CHAPTER II.

THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY. RULE OF THE ALBIZZI. GIOVANNI AND

AVERARDO DE’ MEDICI.

Origin and Arms of the Medici—Public Affairs in the First

Half of the Fourteenth Century—Mistakes at Home and

Misfortunes Abroad—The Duke of Athens—Party Politics—Guelf

Magistracy—Expulsion of the Proscribed (Ammoniti)—Salvestro

de’ Medici—Rebellion of the Lower Classes (Tumulto de’

Ciompi)—Averardo de’ Medici, called Bicci—Great Authority of

the Albizzi Family and their Friends—Giovanni de’ Medici, son

of Averardo—Florence under the Rule of the Albizzi—Campaign

against the Visconti—Plunder of Pisa—The State of Finance

in Florence—Wealth and Activity of John de’ Medici—Florence

and Filippo Maria Visconti—Internal Condition during the War

against Milan—Rinaldo degli Albizzi—Position of the great with

regard to the smaller Citizens—Public Troubles—The Estimo

and Loans—Increase and Inequality of the Taxes—The Cadaster,

its Framework, Operations, and Product Position of Giovanni

de’ Medici with regard to the Cadaster—Death of Giovanni de’

Medici—Opinions about him 20