Research On Sienese Civic Oligarchy In Renaissance Italy

As the cradle of Renaissance,there existed many city-states within Italian territory,for example Florence in Tuscany,which has always been a city with high awareness in world history.Nevertheless,another strategic Tuscan town—Siena,somehow has been overshadowed time after time by Florentine glorious achievements in history.From bishop’s manor in proto-republican time to Florentine vassal state in post-republican time,there had been a relatively stable political situation in Siena with a republican commune persisting in the city’s political system.With several parties participating in civic politics,achievements of each were different and there were signs of oligarchy existing within the republic system at times.The Noveschi,that dedicated to long-distance trade and banking industry with conspicuous capitalistic characters,had won victory against other parties in politics.The city had been governed by them twice for decades and that had made them a crucial group of people in Sienese history.When the Noveschi in power,oligarchy was first seen and had been established within the republic as time went by.There are some institutions and procedures that oligarchs need to rely on during political conduct,such as basic civic council,intermediate consiglio and anziani as well as top-level balia or executive committee.They all have been penetrated by oligarchs and utilized by oligarchs to achieve selfish goals.Boycotts against oligarchs’ exclusive ruling were made by the common people,which achieved certain level of success.Though due to limitation of their class and external pressures,the power has not been seized by the common people firmly in the end.In that case,oligarchs rose again and the political system even evolved into despotism until neighboring state annexed the city in early 16th century,that also doomed the republic.Harmony between oligarchy and arithmocracy is the key feature of republic system in Sienese politics.No matter how oligarchy thrived,the civic commune managed to last.Oligarchs pursued and exercised power under the republic system with pleasure since the idea of communal politics had been planted in civilians’ minds and it would not be erased readily.Even though the ruling under oligarchs did good in some regards back then,oligarchy was still recognized as an interlude by coincidence during political developments in history,which should be swept aside for riper arithmocracy.