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Cortona History
FROM A FREE CITY TO THE DYNASTY
OF THE CASALI FAMILY
The Podestà and the Captain of
the People maintained control of their palaces which still remain
standing today despite the transformations. The religious community,
channelled into wealthy and powerful lay organizations which were
based in the churches of San Vincenzo, constructed over the tomb
of the bishop martyr, now demolished (Via Duomo Vecchio N°3),
in the parish church of Santa Maria, the ruins of which are covered
by the church of Santa Maria Assunta, and the old church of San
Marco, which has also been demolished (Via San Marco N°39).
The three churches divided the city into three neighborhoods: that
of San Vincenzo , Santa Maria and San Marco, divisions which can
be traced to modern times. With the first competition of the "Archidado"
two new neighborhoods were added to the three historical ones: Sant'
Andrea and Porta Peccioverarda.
At the begining of the the century with the arrival of Saint Francis
in 1211, the city is taken over by Franciscan charisma. Some of
the noble citizens don the robes of the Franciscans and follow the
saint to the hermitage called "le Celle". The names of
some of these followers are Guido Vagnottelli, Vito dei Viti and
according to Luca Wadding (1588-1657) French researcher of the Franciscan
movement, Brother Elias. Brother Elias would then become the successor
of Saint Francis as the General Administrator of the Order. At the
end of his term in 1239, due to his friendship with Frederick II,
he personally takes it upon himself to try and resolve the differences
between the Pope and the Emperor. This bring him reprimand from
Popes Gregory IX and Innocent IV. Bitter he retreats to Cortona,
where upon land donated to him by the Comune he constructs a church
and monastary dedicated to Saint Francis as he had previously done
in Assisi. In 1240 even Frederick II stops in Cortona to appoint
the Podestà. On April 22, 1253, Brother Elias dies in Cortona
with the sanctifiable reconciliation with the Pontefice. His Franciscan
brothers bury buried him under the main altar of the church which
he built and where he remains today, in a position similar to that
which he chose for in Assisi for the remains of Saint Francis.
In contrast to the message for peace of the charismatic Franciscans,
the century was deeply troubled by internal fighting among parties
of various social classes and wars with neighbors. It is reported
that battles with Perugia endured from the year 1198. After which
an alliance with Perugia led confrontations with Arezzo, which in
1232 was pillaged with the help of the Florentines. However on the
night between the February 1 and 2 in 1258, the Aretines with the
help of Cortonese Guelfs occupied and destroyed Cortona. The people
in exile requested assylum from Perugia andthen went to sette at
Castiglione del Lago. The were re-organized by Uguccio of the noble
family of Casali, and went to assist the Sienese at the Battle of
Monteperti (September 4, 1260)whever the Florentine Guelfs were
defeated. In exchange they obtained help to return to their destructed
city and did so on April 25, 1262, the feast day of Saint Mark who
they then adopted as their patron saint. The coat of arms of the
newly liberated Comune portrayed the lion of St. Mark in the place
of the previous image of the ancient protector Saint Michael.
After the exiled, a very beautiful, twenty-five year old woman entered
Cortona. She was Margherita, born in Laviano in Umbria near the
lake of Montepulciano, and survivor of an adventure which ended
with the killing of a wealthy nobleman with whom she'd been involved.
Margherita, who was taken by the Franciscan calling, worked together
with the Casali to restore the destroyed city by assisting the most
needy working through the confraternity which she herself founded,
that of Saint Mary of Mercy. Margherita initiated however, more
than a material restoration, it was a moral restoration, religious
and social change, in the aftermath of fraticidal battles, from
the brotherly love and peace spread by the charisma of Frances.
It is not a light matter that when she died (February 22, 1297)
that the people immediately declare her a saint. In the meantime,
with the help of the Sienese, the city is reconstructed to become
richer and more beautiful than before, and as they had in the previous
century, they leave their artistic imprint.
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