Editing Ciompi Revolt (section)

==Key figures==

===Salvestro de' Medici===

[[File:Coat of arms of the House of de' Medici.png|thumb|upright| The "augmented coat of arms of the Medici, ''Or, five balls in orle gules, in chief a larger one of the arms of France'' (viz. ''Azure, three fleurs-de-lis or'') was granted by [[Louis XI]] in 1465.<ref>John Woodward, ''A Treatise on Ecclesiastical Heraldry'', 1894, [https://archive.org/stream/atreatiseoneccl00woodgoog#page/n258/mode/2up p. 162]</ref>]]

As "a man of a noble house, great and rich",<ref name=barefoot />{{rp|599}} [[Salvestro de' Medici]] was a lesser known cousin to the famous [[House of Medici]] banking family. He was blamed for causing the rebellion of the Ciompi by his peers (such as Alamanno Acciaioli, who was part of the Signory that brought the papal war to an end).<ref name=barefoot />{{rp|593}} Salvestro made an error in his struggle against the Guelf party, thus spoiling his family image as well as others of similar rank, "subjecting them to the rashness of the excited multitude".<ref name=barefoot />{{rp|599}}

==="The Eight (Saints)"===

Very little is actually known about "The Eight (Saints)" and who the members were. Trexler calls the radical Ciompi rebel group ''Gli Otto Santi del Popolo di Dio'' (or the "Eight Saints", also known as the [[Eight of Santa Maria Novella]])<ref name=who>Trexler, R.C. "Who Were the Eight Saints?" ''Renaissance News'' 16.2 (1963): 89–94: 91.</ref> and suggests that they may be commonly confused with the more influential and better known ''otto della guerra'' (or the "Eight of War") who represented Florence and opposed Gregory XI and the Catholic Church in 1375 (in the [[War of the Eight Saints]]).<ref name=who />{{rp|89, 90}} The "Eight of War" were very much in power at the time of the Ciompi Revolt, however they played a very small role during the actual Ciompi Revolt. The "Eight Saints" of the ''Popolo Minuto'' created itself as a shadow government to Michele di Lando's government they forcefully obtained the right to veto communal legislation. Di Lando's government defeated these radical challengers on 31 August 1378.<ref name=follow>Trexler, Richard C. "Follow the Flag: The Ciompi Revolt Seen From the Streets". ''Bibliotheque d'Humanisme et Renaissance'' 46.2 (1984): 357–392.</ref>{{rp|362}}

===Michele di Lando===
There is very little recorded history about who Michele di Lando was before the Ciompi Revolt, because men of the lower working class did not leave behind major documents. What is known is that he was a woolcomber, his mother was a washerwoman, and his wife ran a pork butcher's shop. Within his industry, di Lando was the foreman of all the menial workers and made enough money to show up in tax records as paying small sums. He was also a ''caporale'' during the war of Papal States, he shared command over twenty-eight men with another ''caporale'' (It is not known if he saw active service at that time, but the fact that he was trained in command and with arms, he was likely less docile than simple workers in his industry).<ref name=barefoot />{{rp|588}}

His ascension to the position of ''Signore'' and ''Gonfaloniere'' was literally a story about a man who went from rags to riches. He walked into the Palace barefooted and took control at the people's request.<ref>Leibovici, Martine. "From Fight to Debate: Machiavelli and the Revolt of the Ciompi". Philosophy & Social Criticism 28, No. 6 (2002), p. 656</ref> This scene inspired awe even in the eyes of some of the Signory (despite their compromised position). Alamanno Acciaioli was quoted saying, "... He [di Lando] was given the Signory and they [the people] wished him to be Standard-Bearer of Justice and lord (signore)... this Michele di Lando, wool comber, was lord of Florence for twenty-eight hours and more. This is the result of quarrelsomeness and innovation! O dear Lord, what great miracles you show us!..."<ref name=barefoot />{{rp|593}} Upon Michele di Lando's ascension to power, the "Eight of War" (who thought themselves as effective rulers of Florence) wanted to appoint replacements for the Signory. Di Lando dismissed them, wanting to show that he could govern without their assistance, and chose the electoral candidates himself.<ref name=barefoot />{{rp|590, 591}} Once he secured his power, di Lando's government allied with the ''Popolo di Firenze'', infuriating radical members of the ''Popolo Minuto'' (who elected their "Eight Saints" to oppose di Lando).<ref name=follow />{{rp|362}} After the final clash with the radicals, the Signory retook office at the end of Michele di Lando's term. This regime did not last long, it was overthrown again in 1382 and di Lando was sent into exile as a collaborator with the Signory.<ref name=barefoot />{{rp|589}}