Editing Perugia (section)

=== Middle Ages ===
In the [[Lombards|Lombard]] period, Perugia is spoken of as one of the principal cities of [[Tuscia]].<ref>[[Procopius of Caesarea]], ''Gothic Wars'' I,16 and III,35.</ref> In the 9th century, with the consent of [[Charlemagne]] and [[Louis the Pious]], it passed under the popes; but by the 11th century, its [[Medieval commune|commune]] was asserting itself, and for many centuries the city continued to maintain an independent life, warring against many of the neighbouring lands and cities— [[Foligno]], [[Assisi]], [[Spoleto]], [[Todi]], [[Siena]], [[Arezzo]], etc. In 1186, [[Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry VI]], ''rex romanorum'' and future emperor, granted diplomatic recognition to the [[consul]]ar government of the city; afterward, [[Pope Innocent III]], whose major aim was to give state dignity to the dominions having been constituting the [[Patrimonium Sancti Petri|patrimony of St. Peter]], acknowledged the validity of the imperial statement and recognised the established civic practices as having the force of law.<ref name="commune">cf. ''Perugia'', Raffaele Rossi, Attilio Bartoli Angeli, Roberta Sottani 1993 (Vol. 1, pp. 120–140)</ref>[[File:01 Perugia Grifo Codice Medioevo.jpg|thumb|Perugia [[griffin]], in a medieval [[Latin]] [[document]]]]On various occasions, the popes found asylum from the tumults of Rome within its walls, and it was the meetingplace of five [[Papal conclave|conclaves]] ([[Perugia Papacy]]), including those that elected [[Pope Honorius III|Honorius III]] (1216), [[Pope Clement IV|Clement IV]] (1265), [[Pope Celestine V|Celestine V]] (1294), and [[Pope Clement V|Clement V]] (1305); the papal presence was characterised by a pacificatory rule between the internal rivalries.<ref name="commune" /> But Perugia had no mind simply to subserve the papal interests and never accepted papal sovereignty; the city used to exercise a jurisdiction over the members of the clergy, moreover in 1282, Perugia was excommunicated due to a new military offensive against the Ghibellines regardless of a papal prohibition. On the other hand, side by side with the 13th-century bronze griffin of Perugia above the door of the [[Palazzo dei Priori]] stands, as a Guelphic emblem, the [[lion (heraldry)|lion]], and Perugia remained loyal for the most part to the Guelph party in the struggles of [[Guelphs and Ghibellines]], but this dominant tendency was rather an anti-Germanic and Italian political strategy.<ref name="commune" /> The [[Capetian House of Anjou|Angevin]] presence in Italy appeared to offer a counterpoise to papal powers; in 1319, Perugia declared the Angevin Saint [[Louis of Toulouse]] "Protector of the city's sovereignty and of the Palazzo of its Priors"<ref>"Avvocato della Signoria cittadina e del Palazzo dei suoi Priori"</ref> and set his figure among the other patron saints above the rich doorway of the Palazzo dei Priori. Midway through the 14th century [[Bartholus of Sassoferrato]], who was a renowned jurist, asserted that Perugia was dependent upon neither imperial nor papal support.<ref name="commune" /> In 1347, at the time of [[Cola di Rienzi|Rienzi's]] unfortunate enterprise in reviving the Roman republic, Perugia sent 10 ambassadors to pay him honour, and when papal legates sought to coerce it by foreign soldiers, or to exact contributions, they met with vigorous resistance, which broke into open warfare with [[Pope Urban V]] in 1369; in 1370, the noble party reached an agreement signing the treaty of [[Bologna]], and Perugia was forced to accept a papal legate; however. the vicar-general of the Papal States, [[Gérard du Puy]], Abbot of Marmoutier and nephew of [[Pope Gregory IX|Gregory IX]],<ref>Made a cardinal by his uncle, 20 December 1375 ([http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/consistories-xiv.htm Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church: 14th century])</ref> was expelled by a popular uprising in 1375, and his fortification of Porta Sole was razed to the ground.<ref name="touring" />

==== The lordships of Perugia ====
[[File:Biordo Michelotti2022.jpg|thumb|278x278px|[[Biordo Michelotti]], Lord of Perugia from 1393 to 1398]]

===== [[Biordo Michelotti]] (1393–1398) =====
On August 5, 1393, the condottiero (mercenary captain) Biordo Michelotti, a member of the popular faction known as the Raspanti, made his triumphant entry into Perugia, and the general council appointed him as the "knight of the people" of Perugia and the "general captain" of the militias. A special commission of twenty-five citizens was tasked with banishing one hundred and fifty noblemen, while Biordo decided the return of noble individuals who were not considered guilty of sedition. Among the exiled noblemen was Braccio da Montone, one of the most skilled military leaders of the time, who vowed not to seek "any pact or agreement with the Raspanti of Perugia."

It was precisely against the exiled nobles, especially Braccio da Montone, the soul and leader of the noble movement in exile, that the government of the Raspanti directed its efforts after the turmoil of 1393. Holding virtually all power, Biordo was recognized as the first "lord of Perugia," even though during his short rule (1393–1398), he left intact the priory and all existing communal institutions, focusing solely on extending his dominion beyond Perugia. After the splendid marriage with Giovanna Orsini, Biordo and his bride took residence in the Porta Sole palace, but on March 10, 1398, Biordo fell victim to a conspiracy orchestrated by Francesco Guidalotti, abbot of San Pietro. In their new residence, Michelotti was stabbed by Giovanni and Annibaldo, brothers of the abbot of San Pietro.
[[File:GiovAmbrogiodePredisattribGianGaleazzoVisconti.jpg|left|thumb|171x171px|[[Gian Galeazzo Visconti]], Lord of Perugia from 1400 to 1402]]

===== [[Gian Galeazzo Visconti]] (1400–1402) =====
The death of Michelotti removed an important point of reference, and factions threatened the stability within and outside the walls. Meanwhile, the twenty-five worked diligently to find an institution that could protect the city and alleviate a very high debt. The people's demands for independence were no longer as urgent, and in the 15th century, the common belief was that they had to accept a ruler or master capable of providing the minimum requirements for survival. The choice fell on the Duchy of Milan, and on January 21, 1400, Gian Galeazzo Visconti was proclaimed the lord of Perugia by the voluntary submission of the city. In response to the delegation of the ten representatives that Perugia had sent him, he canceled the debt of the Perugians. His lordship was short-lived, and on October 3, 1402, Visconti passed away.
[[File:Braccio da Montone-Palazzo dei Priori.jpg|thumb|245x245px|[[Braccio da Montone]]]]

==== [[Braccio da Montone]] (1416–1424) ====
In 1408, Ladislao D'Angiò Durazzo, the King of Naples, successfully captured Perugia and intended to have it administered by [[Braccio da Montone|Braccio Fortebracci]]. However, Braccio vehemently opposed this idea and declined the offer. Nonetheless, in 1411, Perugia surrendered to the King of Naples, opting to be ruled by a foreigner rather than a nobleman. Braccio viewed this as a profound betrayal by his fellow citizens and fled. In November 1410, Braccio besieged Perugia but failed to capture it due to the city's resistance. He defeated pursuing troops and terrorized surrounding towns. In April 1416, he returned with a large army and attacked Perugia. After a victory in July, Perugia surrendered, marking the end of the Raspanti government. Braccio ruled moderately. In 1417, he entered Rome and proclaimed himself Defender of the City, later returning to Umbria. After conflicts and military successes, he was appointed Vicar by the Pope. Upon returning to Perugia, he undertook public works. He left for Bologna, returned, and went to Calabria. When denied entry to L'Aquila, he laid siege but faced opposition from the Pope and Queen. A league attacked him near Pescara in 1424, leading to his death. His son later buried him in Perugia with honors. During the rule of Braccio Fortebracci da Montone, significant public works were undertaken, such as Braccio's residence in the square, of which only the loggias remain, or the "Sopramuro," to which Braccio had another series of supporting structures built: the "briglie di Braccio."