N. 20. - The inscription placed at the corner of Via del Corso and Via del Proconsolo commemorates the PORTA SAN PIERO. Here stood up to the beginning of this century traces of the arch of the ancient Porta San Piero, built at the same time as the first circle of the walls of Florence:
Reading edition
...... la porta, che al presente è carca Di nuova fellonia di tanto peso, Che tosto fia iattura della barca. DANTE, Paradiso, XVI, 94–96. ...... the gate that is at present laden With a new felony of so much weight, That soon it shall be jetsam from the bark. Longfellow’s translation.
The Cerchi are hit with those verses. Having come to Florence from Val di Sieve, they had lately succeeded to the houses over the gate of San Piero, formerly inhabited by the Ravignani (see Bellincion Berti N. 9). They were at the head of the Bianchi in the famous quarrels of the Bianchi and the Neri; the latter being led by the Donati (see N. 22 e 27). Giovanni Fiorentino, a writer of the fourteenth century tells of the origin of the two factions: “In the city of Pistoia, at the time of its greatest splendour there flourished the noble family of the Cancellieri. Messer Cancellieri was a rich merchant. He had numerous sons by two wives. This family increased so fast, that in a short time they were numbered by hundreds, all “cavalieri”, valiant and worthy men. But a division arose among them for the sake of rivalry in the affections of an enchanting girl.”
Those who descended from the first wife took the title of Cancellieri Bianchi, and the offspring of the second marriage were called Cancellieri Neri. Having come to action, the Neri were defeated, and wishing to adjust the quarrel, they sent one young man of their party to entreat forgiveness of their opponents, the Bianchi. These however, heedless of the humble entreaties of the youth, cut off his right hand.
After this the feud was irreparable and the citizens of Pistoia, in order to reconcile the fighting parties applied to the Florentines, who took possession of the place and sent the adherents of both parties to the confines of Florence, whence they carried dissension into the city, the White taking refuge with and being seconded by the Cerchi, and the Donati espousing the interests of the Neri, thus multiplying the divisions of the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, formerly brought into Florence by the murder of Buondelmonte. So rapidly did this pestiferous spirit gain ground in Florence, that from a peaceable and flourishing state it became a scene of rapine and devastation”.
Which evil Dante, next to the Buondelmonti and the Amidei, with the above verses lays to the charge of the Cerchi.
ELISEI