Book I

Chapter I

Irruption of Northern people upon the Roman territories --Visigoths -- Barbarians called in by Stilicho -- Vandals in Africa -- Franks and Burgundians give their names to France and Burgundy --The Huns -- Angles give the name to England -- Attila, king of the Huns, in Italy -- Genseric takes Rome --The Lombards.

 

Chapter II

State of the Roman empire under Zeno -- Theodoric king of the Ostrogoths -- Character of Theodoric -- Changes in the Roman empire -- New languages -- New names -- Theodoric dies -- Belisarius in Italy -- Totila takes Rome--Narses destroys the Goths--New form of Government in Italy -- Narses invites the Lombards into Italy -- The Lombards change the form of government.

 

Chapter III

Beginning of the greatness of the pontiffs in Italy -- Abuse of censures and indulgences--The pope applies to Pepin, king of France, for assistance -- Donation of Pepin to the pontiff -- Charlemagne -- End of the kingdom of the Lombards -- The title of cardinal begins to be used -- The empire passes to the Germans -- Berengarius, duke of Fruili, created king of Italy -- Pisa becomes great -- Order and division of the states of Italy -- Electors of the emperor created.

 

Chapter IV

Nicholas II. commits the election of the pope to the cardinals -- First example of a prince deprived of his dominions by the pope -- Guelphs and Ghibellines -- Establishment of the kingdom of Naples -- Pope Urban II. goes to France -- The first crusade -- New orders of knighthood -- Saladin takes from the Christians their possessions in the east -- Death of the Countess Matilda -- Character of Frederick Barbarossa -- Schism -- Frederick creates an anti-pope -- Building of Alexandria in Puglia -- Disgraceful conditions imposed by the pope upon Henry, king of England -- Reconciliation of Frederick with the pope -- The kingdom of Naples passes to the Germans -- Orders of St. Dominic and St. Francis.

 

Chapter V

The state of Italy -- Beginning of the greatness of the house of Este -- Guelphs and Ghibellines -- Death of the Emperor Frederick II. -- Manfred takes possession of the kingdom of Naples -- Movements of the Guelphs and Ghibellines in Lombardy -- Charles of Anjou invested by the pope with the kingdom of Naples and Sicily -- Restless policy of the popes -- Ambitious views of pope Nicholas III. -- Nephews of the popes -- Sicilian vespers -- The Emperor Rodolph allows many cities to purchase their independence -- Institution of the jubilee -- The popes at Avignon.

 

Chapter VI

The Emperor Henry comes into Italy -- The Florentines take the part of the pope--The Visconti originate the duchy of Milan -- Artifice of Maffeo Visconti against the family of de la Torre -- Giovanni Galeazzo Visconti, first duke of Milan -- The Emperor Louis in Italy -- John, king of Bohemia, in Italy -- League against the king of Bohemia and the pope's legate -- Origin of Venice -- Liberty of the Venetians confirmed by Pepin and the Greek emperor -- Greatness of Venice -- Decline of Venice -- Discord between the pope and the emperor -- Giovanna, queen of Naples -- Rienzi -- The jubilee reduced to fifty years -- Succession of the duke of Milan -- Cardinal Egidio the pope's legate -- War between the Genoese and the Venetians.

 

Chapter VII

Schism in the church -- Ambitious views of Giovanni Galeazzo Visconti -- The pope and the Romans come to an agreement -- Boniface IX. introduces the practice of Annates -- Disturbance in Lombardy -- The Venetians acquire dominion on terra firma -- Differences between the pope and the people of Rome -- Council of Pisa -- Council of Constance -- Filippo Visconti recovers his dominion -- Giovanna II. of Naples -- Political condition of Italy.