THE STRUGGLE OF POLITICAL FACTIONS OR FIDA: THE ORIGINS OF THE PARTIES OF THE GUELPHS AND THE GHIBELLINES IN FLORENCE

Abstract

The article discusses peculiarities of perception of two centers of power - the papacy and the Holy Roman Emperor in the communal-national society of Florence; the extend to which the commitment to a particular centre expressed internal contradictions of Florentine society and met political, ideological and spiritual needs of citizens. The attention is focused on the social and ideological implications of division of the city society into the parties and the subsequent confrontation between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines.

Keywords

• the middle ages
• florence
• urban society
• consortia
• generic fida
• political parties
• the guelphs
• the ghibellines
• political struggle