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Organized Collective Violence in Twelfth and Thirteenth Century Tuscan Countryside: Some Case Studies from Central and North Eastern Tuscany

Depiction of a 14th C. fight (1369?) between the militias of the Guelf and Ghibelline factions in the Italian commune of Bologna, from the Croniche of Giovanni Sercambi of Lucca.Organized Collective Violence in Twelfth and Thirteenth Century Tuscan Countryside: Some Case Studies from Central and North Eastern Tuscany

Tommaso Casini (Independent Scholar Italy)

Athens: Institute for Education and Research ATINER, ATINER’s Conference Paper Series HIS2012-0276

Abstract

Organised collective violence was not an option available to all social groups within the medieval rural society. While this kind of violence was a basic factor of aristocratic life, some monasteries and rural communities appear incapable of exercising it even in situations in which this incapacity was not due to political, economic or practical reasons. Consequently, the causes must be sought in the social and cultural field. The following cases will be illustrated: the monastery of Passignano and its struggle for local power; the hermitage of Camaldoli, especially its relations with the aristocracy of the upper Val Tiberina; the monastery of Prataglia and its conflict with the community of Frassineta. As for rural communities, the inhabitants of Poggialvento displayed a warlike attitude while those of Frassineta did not resist against a hastily assembled band of armed men in the service of their lord.

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As for clerics, while the abbots of Passignano engaged in an armed conflict with local aristocrats, the hermits of Camaldoli refused to resort to force even when their seigniorial rights were usurped. Military style violence was used by some rural notables in their attempt to establish their local power; but in doing so they also imitated aristocratic behaviour and showed their desire to be considered aristocrats. Conclusion: ability to exercise or promote organised collective violence can mostly be explained as the result of aristocratic leadership or influence. As far as rural communities were concerned, the low degree of cooperation in everyday agricultural activity probably hindered self-defence collective actions.

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