h came to pass in their days in Florence and
throughout the world.

[Sidenote: 1275 A.D.]

[Sidenote: 1276 A.D.]

[Sidenote: 1277 A.D.]

Sec. 51.--_How the Florentines and Lucchese defeated the Pisans at the
moat called Arnonico._ Sec. 52.--_How the Della Torre of Milan were
defeated._ Sec. 53.--_How King Philip of France caused all the Italian
money-lenders to be seized._

Sec. 54.--_How Nicholas III., of the Orsini, was made Pope, and
concerning that which he did in his time._

[Sidenote: 1277 A.D.]

[Sidenote: Inf. xix. 52-84.]

[Sidenote: Inf. xix. 98, 99.]

[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xix. 81.]

[Sidenote: Inf. xxvii. 67.]

In the said year, whereof we related somewhat before, M. Gianni
Guatani was made Pope, a cardinal, of the house of the Orsini of Rome,
which, whilst he was young, as priest and then cardinal, was virtuous
and of good life, and it is said that he was virgin in his body; but
after he was called Pope Nicholas III. he had great schemes, and
through warmth towards his kinsfolk, he undertook many things to make
them great, and was among the first, if not the first, of the Popes in
whose court simony was openly practised on behalf of his kindred, by
the which thing he increased them much in possessions, and in castles,
and in treasure beyond all the Romans, during the short time that he
lived. This Pope made seven Roman cardinals, whereof the most part
were his kinsfolk; among others, at the prayer of M. Gianni, head of
the house of Colonna, his cousin, he made M. Jacopo della Colonna a
cardinal, to the end the Colonnesi might not lend aid to the
Annibaldeschi, enemies of the Orsini, but might rather aid these
latter; and this was held a great thing; because the Church had
deprived all the Colonnesi, and those of their kindred, of any
ecclesiastical benefice, since the time of Pope Alexander III.,
forasmuch as they had held with the Emperor Frederick I. against the
Church. Afterwards the said Pope caused the noble and great papal
palaces to be built at S. Peter's; then he entered into strife with
King Charles by reason that the said Pope had requested King Charles
to form an alliance with him by marriage, desiring to give one of his
nieces as wife to a nephew of the King's, to which alliance King
Charles would not consent, saying, "Albeit he wears red hose, yet is
not his lineage worthy to mate with ours; and his lordship will not be
hereditary." For the which thing the Pope's wrath was kin