Into the transactions of Lombardy at this period, it is im possible for us to enter at large, from the intricacy of its revolutions, and the rapid changes in the government of its cities: it was at present engaged in ineffectual struggles against its tyrants. The king of the Romans, Albert of Austria, fully occupied in combating his German rivals, could take no interest in the affairs of Italy, and the king of France alone possessed any influence. Benedict XI. who succeeded Boniface, having retired from Rome, where his power was thwarted by the cardinals of the Orsini and Co lonna families, took up his residence at Perugia, where his first act was to excommunicate those concerned in the out sages offered to his predecessor. But Philip, who sup posed himself included in this sentence, and dreaded more decided opposition, contrived to have a poison administered to Benedict, which occasioned his death in a few days.
The contest in the conclave lasted nearly a year, but at length the artifices of Philip prevailed, and the new pope, Clement V. took up his residence in France, and sheaved himself completely devoted to the interests of the king. At his request the emperor Andronicus was excommuni cated, and the order of the Knights Templars, whose riches had excited the cupidity of Philip, were cruelly pro scribed.
The party of the Neri, now triumphant at Florence, had, after a long siege, made themselves masters of Pistoia, and dispersed an army led by Cardinal Orsini against them. In Lombardy, Matthew Visconti had been expelled from Mi lan, and most of the other cities were distracted by internal commotions ; and the death of Azzo VIII. had involved his states in a war between his natural and legitimate children. Charles II. of Naples was also dead, and was succeeded by his second son Robert, by the decision of the pope, who set aside the right of Caribert, king of Hungary, the son of Robert's elder brother.
On the assassination of Albert of Austria by his nephew, Henry count of Luxemburg was nominated king of the Romans; and having secured for his son John the kingdom of Bohemia, prepared to pass into Italy. He first endea voured to conciliate the friendship of the pope, by confirm ing the grants of his predecessors to the church.
Having then proceeded to Lausanne, he was met by the deputies of most of the Italian states, who vied with each other in their professions of attachment ; and the Pisans, especially, having laid at his feet 60,000 florins, urged him immediately to visit Tuscany. The only powers who did not send deputies were, the king of Naples, and the repub lics of Florence, Lucca, Sienna, and Bologna. These fear ed, lest, by publicly acknowledging his authority, they should afford him a pretext for interfering with their af fairs, and recalling the exiles. Henry then arrived at Asti,
where he was joined by the Lombard lords ; and from thence to Milan, the gates of which were, after some hesitation, opened to him by Guido della Torre. At Milan he receiv ed the iron crown of Lombardy ; and, having received the oath of fidelity from the states, succeeded in most of them in pacifying the factions. But a sedition was soon excited at Milan, by a demand of a considerable contribution, which the poverty of Henry rendered necessary ; and although it was quelled by the expulsion of Guido della Torre and his family, yet it spread to the other towns; and Henry was obliged to reduce Lodi, Como, and Cremona. But Brescia resisted him, and only capitulated after a tedious siege. Genoa was next visited by Henry, where he met a similar reception; loyal at first ; but they, too, were disgusted by his rapacious exaction. In the mean time the king of Na ples and the Florentines prepared for war ; and it was only by means of Count Guido, and the Ghibelines of Tuscany, that Henry escaped the Florentines, while on his way to Pisa. At that city his pecuniary wants were supplied ; and, after being treated with the greatest respect for two months, he proceeded to Rome, at the head of an army of exiles of the Ghibcline and Bianchi factions. The troops of Naples had, however, taken possession of the Vatican ; and the ceremony of his coronation was performed, in the church of the Lateran, by three cardinals appointed by Clement for this purpose. He then returned to Tuscany, and sat down before Florence ; but, although that state had received con siderable reinforcements, it did not venture to attack him. Having thus defied Florence, the emperor encamped at Poggibonzi, where he solemnly pronounced sentence against the king of Naples ; and the Florentines, who had now entered into a solemn treaty with Robert, and acknow ledged him as their protector and lord, were included in the same condemnation. The emperor having now form ed an alliance with Frederic, king of Sicily, and received an additional body of German troops, and the promise of aid from the Pisan and Genoese fleets, proceeded to invade the kingdom of Naples. But these preparations were ren dered nugatory, by the sudden death of Henry, while on his march at Bonconvento, near Sienna ; and this unexpected event occasioned the immediate dispersion of his army. The body of the deceased emperor was magnificently en tombed at Pisa ; and that republic. justly al. rn,ed for its safety, took into pay about 1000 Gelman soldiers, under the command of Uguccione della Fuggiuola, on whom they conferred the lordship of their city.