(Settlement) Florence

Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany. It is the most populous city in Tuscan and among the largest cities in Europe. A centre of trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities.

• Coat of arms/Flag
• General Alignment –
• Settlement size – Metropolis
• Corruption +; Crime +; Economy +; Law +; Lore +; Society +
• Qualities – Financial Center, Artist’s Colony, Prosperous, Romantic, Trading Post
• Danger +
• Demographics
• Country – Republic of Florence
• Government – Plutocracy
• Legislature –
• Population – 94,000
• Places of interest –
• Current Ruler – “Lorenzo the Magnificent“
• Other Notable residents – Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli
• Marketplace
• Base Value ; Purchase Limit ; Spellcasting
• Minor Items ; Medium Items ; Major Items

The birthplace of the Renaissance. Its turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family, and numerous religious and republican revolutions.

Florence was the scene of an attempted strike by wool combers, who rose up in a brief revolt against oligarchic rule in the Revolt of the Ciompi. After their suppression, Florence came under the sway of the Albizzi family, bitter rivals of the Medici. Life was not idyllic for all residents though, among whom there were great disparities in wealth. Cosimo de’ Medici was the first Medici family member to essentially control the city from behind the scenes. Although the city was technically a democracy of sorts, his power came from a vast patronage network along with his alliance to the new immigrants. The fact that the Medici were bankers to the pope also contributed to their ascendancy. Cosimo was succeeded by his son Piero, who was, soon after, succeeded by Cosimo’s grandson, Lorenzo. A great patron of the arts, commissioning works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli. Lorenzo is an accomplished musician and brought composers and singers to Florence. He is known as “Lorenzo the Magnificent“.