Ii Imperial Period

Urban V. Begins to Destroy the Republic.

Urban V. (1362-7o), no longer in safety at Avignon, decided to return to Italy. The Romans implored him to do so, and he was urged to it by the Italian literati, with Petrarch at their head. In April 1367 he left Avignon, and, entering Rome on Oct. 16, was given the lordship of the city. He showed much acumen in profiting by the first burst of popular enthusiasm to effect quick and dex terous changes in the constitution of the republic. After naming a senator, he abolished the posts of reformers and banderesi, sub stituting three conservators, or rather a species of municipal council, alone charged with judicial and administrative powers. The 13 leaders of the regions and the consuls of the gilds still sat in the councils, which were left unsuppressed. But all real power was in the hands of the pope, who, in Rome as in his other cities, nominated the principal magistrates. Thus, by transforming politi cal into civil institutions, and concentrating the supreme authority in his own grasp, Urban V. dealt a mortal blow to the liberties of Rome. Yet he felt no sense of security among a people who, after the first rejoicings over the return of the Holy See, were always on the brink of revolt. Besides, he felt himself a stranger in Italy, and was so regarded. Accordingly, in 1370 he decided to return to France, and died there on Dec. 19.

The Romans retained the conservators, conferring on them the political power of the reformers; they re-established the banderesi and the four antepositi. The new French pope, Gregory XI. (1370-78), had to be content with obtaining supremacy over the senate and the possession of the castle of St. Angelo. In Feb. 1376 the Romans nominated John Cenci captain of the people and gave him uncontrolled power over the towns of the patrimony and the Sabine land. The two councils were preserved, and a new magistracy was created, the "Three Governors of the Peace and Liberty of Rome." Gregory XI. decided in 1376 to return to Rome and entered into a treaty with the republic, which, anxious for his return, promised him the same powers that Urban V. had had. He re turned early in 1377, but was not able to get control of the gov ernment before his death in the following year. The next pope, Urban VI. (1378-89), whose election and acts provoked the Great Schism had much trouble, but finally got himself recognized as supreme in Rome by promising a jubilee in 1389. He died before it could take place, and was succeeded by Boni face IX. (1389-1404). The latter was very shrewd. He crowned Ladislaus and by a skilful use of jubilees, of which he celebrated two, succeeded in bringing the city wholly under his power; he also reduced the Colonna to submission.

The next pope, Innocent VII. (1404-6), aided by Ladislaus of Naples, put down a revolt of the people, but had to make a conces sion that they might elect "seven governors of the liberty of the Roman republic." After Innocent's death King Ladislaus seized Rome, sacked it brutally and held sway over it until his death in 1414. Then the Romans revolted against the Neapolitans, and with the aid of the papal legate established a new govern ment of 13 conservators.

Martin V. Supreme.

When after the Schism Martin V. was elected pope he made peace with Joanna, queen of Naples, who yielded Rome to him. Martin V. reduced the remains of the free Roman government to a mere civil municipality. the method of the other despots of Italy, he allowed the old repub lican institutions to retain their names and forms, their adminis trative and some of their judicial attributes, while all their politi cal functions were transferred to the new government. Order was re-established and justice rigidly observed. Rome was in ruins; nobility and burghers were equally disorganized, the people un able to bear arms and careless of their rights, while the battered walls of the capitol recorded the fall of two republics.

Eugenius IV. was forced by a revolt to flee from Rome, and then the people re-established the "Seven Governors of Liberty." Later Eugenius recovered control over Rome. Under Nicholas V. (1447-55) there were conspiracies to restore the republic, beaded by Stephen Porcari, who attempted to play the part of a Rienzi. He was pardoned the first time, but was executed after a second attempt. After that the Popes ruled Rome. Under Paul II. some scholars were seized on the charge of desir ing to re-establish paganism in the republic. Under Sixtus IV. (1471-84) the Colonna were either put to death or made power less, and the Orsini met the same fate under Alexander VI. (1492 1503). There was still a senator of Rome, whose nomination was entirely in the hands of the pope, still three conservators, and an elected council of 26 citizens. Now and then also a shadowy sem blance of a popular assembly was held to cast dust in the eyes of the public, but even this was not for long. All these officials, together with the judges of the capitol, retained various attri butes of different kinds. They administered justice and gave sen tence. There were numerous tribunals, all with undefined modes of procedure, so that it was very difficult for the citizens to ascer tain in which court justice should be sought. But in last resort there was always the supreme decision of the pope. Thus matters remained up to 1789. For Modern City see p. 472.