The Rise And Decline Of The Republican Constitutional Government Of Florence (12-16th Century)

The Republic of Florence was one of the most important city-states of Italy in the Middle Ages and ranked hegemony long-term in the central Italy. Hundreds of years in the history of the Republic, Florence made brilliant achievements in the political, economic, scientific and cultural fields, etc. Especially in the political system, together with the contemporaries Venice, conducted active exploration of the republican constitutional government and created rich and valuable experiences, which still have important research value until today. This paper intends to analyze the social conditions of medieval Florence and expounds the rise and decline of the constitutional government of Florence, structure and characteristics in the 12-16th century by historical analysis, comparative analysis and methods of sociology.This paper consists of six major parts.The first part analyzes social situations of medieval Florence to reveal the historical conditions of constitutional government. Since the 12th century, Florence's industry and agriculture developed rapidly. And in a very short time, it emerged as one of the most economically developed cities in Europe. Florence's economy mainly based on woolen industry, the wool processing industry, international trade and banking, where woolen industry was the pillar industry and also the major source of national wealth, more than one third of the population in the country lived on it. Industrial operation mode changed and the relationship between workers and mill owners evolved into a contractual employment, production process with line operation and specialization, which began with the characteristics of capitalist enterprises. In rural areas, the serf system and the feudal government rent had been abolished, the sharecropping system operation became a leading way and farmers'personal shackles were broken. Changes in production relations made the national nature of Florence changed and possessed preliminary nature of capitalist society, which was the basis of constitutional government.The second part introduces the process of Florence independence and constitutional origins. Florence was a historic ancient city and in his early years was ruled successively by many feudal countries. After people's relentless struggle, Florence achieved independence in the 12th century and quickly became one of the most typical urban communes in European. From the commune movement of the leading class and their requests, the struggle for autonomy was actually a new social relation against the old feudal system, which reflected many positive factors. After founding the commune, Florence established its own judicial system and administration. From the duties, these agencies already had a rough sketch of modern constitutional state. Therefore, it is believed that commune period is the early stage of constitutional government of Florence.The third part discusses the development of the republican constitutional government of Florence. The late 12th century, the establishment of the Republic of Florence, the constitutional system entered a phase of vigorous development. Its development is gradually realized by the many people's struggle. There are mainly two things. First is the Ordinances of Justice promulgated, and second is the revolt of Ciompi. The former, through formulating a series of laws, excluded feudal nobility from the prominent offices of the government. The latter, through the violent struggle, greatly expanded the community foundation of the Republic.The fourth part outlines the structure and features of the constitutional government of Florence during the heyday of the Republic. After the founding of the Republic, it gradually formed a relatively complete system of national institutions through the reform. It was mainly consisted by"Priorate","gonfaloniere","buonuomini","Council of People","Council of Commune"and other temporary agencies. This organization was followed by successive governments in the late Republic. View from the relationship between the agencies, their authority was clarity. It has initial characteristics of the multiple separation of powers with the legislative, judicial and administrative organs. In addition, there were still other features. Such as, most officials were elected by the ballot; democracy, rule of law, freedom developed harmoniously; the sectarian struggles happened continuously; humanism had strong sense and so on. The fifth part discussed the relationship between the family centralization and the decline of constitutional government of Florence. In the late Republic, the republican constitutional government of Florence dropped into a serious crisis. It mainly consisted in the deterioration of the situation at home and abroad, the resurgence of feudal land economy and the remarkableness of family centralized power. Among them, the centralization of distinguished family was an important factor in the decline of the constitutional government, especially the autocracy of the Medici, directly leading to the decline of the republican constitutional government of Florence. After the 15th century, under the influence of family centralization, the distinguished Florence family controlled the majority positions of the Republic. The national rule base is shrinking, the democracy decayed, the concept of freedom weakened and the culture began to stagnate. Eventually the absolute monarchy of the Medici family was eventually established. The Republic and the constitutional government of Florence came to an end.The last part briefly evaluates and analyzes the value and limitations of the republican constitutional government of Florence. Constitutional system once gave great vitality to Florence, made great achievements in a short time and became typical representatives of rapid development of medieval European politics, economy and culture. However, for the limitations of time and social environment, there were many defects in the constitutional system of Florence. There were the following aspects: Florentine constitutional system was filled with the strong remnants of feudalism; separation of powers was not a sound system; national institutions were overstaffed and inefficient; lack of the support of scientific theories.The above third, fourth, fifth part is the focus and center of the thesis and takes more part to all-round display historical rise and decline of the constitutional system through the systematic and objective analysis, in order to make up deficiency for domestic research on medieval constitutional government, and thus find the general rule of the formation and development of constitutional government.