exploited this state of opinion, had himself elected tribune of
the people, and governor of the Eternal City ( 1347). But his
frail fortune collapsed at the end of a few months. Deserted
by every one, he was given up to Clement VI., who imprisoned
him at Avignon. Seven years later ( 1354) Rienzi came once
to Rome, but this time in the service of Pope Innocent VI., who
conferred upon him the title of senator, and forced him to
support the pontifical authority, which was threatened by a
new rebellion. He died as a victim in a popular uprising. ¹

During the schism, the Roman popes--those of the lineage
of Urban VI.--governed Rome until the close of the council of
Pisa ( 1409), except in the time of revolution. Then Rome
fell into the power of Louis II., prince of Anjou, a partizan of
Alexander V., and so became obedient to that Pope, and after-
wards to his successor, John XXIII. This system lasted until
1413. At that time Rome was conquered by Ladislas, king of
Naples, who removed John XXIII. and kept Rome for himself.
Ladislas died in 1414. Rome endeavoured to obtain indepen-
dence, but became the prey of the adventurer Braccio. Finally,
about 1417, the soldiers of Jeanne II., queen of Naples, obliged
it to submit to the authority of Pope Martin V. Under
Eugenius IV., Rome still sought to win its freedom and to
become a republic ( 1434). But at the end of some years it
submitted once more to the pontifical yoke. Yet the
republican idea was not stifled. In 1440, Valla published his
book on "The Donation of Constantine," in which the temporal
power of the popes was presented as the cause of the corrup-
tion of the Church, and of all the woes of Italy. ² Probably
moved by this virulent indictment, Stephen Porcaro, upon the
death of Eugenius IV. ( 1457), endeavoured to establish the
republic, and declaimed against the "domination of the priests."
He stopped temporarily at this point, but seven years later
paid for his rash undertaking with his head ( 9th January
1453). ³

Thereafter Rome rendered docile obedience to the popes,
and if conspiracy occurred, it was not inspired by the
republican idea.

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