Florence has been during a during the renaissance an oligarchic republic, theocracy and principality. Other city-states were dukedoms like Milan or oligarchies with a Doge at its top like Venice and Genova. The papal states were (as its name say it) under the supremacy of the pope whereas the kingdom of Naples, Sicilly and Sardinia were often ruled by foreign monarchs. This shows how fascinating the myriad of political systems in renaissance Italy was. This arise also the question: why where there so many different forms of government in Italy between 900 and 1.600 A.D. ? I will elucidate in the comming weeks the historical evolutions of the different city-states and also give some personal opinions as coclusions.

Julien Sita, September 12th 2021.