Pisa

Abstract

This chapter examines the development of the city commune in Pisa. Pisa had one of the earliest established communes in all of Italy, with the years around 1110 as the most likely period for its crystallization. Commerce was important in the city by the twelfth century. The chapter first considers the Pisans' civic pride before discussing the political history of the city in the period between around 1060 and 1130, showing that Pisa was run by a collective assembly known as a colloquium. It then discusses the first appearance of Pisa's consuls as real city representatives in 1109, along with the growing centrality of the communal polity. It also describes Pisa's military experiences, the stability of its ruling elite, and some families that played important roles in the affairs of the commune.