Heroes of Modern Europe

								

themselves so unable to rule their own city that they had to admit
foreign control and bow before the Lords Paramount who came from
Naples.  The last of these died in 1328 and was succeeded by the Duke
of Athens.  This tyrant roused the old spirit of the people which had
asserted its independence in former days.  He was driven out of
Florence on Saint Anne's Day, July 26th of 1343, and the anniversary of
that brave fight for liberty was celebrated henceforth with loud
rejoicing.
The Ciompi, or working-classes, rose in 1378 and demanded higher
wages.  They had been grievously oppressed by the nobles, and were
encouraged by a general spirit of revolt which affected the peasantry
of Europe.  They were strong enough in Florence to set up a new
government with one of their own rank as chief magistrate.  But
democracy did not enjoy a lengthy rule and the rich merchant-class came
into power.  Such families as the Albizzi and Medici were well able to
buy the favour of the people.
There had been a tradition that the Florentine banking-house of Medici
were on the popular side in those struggles which rent Florence.  They
were certainly born leaders {31} and understood very thoroughly the
nature of their turbulent fellow-citizens.  They gained influence
steadily during the sway of their rivals, the illustrious Albizzi.
When Cosimo dei Medici had been banished, it was significant that the
same convention of the people which recalled him should send Rinaldo
degli Albizzi into exile.
Cosimo dei Medici rid himself of enemies by the unscrupulous method of
his predecessors, driving outside the walls the followers of any party
that opposed him.  He had determined to control the Florentines so
cleverly that they should not realize his tyranny.  He was quite
willing to spend the hoards of his ancestors on the adornment of the
state he governed, and, among other things, he built the famous convent
of St Mark.  Fra Angelico, the painter-monk, was given the work of
covering its white walls with the frescoes in which the monks delighted.
Cosimo gained thereby the reputation of liberality and gracious
interest in the development of genius.  The monk had devoted his time
before this to the illuminations of manuscripts, and was delighted to
work for the glory of God in such a way that all the convent might
behold it.  He wished for neither profit not praise for himself, but he
knew that his beautiful vision would be inherited by his Church, and
that they might inspire others of his brethren.
The Golden Age of Italian art was in its heyday under Cosimo dei
Medici.  Painters and architects had not been disturbed by the tumults
that drew the rival factions from their daily labours.  They had been
constructing marvellous edifices in Florence even during the time when
party feeling ran so high that it would have sacrificed the very
existence of the city to its rancours.  {32} The noble Cathedral had