The Republic of St. Peter

Download or read book The Republic of St. Peter written by Thomas F. X. Noble and published by University of Pennsylvania Press. This book was released on 1984 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Republic of St. Peter seeks to reclaim for central Italy an important part of its own history. Noble's thesis is at once original and controversial: that the Republic, an independent political entity, was in existence by the 730s and was not a creation of the Franks in the 750s. Noble examines the political, economic, and religious problems that impelled the central Italians--and a succession of resolute popes--to seek emancipation from the Byzantine Empire. He delineates the social structures and historical traditions that produced a distinctive political society, describes the complete governmental apparatus of the Republic, and provides a comprehensive assessment of the Franco-papal alliance.