The Guelphs and Ghibellines were factions supporting respectively the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor in the Italian city-states of Central Italy and Northern Italy during the Middle Ages.
A 14th-century conflict between the militias of the Guelph and Ghibelline factions in the comune of Bologna, from the Croniche of Giovanni Sercambi of Lucca
The defence of the Carroccio during the battle of Legnano (1176) by Amos Cassioli (1832–1891)
Battle of Montaperti, workshop of Pacino di Buonaguida
Battle of Campaldino on a fresco in San Gimignano
The Italian city-states were numerous political and independent territorial entities that existed in the Italian Peninsula from antiquity to the formation of the Kingdom of Italy in the late 19th century.
Venice was one of the most important Italian city-states
Florence was one of the most important Italian city-states
Portrait of the Italian Luca Pacioli, painted by Jacopo de' Barbari, 1495, (Museo di Capodimonte). Pacioli is regarded as the Father of Accounting.
The defence of the Carroccio during the battle of Legnano (1176) by Amos Cassioli (1832–1891)