Baglioni of Perugia. We find a striking picture of
the events in the last-named family, toward the
close of the fifteenth century, in the admirable
historical narratives of Graziani and matarazzo.
The Baglioni were one of those families
whose rule never took the shape of an avowed
despotism. it was rather a leadership exercised by
means of their vast wealth and of their practical
influence in the choice of public officers. Within
the family one man was recognized as head, but
deep and secret jealousy prevailed among the
members of the different branches. Opposed
to the Baglioni stood another aristocratic party,
led by the family of the Oddi. in 1487 the city
was turned into a camp, and the houses of the
leading citizens swarmed with bravos; scenes of
violence were of daily occurrence. Sometimes
the bravos of the different houses even joined
battle in the public square. The complaints of
the merchants and artisans were vain; the papal
governors and nipoti [grandchildren] held their
tongues or took themselves off on the first opportunity. at last the Oddi were forced to abandon Perugia, and the city became a beleaguered
fortress under the absolute despotism of the
Baglioni, who used even the cathedral as barracks. Plots and surprises were met with cruel
vengeance; in the year 1491, after 130 conspirators who had forced their way into the city were
killed and hung up at the Palazzo Comunale,
thirty-five altars were erected in the square, and
for three days mass was performed and processions held to take away the curse which rested
on the spot. a nephew of Pope innocent Viii
was in open day run through in the street. a
nephew of Pope alexander Vi, who was sent
to smooth matters over, was dismissed with
public contempt. all the while the two leaders of the ruling house, Guido and Ridolfo,
were holding frequent interviews with Suor
Colomba of Rieti, a dominican nun of saintly
reputation and miraculous powers, who under
penalty of some great disaster ordered them to
make peace—naturally in vain.
The opponents of the Baglioni were partly
destroyed, partly scattered in terror, and were
henceforth incapable of another enterprise of
the kind. after a time, a partial reconciliation
took place, and some of the exiles were allowed
to return. But Perugia became none the safer or
more tranquil: the inward discord of the ruling
family broke out in frightful excesses. an oppo-
sition was formed against Guido and Ridolfo
and their sons Gianpaolo, Simonetto, astorre,
Gismondo, Gentile, marcantinio, and others
by two great-nephews, Grifone and Carlo Bar-
ciglia. The latter of the two was also nephew
of Varano, Prince of Camerino, and brother-
in-law of one of the former exiles, ieronimo
della Penna. in vain did Simonetto, warned
by sinister presentiment, entreat his uncle on
his knees to allow him to put Penna to death:
c. 51 bc: Rome
when in gaul
The Gauls claim that they are all descended
from one father, dis, and they say that this
is the teaching of the druids. for this reason they define the passage of time by nights
rather than days: they observe birthdays and
the start of months and years in this way,
with day coming after night. as for their
mode of life in other respects, they differ
from other peoples in that they do not allow
their own sons to approach them in public
until they have grown up and can undertake
military duties: they consider it a disgrace for
a son who is still only a boy to place himself
publicly in his father’s sight.
men have the power of life and death over
their wives as over their children. When
the head of a noble family dies, his kinsmen assemble, and if there is any suspicious
circumstance surrounding his death, they
interrogate his wives as they would slaves. if
anything is discovered, terrible tortures are
inflicted, and then they are put to death.
Julius Caesar, from The Gallic Wars. Born into
one of the original patrician families of Rome
around 100 BC, Caesar married a daughter of
Lucius Cornelius Cinna in 84 BC, served in the
military two years later, acted as a prosecuting
advocate in 78 BC, and was on his way to Rhodes
when he was captured by pirates; he paid his ransom
and crucified his captors. Caesar was elected consul
in 58 BC and over the next eight years subjugated
all of Gaul to Roman rule. He became dictator in
46 BC and was assassinated two years later.
