The War of the Eight Saints: When Florence Fought the Pope

In the 1370s, Florence took on the papacy in a bitter conflict that mixed religion, economics, and civic pride. The War of the Eight Saints (1375–1378) saw the Florentine republic defy Pope Gregory XI, using propaganda, alliances with Milan, and a new tax on clergy to resist papal authority. The war ended with a compromise at Tivoli, but its consequences were profound: it weakened the papacy before the Great Schism, boosted anti-clerical sentiment, and set the stage for the rise of the Medici. We explore the role of the Eight Saints—the officials who managed the war—and the fiery preaching of St. Catherine of Siena, who brokered peace. The conflict also sparked the Ciompi Revolt in Florence, as war debts inflamed class tensions. Join Lucas and Luna for a deep dive into a forgotten war that reshaped Italy. #WarOfTheEightSaints #Florence #PopeGregoryXI #CatherineOfSiena #CiompiRevolt #EightSaints #Tivoli #AvignonPapacy #GreatSchism #Guelfs #Ghibellines #Medici #Trecento #ItalianHistory #MedievalItaly #ChurchHistory #History #FexingoHistory #RomanRepublic #Renaissance Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo