggles and ultimate dispersion of the White exiles (1 304-1 307), the attempt of Corso Donati and the Magnates to wrest the government out of the hands of the Popolani, the election to the imperial throne of Henry of Luxemburg, and his progress through Italy down to his coronation at solemn Rome (June 29, 131 2) ; concluding with a denunciation of the punishment which (as the historian believed and confidently hoped) Henry would inflict on the wicked citizens of Florence, for their rebellion against his supreme authority. At the head of every chapter is given a Summary of its contents. For an account of Dino Compagni, and the literary history of the Chronicle, see Ap- pendix I., and for a Summary of the principal features of the Florentine constitution after 1282, see Appendix II. Most of the passages from G. Villani's Chronicle PRELIMINARY NOTE vii that are referred to in the notes will be found in Selfe and Wicksteed's " Selections from the first Nine Books of the Croniche Florentine of G. Villani," published by Constable. Translations of all the works of Dante referred to in the notes have been published in the Temple Classics. Where quotations from Dante's works are fol- lowed by the letter n, it is to be understood that the notes in the Temple Classics Edition are re- ferred to. Professor Villari's " The Two First Centuries of Florentine History" (published by Fisher Unwin) is cited as '* Villari/' It is a translation from the original Italian. Del Lungo's work, " Dino Compagni e la sua Cronica," is cited simply as "Del Lungo." (See Translators' Note below, p. 272.) THE CHRONICLE OF DINO COMPAGNI OF THE EVENTS HAPPENING IN HIS TIME PREFACE The subject of the work and the author's motive in writing it. The remembrance of the ancient histories has long stirred my mind to write of the events, fraught with danger and ill-fitted to bring prosperity (i), which the noble city, the daughter of Rome (2), has for many years undergone, and especially at the time of the Jubilee of the year 1300. How- ever, for many years I excused myself from writing on the ground of my own incompetence, and in the belief that another would write : but at last, the perils having so multiplied, and the out- look ) having become so significant that silence ( 3 might no longer be kept concerning them, I de- termined to write for the advantage of those who shall inherit the prosperous years (4), to the end that they may acknowledge that their benefits are 2 CHRONICLE OF DINO COMPAGNI from God, who rules and governs throughout all ages. i. I.e. the division of the Guelf party in Florence into the Whites and Blacks. 2. Cf. Dante, Conv. I. 3, 22. 3. The "perils" and " significant outlook " refer to the threatened overthrow of the supremacy of the Black Guelfs at Florence by the Emperor Henry VII. {cf. Preliminary Note). 4. I.e. the prosperous years that may be expected to follow the pacification of Italy by the Emperor, which Dino, writing during the course of the Emperor's expedi- tion into Italy, hoped and confidently expected would be brought to pass. BOOK I CHAPTER I The author's method of writing. Description of Florence. When I began, I purposed writing the truth con- cerning those things of which I was certain, through having seen and heard them, because they were things noteworthy, which in their beginnings no one saw so clearly as I ; and those things I did not clearly see, I purposed writing according to hearsay, But since many, because of their corrupt wills, err in their speech, and corrupt the truth, I purposed to write according to the most authentic report. And in order that strangers may be the better able to understand the things that happened, I will de- scribe the fashion of the noble city which is in the province of Tuscany and under the protection of the sign of Mars ( ). It is enriched by a copious i imperial river (2) of sweet water, which divides it almost in half. The climate is equable, and the city is sheltered from hurtful winds ; its territory is scanty in extent, but abounds in good produce. The citizens are valiant in arms, proud, and quarrelsome. The city is enriched by unlawful gains (3), and, on account of its power, is distrusted and ieared, rather 3 4 CHRONICLE OF DINO COMPAGNI than loved, by the neighbouring towns. Pisa is 40 miles (4) distant from Florence, Lucca 40 miles, Pistoja 20 miles, Bologna 58 miles, Arezzo 40 miles, Siena 30 miles, San Miniato 20 miles towards Pisa, Prato 10 miles towards Pistoja, Monte Ac- cenico 22 miles towards Bologna, Fighine 16 miles towards Arezzo, Poggibonsi 16 miles towards Siena. As to all the aforesaid towns, with many other for- tresses and villages—and in all the directions afore- said, there are many nobles—counts and captains (5) —who love rather to see the city in discord than in peace, and who obey her more from fear than love. 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. 1. See Inferno, xiii. 143-150 n. 2. The Arno is called an "imperial" river, as being a main stream and not a mere tributary. 3. The "unlawful gains" here spoken of correspond to the " sudden gains" reprobated by Dante, Inferno, xvi. 73. 4. The Tuscan mile was equal to about 1800 yards. 5. The "counts" stand for the feudal nobles, who held " their fiefs immediately of the Empire ; the captains," for the vassals of the "counts." The aim of Florence and the other city-states of Italy was to bring the feudal nobility of the surrounding districts under the city government. Cf. III. 34, n. 5. ; THE FIRST BOOK CHAPTER II Traditional account of the introduction of the names of Guelf and Ghibelline into Florence (1215). Let her citizens, then, weep for themselves and their children, since by their arrogance, v/ickedness, and struggles for office they have undone so noble a city, have outraged the laws, and in a short time have bartered away the privileges which their fore- fathers won by much labour through long years and let them await the justice of God, which by many tokens is threatening to bring evil upon them, as upon guilty persons who were free to avoid the possibility of its overwhelming them (1).
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