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The article analyzes the relationship between the emperors Maximilian II and Philip II in relation to the Marquisate of Finale Ligure during the 16th century. The marquisate, which belonged to the Holy Roman Empire, was subject to the Habsburg emperors of Vienna. During his reign, Philip II acted as the emperor's vicar in northern Italy, where most of the territories also belonged to the Empire. The Marquisate of Finale became a disputed territory due to its geographical location. The text deals with the political conflict in northern Italy during the second half of the 16th century. [Extracted from the article]

Through an examination of the contents, context, and material characteristics of the first administrative register surviving at the abbey of Cava dei Tirreni, this essay argues that the "documentary revolution" in thirteenth-century Italy was not only the accomplishment of the communal governments of the north. Political instability throughout the peninsula in the late twelfth century fostered enduring changes in documentary practices in both monastic and diocesan institutions. The first Cava register, drawn up under Abbot Balsamon (r. 1208-1232)-- possibly responding to the legislation of his sovereign, Emperor Frederick II--reveals that he and his brothers innovated to protect the property underpinning their religious life. The artifacts of their innovation, moreover, underscore the primary influence of temporal rulers, rather than the papacy, on ecclesiastical administrative practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 398 CE the western Roman emperor Honorius issued a law condemning attempts by Jewish town councillors in southern Italy to seek exemptions from compulsory public services. While this law is usually read for the light it sheds on the legal situation of Jews in the Christian Roman Empire, it is argued here that the ruling is also concerned with another issue. It was issued three years after the division of the Roman Empire into two halves, East and West, each with its own administrative structures, and with its emperor issuing laws for territories under his jurisdiction. Honorius notes that Italian Jews claimed exemptions in accordance with recent eastern legislation but rejects its validity for the West. This indicates how tensions between East and West caused difficulties for Italian Jews who, because of their pan-Mediterranean connections, did not fit easily into the empire's administrative frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reconsiders the political thought of Boncompagno da Signa in the light of his overlooked praise for the Holy Roman Emperor and his equally overlooked criticism of the city republics. It argues that, rather than just supporting the city republics, he addressed kingship, backing constitutional monarchy and the rule of law. This is contextualized in the aftermath of the peace of Constance, and similarities with the views of contemporary jurists are examined, underlining neglected contractual aspects in their theories of government and the use of the ius Italicum to justify the prerogatives of the Italian cities within the Empire. Finally, connections with the sixth canto of Dante's Purgatory are emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper intends to explore the discursive picture that Cicero builds of himself in the set of letters sent to Atticus on his way to Cilicia (Cic, Att. 5.1-15). Bearing in mind that the discursive portrait the speaker fashions for himself is rooted in stereotypes or collective representations that affect not only self-presentation but also the portrait's success in a given culture, in these letters we will explore the ways the sender will mould his actions into exemplary ones. Our hypothesis is that Cicero's self-fashioning as an exemplary governor is an attempt to counteract the problem of invisibility inherent in his being away from the Vrbs. Indeed, considering that political life during the late Republic and early Empire was centered on the capital city, being away from this center entailed a serious threat to Cicero's persona or public image due to the fact that, because of his nouitas, this image was inherently precarious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Byzantine Empire ruled parts of southern Italy throughout the early Middle Ages, but this region was usually, and inevitably, quite low on the imperial government's scale of priorities. This situation changed during the mid-tenth century, and one factor causing this was the arrival in Italy of the Ottonian rulers of Germany (emperors after 962), who posed both an ideological and a military threat to Byzantine rule. Otto I and his son were far more concerned than is often credited with southern Italy, and both made significant attempts to invade the Byzantine provinces. However, while subsequently Western imperial interest in the region never disappeared, southern Italy became much less important for the German emperors during the eleventh century. Thus Byzantine Italy was if anything more secure on the eve of the Norman arrival in the south than it had been previously. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Despite intensive study of the texts and manuscripts that have been attributed to the medical ‘schola’ in late antique Ravenna, there has been no systematic investigation of the evidence for doctors active north of Rome c.500–900 AD. This article examines how other medical practitioners fade into the background in the early medieval source material, whereas, thanks largely to surviving charters, elite practitioners – the medici– remain visible. The careers of three contrasting doctors – a learned medicus in Ravenna, a royal Lombard doctor, and the cleric Iohannes of Lucca – are analysed. I argue that the very process of signing charters could strengthen their occupational identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Twice during his reign the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV travelled to Rome, and both times Siena was an important destination in the journey. During this period Siena was precariously positioned between the emperor and his opponents and shaken up by inner political and social conflicts. Normally the emperor was the far-off and therefore politically irrelevant 'ruler' of the city, but his splendid entry signifies more than a glorious spectacle. It seems that his first entry on 23 March 1355 acted as a catalyst to provoke a revolution against the city's government. The entry of Charles IV in October 1368 was constructed around the theme of the longed-for Prince of Peace, but failed because of the city's political factionalism. This article analyses the two ceremonial entrances as expressions of both political and ritual preoccupations. How was the city represented as a political corporation in the ceremonies? How were place, space, and ephemeral elements represented in the ceremonial? What kinds of rituals, ritualized and ceremonial acts can be uncovered? How did the Emperor respond to the topographical, political, and social structures of the city? Which kind of traditional schemes were used, which kind of dynamics worked through the performative power of the entry? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The history of urban life in Southern Italy during the eleventh and twelfth centuries was particularly disjointed. At varying points many of the regions'' cities were subject to the domination of petty Lombard princes, Byzantine emperors, Norman dukes and, as one passes into the twelfth century, Sicilian kings and German emperors. This paper uses the case of the northern Apulian city of Troia to show that, below this surface of political discontinuity, it is possible to discern a different understanding of an urban history. In highlighting the significance of the economic development of Troia''s surrounding territory and the manner in which this created a damaging rivalry with the neighbouring settlement of Foggia, this essay emphasises the need to take into account local (and not only wider-ranging political) influences on the shaping of medieval south Italian urban life. In this context the paper also considers the importance of the development of a stable local government and a burgeoning civic conscience at Troia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Explores the context of cultural imperialism in Napoleonic Italy. Relationship between rulers in Napoleonic Italy; Revolution against the France by Italian collaborators; Confrontation of cultural Italian society foundation.

This paper represents initial research towards a study of the military ambitions and territorial aspirations of fifteenth century Italian rulers as expressed in their artistic commissions. The primary objective in the study was to re-integrate their commissions into fifteenth century court life in general and into the contemporary circumstances of each prince in particular. The study will eventually form part of a book, "How Quattrocento Princes Used Art," that will explore why signori, such as Sigismondo Malatesta of Rimin, Lodovico Gonzaga of Mantua, Leonello d'Este of Ferrara, Francesco Storza of Milan and Federico da Montefeltro of Urbino, commissioned some secular works but not others, what they wanted or expected from the art. Sigismondo Malatesta was the first prince to realize the propagandistic possibilities inherent in medal reverses.

Presents abstracts of several articles on urbanism and ritual in Renaissance Siena. "Enter the Emperor: Charles IV and Siena Between Politics, Diplomacy and Ritual (1355 and 1368)," by Gerrit Jasper Schenk; "Altars on the Street: The Wool Guild, the Carmelites and the Feast of Corpus Domini in Siena (1356-1456)," by Machtelt Israëls; "Ritual Geography: Housing the Papal Court of Pius II Piccolomini in Siena (1459-60)," by Fabrizio Nevola.

Focuses on Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus’ description of the putative role of emperor Augustus as the machinator doli in the death of the consul Hirtius during the fighting at Mutina. Use of juxtaposition words to which writer Virgil had given separate stress; Extortion of the consulship from an unwilling senate; Discussions on proscriptions and land divisions.