the republic, was involved in a war with Frederic Barbarossa, from whose persecution the Pope had retired to Venice. The Venetians dispatched embassadors to the emperor, who answered them in a rage, that if their doge did not instantly deliver up the Pope, bound hand and foot, he would be terribly revenged,-would bring his army before their city, and fix his victorious standard in their market place, which should float in the blood of its citizens. The embassadors returned with this awful message, and it was agreed to equip a fleet with all expedition, and prepare for repelling the emperor's meditated vengeance. While the Venetians were thus employed, Otho, the Emperor's son, entered the gulf with seventyfive gallies, and was making sail to the city. The doge, with haste, met this fleet, with the few ships which were fit to put to sea, and in a dreadful battle took and destroyed forty-eight of the enemy's vessels, and returned in triumph to Venice. From this time was continued the ceremony of marrying the sea. The Pope going out to meet the victorious doge, presented him with a ring, saying, “Take, Ziani, this ring, and give it to the sea, as a testimony of your dominion. Let your successors annually perform the same ceremony, that posterity may know your valour has purchased the prerogative, and subjected this element, even as a husband subjecteth his wife." 4. Florence, which was the capital of Tuscany, early rose into notice. Ít became a republic in the thirteenth century, and maintained its independence during two or three centuries. It was distinguished, by the revival of Grecian literature, and the cultivation of the arts, in the fifteenth century. Before the close of this period, the family of the Medicis arose, and shed a splendour on the republic of letters. 5. Naples, just before the beginning of the present era, was entered by Charles, duke of Anjou, who became its king, as well as of Sicily. These countries were frequently united in one government, and as often separated from each other. They were the seat of long wars between the French and Germans on the one part, and the Spaniards on the other. But the latter at length obtained possession of the kingdoms. 6. The Estates of the Church, which include the middle portions of Italy, were, during the present period, greatly involved in controversies. The rival claims for superiority between the popes and emperors, still continued. Henry VII., the successor of Albert, triumphantly fought his way to Rome, where, in a solemn manner, he received the crown, and imposed a tribute on the states of the Church. He was suddenly destroyed, it was supposed, by papal vengeance. It was in his time, that the remarkable event took place, by which the seat of the popedom was changed from Rome to Avignon. This was done by pope Clement V., 1309, on account of being so much molested by the imperial faction. In the absence of this pope from Rome, Nicholas Rienzi, a man of mean parentage, but of great abilities, aspired to the supreme authority, in 1347. He retained the dominion of this portion of Italy, for a year; but was afterwards sacrificed to the fury of the people. In the year 1377, the holy see was removed back to Rome, by pope Gregory IX. After his death, the citizens of Avignon and Rome contended for the freedom of election. Three separate factions of the French and Italian cardinals, having elected three separate popes, the emperor Sigismund judged this division of the Church to be a fit occasion for his interference, to reconcile all differences, and establish his own supremacy. In 1414, he summoned a general council at Constance, and ended the dispute by deposing all the three pontiffs, and naming a fourth, Martin Colonna. Historians call this division of the papacy, the great schism of the west. 7. Genoa, the ancient Liguria, became a republic in 953. The Genoese were afterwards involved in civil commotions, which so weakened them, that they were obliged to shelter themselves under the protection of the duke of Milan. They continually revolted to the French, and returned again to subjection to the Milanese, till, in the next succeeding period, Andrew Doria restored liberty to his native country. § The Genoese, next to the Venetians, were, for 200 years, the most commercial people in Europe. The city of Genoa, was afterwards celebrated as the birth place of the great Columbus. FRANCE. Capetian Race. Branch of Valois. 8. The successor of Philip the Fair, on the throne of France, was Louis X. surnamed Hutin, (the wrangler,) 1314. He was a prince of a weak and irresolute character, and reigned but a few months. A son, born after his death. was acknowledged, but lived only four days. Upon this event, Philip V. the Long, brother of Louis, succeeded to the throne. His was a short reign of five years. § Philip V. was notorious for his persecution of the Jews, and, in general, of all foreigners who resided within his dominion, and re fused to embrace christianity. The Jews were accused of having poisoned the wells and springs of water. 9. Philip leaving no other than female issue, was succeeded, 1322, by his brother, Charles IV., the Fair. His reign was unfortunately short, for he was a wise and upright prince. He left no son behind him. § According to the Salic law, no female succeeds to the French throne. 10. The throne now devolved on Philip VI. of Valois, cousin to the late king, 1328. Edward III. of England, however, claimed it in right of his mother, Isabella, who was a daughter of Philip the Fair. He enforced his claim by arms; but Philip being acknowledged and supported by the French nation, retained the sceptre, notwithstanding the loss of the famous battle of Cressy, and the capture of Calais. In the celebrated wars which these rival pretensions created, the English were at first victorious. Philip was vain, obstinate, and of a limited capacity, and died after a reign of twenty-two years. § In the midst of his losses, Philip was gratified with the cession of the province of Dauphine; the condition of which was, that the eldest son, the presumptive heir of the crown, should be styled Dauphin, and bear the arms of the province. It was in the reign of this prince, that a general plague, surpassing in its horrors whatever besides the remotest history can furnish, ravaged, in the space of eighteen months, not only France, but every part of the known world. It broke out in the northern provinces of China, and swept over Asia, Africa, and Europe. In the places through which it passed, it cut down two thirds of the inhabitants. This calamity had been preceded by terrific earthquakes, which swallowed up whole cities. 11John 11., surnamed the Good, succeeded his father, 1350. He was a most unfortunate prince. Taking the field with 60,000 men, against the Black Prince, he was defeated by the latter with a far inferior number, in the signal battle of Poictiers, and made prisoner. § He was carried in triumph to London, and, after having been de tained in captivity four years, was permitted to return to France upon ceding several important places to the English. He, however visited London again, on account, as is supposed, of a passion which he had conceived for the countess of Salisbury. He died very soon afterwards. 12. The Dauphin assumed the administration, during the captivity of the king; and, on the death of the latter, succeeded to the throne, under the name of Charles V. the Wise. |