The progressive weakening of the empire’s borders also exposed the Florentine territory to the incursions of Germanic peoples, from the beginning of the fifth century. The western Roman empire collapsed and was replaced by Roman-Barbarian kingdoms. In the first half of the sixth century, Florentia found itself involved in the long conflict of the Ostrogoths struggling against Byzantine expansion in the peninsula, which caused repeated occupations of the city by both sides. Finally, around 570, Tuscia was conquered by the Longobards, with consequent looting and devastation, and they established a duchy there. The ruinous consequences of the conflicts were made worse by adverse natural events, such as the disastrous flood of 589.
In this context, Florentia experienced a significant economic, demographic and structural reduction in size. The sparse archaeological evidence and the very few written sources conjure up the image of a depopulated city, clustered around the fortifications built on the great complexes of the imperial age: the theatre, the baths, the Capitoline temple. Some scholars have theorised the existence of a shorter defensive wall, built in the Gothic-Byzantine period, connecting these strongholds. In the absence of archaeological evidence, it can be affirmed, however, that the crisis faced by the city between the fifth and seventh centuries, that is, between the first invasions of the Goths and the Longobard period, was accompanied by a contraction of the urban fabric, which now returned completely within the Roman walls, which were probably restored and added to.
As the great public buildings were reduced to quarries or occupied for other purposes, control of infrastructure and road spaces also became less tight. Sewers became increasingly inefficient, and the aqueduct no longer functioned, perhaps as early as the beginning of the fifth century. Blocks began to be fragmented by alleyways, and the layout of many streets underwent variations, due to the advance or retreat of building fronts or the occupation of parts of them, used for burial. The forum also began to lose its regular shape, due to tampering with the surrounding buildings. It is possible that in this period the use of part of its surface for new constructions also began, which in time would significantly reduce its size. Although it did not accommodate Christian buildings, the forum still remained an important public space, and it is likely that it continued to host civic and market functions.
Of the religious areas, the one around the basilica of San Salvatore-Santa Reparata, on which today’s cathedral complex would later be built, was consolidated. Its foundation and evolution are among the most debated topics in Florentine urban history and remain uncertain to this day. In particular, the problem of the dating of the baptistery remains unresolved, oscillating in scholars’ opinions between the late antique period and the eleventh to twelfth century. Equally unclear is when the town became a bishop’s seat. There is no doubt, however, that this religious complex was the best protected area, given that the churches of San Lorenzo and Santa Felicita were located outside the walls, and the one near the southern gate was destroyed by fire between the late sixth and early seventh centuries.
The absence of sources during and after Longobard rule prevents detailed reconstructions of the urban situation during this period, which probably remained similar to the one prevailing previously. The economic decline and impoverishment of the population, which continued into the eighth century, must have been reflected in both ordinary and monumental buildings. Smaller churches replaced the basilica near the southern gate and Santa Felicita, which was also destroyed; the dedication of several medieval churches to St. Michael, a saint much venerated by the Longobards, also seems to date from this period.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- T. Maissen, Attila, Totila e Carlo Magno fra Dante, Villani, Boccaccio e Malispini. Per la genesi di due leggende erudite, “Archivio Storico Italiano”, 152, 1994, 3, pp. 561-639.
- Firenze prima degli Uffizi. Lo scavo di via de’ Castellani: contributi per un’archeologia urbana fra tardo antico ed età moderna, a cura di F. Cantini, C. Cianferoni, R. Francovich, E. Scampoli, Sesto Fiorentino, All’Insegna del Giglio, 2007.
- Atlante archeologico di Firenze. Indagine storico-archeologica dalla preistoria all’alto medioevo, a cura di Mario Pagni, Firenze, Polistampa, 2010.
- E. Scampoli, Firenze, archeologia di una città (secoli I a.C. – XIII d.C.), Firenze, Firenze University Press, 2010.