TUSCANY, a duchy of Italy, which makes part of the ancient Hetruria, excepting some small detached parts, is encompassed by a part of the Mediterranean, called here the Tuscan Sea; the ecclesiastical state; the duchy of Modena; and the republic of Lucca; its extent from north to south being about 116 English miles, and from east to west about 80.
Though some parts of it are mountainous, yet both the hills and dales are covered with vines, olives, citron, lemon, and orange trees, &c. The mountains yield also copper, iron, alum, &c. and some quarries of the finest marble and porphyry. Here is also plenty of corn, rice, saffron, honey, wax, wool, flax, hemp, with mineral waters, rich pasture, salt-pits, sulphur, alabaster, chalcidony, lapis lazuli, borax, amethysts, cornelians, jaspers, quicksilver, crystals, and black slate. In some places the elms and ashes yield manna.
The principal river in Tuscany is the Arno, which has its source in the Appennine mountains, and falls into the sea below Pisa. There are some other smaller rivers.
This duchy fell under the dominion of the Romans about 455 years before Christ. The Ostrogoths possessed themselves of it in the fifth century, and after them the Lombards, who were expelled by Charlemagne anno 800, in consequence of which it became subject to the German emperors, who appointed governors over it. At last the cities of Florence, Pisa,
Sienna, and some others, during the contentions between the pope and the emperor, and their respective adherents, the Guelphs and Gibbelines, withdrew themselves from the dominion of both, and erected themselves into separate commonwealths. In that of Florence, John de Medicis, a popular nobleman, so influenced himself into the favour of his countrymen, that they invested him with sovereign power. Pope Pius V. conferred the title of grand duke on Cosimo de Medicis anno 1570, in whose family the duchy continued until the death of Gaston de Medicis, who died anno 1737. The duchy was then transferred to the duke of Lorraine, the late emperor, in lieu of the duchy of Lorraine, which, by the peace of 1736, was given to king Stanislaus during his life, and then was to be annexed to France. The grand duke's annual revenues are computed at about 500,000 l. sterling, arising chiefly from the tenths of all estates that are sold or alienated, and the ground-rents of the houses in Leghorn, and the duties on almost all manner of provisions.
The great duke is absolute in his dominions. His standing forces consist only of three regiments of foot and two of dragoons, and his marine of a few galleys and galleasses; but, in case of necessity, it is said he can bring 30,000 men into the field, and increase his marine with 20 men of war; but it does not appear how he can man them.
The only order of knighthood in this state is that of St Stephen, instituted in 1554 by Cosimo I. which consists of three classes, namely, the Cavalieri della Giustizia, della Gratia, and de Commendarie. The duke is always grand-master; and the badge of the order an octangular red cross, with a golden border, worn on the breast.
The principal places are Florence, Pisa, Leghorn, Sienna, Orbassano, Piombino, and Arezzo.