Commune of Rome
Encyclopedia
The Commune of Rome was an attempt to establish a government like the old Roman Republic
in opposition to the temporal power of the higher nobles and the pope
s beginning in 1144. The revolutionaries set up a senate
on the lines of the ancient one
and divided Rome into fourteen regions
, each electing four senators for a total of 56 (though one source, often repeated, gives a total of 50). These senators, the first real senators since the 7th century (the senatorial title had become a meaningless adjunct title of nobility by then), elected as their leader Giordano Pierleoni
, son of the Roman consul Pier Leoni
with the title patrician, because consul
was also a deprecated noble styling.
In a pattern that was to become familiar in the communal struggles of Guelfs and Ghibellines, the commune declared allegiance to the more distant power, in this case the Holy Roman Emperor
, and initiated negotiations with the newly-elected Pope Lucius II
, demanding that he renounce Temporal power and take up his office with the functions of a priest
.
Lucius gathered a force and assaulted the Eternal City, but the republican defenders repulsed his army and he himself died from injuries received when a thrown stone hit him in the head.
His successor, Pope Eugene III
, could not be consecrated in the city due to the resistance, but eventually came to an agreement with the new civil authority, who had deposed Pierleoni, and returned to Rome on Christmas Day 1145; however, in March 1146 he again had to leave.
He returned in 1148 and excommunicated Arnold of Brescia
, a political theorist who had joined the commune and who was by then its intellectual leader.
The Pope lived in Tusculum
from 1149 and was not installed as pope in Rome until 1152. The existence of the Republic was precarious, however, and Eugene's successor, Adrian IV, convinced Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to lead an army against the city. Arnold was arrested, tried, convicted, and burnt at the stake in 1155.
In 1188, shortly after his accession, Pope Clement III
succeeded in allaying the half-century old conflict between the popes and the citizens of Rome with the Concord Pact, by which the citizens were allowed to elect their magistrate
s with power of war and peace, the Prefect was named by the Emperor and the Pope had the sovereign rights over his territories.
From 1191 to 1193, under a radical reduction of the number of senators to a single one, the city was ruled by a certain Benedetto called Carus homo (carissimo) as summus senator, and Rome had the first municipal statute.
After this, though the city was again under papal control, the civil government was never again directly in the hands of the higher nobles or the papacy.
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
in opposition to the temporal power of the higher nobles and the pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
s beginning in 1144. The revolutionaries set up a senate
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature or parliament. There have been many such bodies in history, since senate means the assembly of the eldest and wiser members of the society and ruling class...
on the lines of the ancient one
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
and divided Rome into fourteen regions
14 regions of Medieval Rome
During the Middle Ages, Rome was divided into a number of administrative regions , usually numbering between twelve and fourteen, which changed over time.-Evolution of the Regions:...
, each electing four senators for a total of 56 (though one source, often repeated, gives a total of 50). These senators, the first real senators since the 7th century (the senatorial title had become a meaningless adjunct title of nobility by then), elected as their leader Giordano Pierleoni
Giordano Pierleoni
Giordano Pierleoni was the son of the Consul Pier Leoni and therefore brother of Antipope Anacletus II and leader of the Commune of Rome which the people set up in 1143...
, son of the Roman consul Pier Leoni
Pier Leoni
Pier Leoni was the son of the Jewish convert Leo de Benedicto and founder of the great and important medieval Roman family of the Pierleoni. He was called the Jewish Crassus by Gregorovius....
with the title patrician, because consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
was also a deprecated noble styling.
In a pattern that was to become familiar in the communal struggles of Guelfs and Ghibellines, the commune declared allegiance to the more distant power, in this case the Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
, and initiated negotiations with the newly-elected Pope Lucius II
Pope Lucius II
Pope Lucius II , born Gherardo Caccianemici dal Orso, was pope from March 9, 1144, until his death Feb 15, 1145. His pontificate was notable for the unrest in Rome associated with the Commune of Rome, and its attempts to wrest control of the city from the papacy.-Early life:Gherardo Caccianemici...
, demanding that he renounce Temporal power and take up his office with the functions of a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
.
Lucius gathered a force and assaulted the Eternal City, but the republican defenders repulsed his army and he himself died from injuries received when a thrown stone hit him in the head.
His successor, Pope Eugene III
Pope Eugene III
Pope Blessed Eugene III , born Bernardo da Pisa, was Pope from 1145 to 1153. He was the first Cistercian to become Pope.-Early life:...
, could not be consecrated in the city due to the resistance, but eventually came to an agreement with the new civil authority, who had deposed Pierleoni, and returned to Rome on Christmas Day 1145; however, in March 1146 he again had to leave.
He returned in 1148 and excommunicated Arnold of Brescia
Arnold of Brescia
Arnold of Brescia , also known as Arnaldus , was an Italian monk from Lombardy who called on the Church to renounce ownership of property and participated in the failed Commune of Rome. Eventually arrested, he was hanged by the Church, burned posthumously, and then had his ashes thrown into the...
, a political theorist who had joined the commune and who was by then its intellectual leader.
The Pope lived in Tusculum
Tusculum
Tusculum is a ruined Roman city in the Alban Hills, in the Latium region of Italy.-Location:Tusculum is one of the largest Roman cities in Alban Hills. The ruins of Tusculum are located on Tuscolo hill—more specifically on the northern edge of the outer crater ring of the Alban volcano...
from 1149 and was not installed as pope in Rome until 1152. The existence of the Republic was precarious, however, and Eugene's successor, Adrian IV, convinced Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to lead an army against the city. Arnold was arrested, tried, convicted, and burnt at the stake in 1155.
In 1188, shortly after his accession, Pope Clement III
Pope Clement III
Pope Clement III , born Paulino Scolari, was elected Pope on December 19, 1187 and reigned until his death.-Cardinal:...
succeeded in allaying the half-century old conflict between the popes and the citizens of Rome with the Concord Pact, by which the citizens were allowed to elect their magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
s with power of war and peace, the Prefect was named by the Emperor and the Pope had the sovereign rights over his territories.
From 1191 to 1193, under a radical reduction of the number of senators to a single one, the city was ruled by a certain Benedetto called Carus homo (carissimo) as summus senator, and Rome had the first municipal statute.
After this, though the city was again under papal control, the civil government was never again directly in the hands of the higher nobles or the papacy.
Battles
- 1145 - Battle against Tivoli, ItalyTivoli, ItalyTivoli , the classical Tibur, is an ancient Italian town in Lazio, about 30 km east-north-east of Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river where it issues from the Sabine hills...
- 1167 - Battle of Monte PorzioBattle of Monte PorzioThe Battle of Monte Porzio was fought on 29 May 1167 between the Holy Roman Empire and the Commune of Rome...
against Holy Roman Emperor, Tusculum and Albano Laziale - 1170 - Destruction of Albano LazialeAlbano LazialeAlbano Laziale is a comune in the province of Rome, on the Alban Hills, in Latium, central Italy. It is also a suburb of Rome, which is 25 km distant. It is bounded by other communes of Castel Gandolfo, Rocca di Papa, Ariccia and Ardea. Located in the Castelli Romani area of Lazio...
- 1191 - Destruction of Tusculum
Source
- Gregorovius, Ferdinand. History of the City of Rome in the Middle Ages.