The Bandits
Come and meet the Robin Hoods of ancient days as you venture fearfully into the province of Grosseto. Though the brigands were not as terrible or as large in number as southern Italy, the Tuscany region also possessed some of the legendary brigands. Before the Republic of Italy was formed, the ruling law prevented the poor peasants from going into the woods to collect firewood, or hunt for game. The poor had no recourse to decent food or even the basics as they were not allowed to go fishing or even collect ears of wheat or corn for their necessities. So hundreds of peasants were malnourished and died of starvation or malaria. This was just the beginning of the formation of outlaws or bandits.
"Domenico Tiburzi was his name
And the fearless brigand, Domenico Tirbuzi says in his own words, "I, Domenico Tiburzi, defend the justice also against the law". Tirbuzi's heart went out to the poor, who were starving and he made up his mind to give his life to them. The king of brigands, the Robin Hood of the masses and the beloved desperado, Domenico Tirbuzi plundered the vast marshy lands of the Maremman plains and then after a bout of violence ran into the Fiora Hills to the houses of the poor farmers who were glad to hide them. The Italian government desperate to catch this Robin Hood outlaw finally after 25 years formed a special squad of police to track him down and kill him. In 1896, they caught up with him and gunned him down in a small farm. But Tirbuzi's brave spirit and undying sense of humanity has given him an eternal place in the hearts of the poor and the downtrodden.
Walk Down a Fearsome Road...
Walk through the ranks of the mercenary armies with their captain who was the local lord who owned lands. The feudal lords signed contracts or 'condotta' with the Captains of Venture or 'condottieri', who would protect their lands and castles from brigands. But some of the 'condottieri' could not be trusted and their dangerous profession led them to be the owners of the lands and the castles of their own clients. But this was the breeding ground for many of the 'condottieri' as the ruling classes were fighting against one another to take power in Italy. With Milan and Venice against Florence and Florence against Genoa and Pisa, the terrain became like the fabric of eggshells, and it was fearful and delicate to tread anywhere with the growing antagonism and rivalry.
Travel with the Normans across Italy as their mercenary army fought for the Greeks against the Longobards, Hauteville and the Drengots. Even when they took possession of the lands and the castles as conquests or as payment for services rendered, the mercenary armies went on with their dreadful lifestyles of pillaging and murdering. Sit at the court of Frederick's great Empire and feel secure in the knowledge that traveling through the southern states of Italy could be safe and protected. Gallop through the dead of night behind the notorious highway bandits and hide behind an ancient oak. Watch the thieves steal from merchants and pilgrims. As highway bandits grew in stature, so did the walls of monasteries, convents, farms and villages. This was because their rivals or the neighboring lord often invaded these places to expand their fiefdom. Some of the noblemen in order to increase their wealth became the 'robber barons' who invaded their neighboring estates to loot and plunder, eventually taking their surprised neighbors captive and conquering the surrounding lands.
Watch the evolution of business through this medieval period which was continually harassed by bandits. Merchants hired caravans or grouped together a large chain of caravans who carried the sign of the Palm of Jericho as a symbol of being under the same brotherhood. But a small caravan or a lone traveler was in great peril. This brought in the use of the 'Letter of Credit' originating from the Arabic word, 'sakk' used today as for the word cheque. Traveling over the high seas also was a problem as the merchants were attacked by pirates or they docked in ports which had earlier been at peace, but due to changing political conditions would be at war. So the merchants learned to travel light carrying the precious 'Letter of Credit'. Ride with the brave merchants as they traveled the fearful paths down dark and fearsome woods. Willing to rather die than let a pack of brigands hound them down, the procession of the merchant caravan was headed by a flag bearer. The brotherhood of the merchant fraternity bound together by a loyal oath rode on the dusty and ill-kept roads armed with weapons and swords to fight to their last breath.
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Enjoy the Free Route
As trade and industry was on the rise, education became an important part of life. But this also bred wars and fighting to conquer new lands. Bands of nobles and common soldiers got together and joined in the Hundred Years War between England and France. As they betrayed sides in the army, they often fought for short periods of time against the enemies and then joined the enemy side. They called themselves the Free Companies and pillaged and killed while laying waste to the lands. They suddenly became rich with their plundering and as outlawry became a way life soon lost all their wealth to enemies. One of the classic examples is cited in the case of Eustace d'Aubrecicourt of Hainault who was taken prisoner by the great armies of England. Many of the nobles joined the Free Companies in an attempt to win back their fortunes. Look on in disbelief as Carlo di Luigi di Messer Roberto Adimari, a nobleman from Florence went on a merciless plunder which include rape, kidnapping, arson and looting and murder. He even killed the abbot of Candecchio, but was caught and executed after he admitted to his crimes of a decade.
Witness the rule of tyranny as 'Badhead' Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta reigned in a rule of terror in Rimini, Italy. Watch with total horror as his crimes ranged from child abuse to murder in a willing and wanton fashion. He even declared war against the Pope and raped nuns, killed the parents of abducted maidens, strangling his wife and killing another as the entire town stood in helpless misery. But Nemesis soon caught up with him as he led a crusade against the Turks and finally as he fought against the enemies of Christianity he made his peace with the Church and retired as a prisoner in Rimini. He died in 1468 at the age of 51 years. Salvatore Guiliano was portrayed as a bandit who was up in arms for Sicily and her people. But he was a courageous and fair man with an almost rabid sense of loyalty and love for his own and an innate sense of justice. He was shot and killed on July 6th, 1950. A monument stands in Montelepre to his memory as a supporter of the Sicilian Independence Movement.
Tread freely on the soil of beautiful Florence and enjoy the spirit of freedom. Escape into the beautiful wooded forest and hilly terrains with lush lowlands and walk in an attitude of peace. The bandits have long been banished and eradicated to give way to a new sense of independence and good will. Be secure in the knowledge that Florence will cross horizons to give you a safe and exciting holiday.
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