Uguccione. The first of these to be attacked was Sarzana in
Lunigiana. But first he agreed with Pisa, who in hatred of Uguccione
sent him men and stores. Sarzana proved very strong, so that before he
won it he was compelled to build a fortress beyond the walls, which we
may see to this day. Thus Sarzana was taken, and later Massa, Carrara,
and Avenza easily enough, until the whole of Lunigiana was in his power,
even Fosdinovo, and later Remoli, and that was to secure his way to
Lombardy. Then he returned to Lucca, and was received with every sort of
joy.

About this time Ludovic of Bavaria came into Italy seeking the Imperial
Crown, and Castruccio went to meet him with 500 horse, leaving Pagolo
Guinigi his Deputy in Lucca. Ludovic received him with much kindness,
making him Lord of Pisa and his vicar in all Tuscany: and thus
Castruccio became the head of the Ghibelline party both in Lombardy and
Tuscany. But Castruccio's aim went higher yet, for he hoped not only to
be vicar but master indeed of Tuscany, and to this end he made a league
with Matteo Visconti of Milan; and seeing that Lucca had five gates, he
divided the country into five parts, and to every part he set a captain,
so that presently he could march with 20,000 men beside the Pisans. Now
the Florentines were already busy in Lombardy against Visconti, who
besought Castruccio to make a diversion. This he readily did, taking
Fucecchio and S. Miniato al Tedesco. Then hearing of trouble in Lucca,
he returned and imprisoned the Poggi, who had risen against him; an old
and notable family, but he spared them not. Meanwhile Florence retook S.
Miniato; and Castruccio, not caring to fight while he was insecure at
home, made a truce carefully enough, that lasted two years.

He now set himself first to make Lucca secure, and for this he built a
fortress in the city; and then to possess himself of Pistoja--for he
even thought thereby to gain a foothold in Florence herself--and for
this he entered into correspondence secretly with both the Neri and the
Bianchi there. These two factions did not hesitate to use the enemy of
their city to help their ambitions, so that while the Bianchi expected
him at one gate, the Neri waited at the other, the one receiving Guinigi
and the other Castruccio himself with their men into the city. Not
content with thus winning Pistoja, he thought to control the city of
Rome also, which he did in the name of the Emperor, the Pope being in
Avign