one of the states of Tuscany in Italy; a most celebrated republic, to which Europe is in the highest degree indebted for the revival of the arts and sciences after they had been long lost.

The ancient history of Florence is comprehended under that of HETRURIA and ROME. Its modern history commences most properly at the time of Albino, king of the Lombards, who made himself master of Tuscany, and almost all Italy. Those people continued to enjoy their dominion for 204 years, when they were driven out by Charles the Great. He was crowned and confirmed king of Italy by the pope about the year 773; after which, the governments of the several states of that country began to recover some degree of regularity and constancy. The original families of Italy, and the descendents of the various clans of barbarians who had inhabited it, were now blended into one common mass; and the feudal laws, which were of Gothic original, and then prevailed over all Italy, gave the leading men or magistrates of each state a degree of authority very little inferior to that of the king. All that Charles required, was the payment of certain tributes, or what we call reddendo, as marks of his sovereignty; and he left them in other respects to make the most of their situation and natural powers. Of these states, the most eminent were Florence, Pisa, Perugia, and Sienna, each of which had a particular manner of cultivating its interest. The Pisans applied themselves to maritime affairs, being the only maritime city of Tuscany that was left standing. The Perugians applied themselves to agriculture, to which they were encouraged by the fertility of their soil. The Siennese had a rich nobility, who maintained them in influence; but the Florentines were distinguished over all the other inhabitants of Tuscany, by their industry, their knowledge of the civil arts, and their uncommon strength of genius.

For some time these states lived together in great harmony; but this was soon interrupted by the disputes between the popes and the emperors of Germany. In these contests, Florence was subdued by the emperor Frederic II. He governed in so tyrannical a manner, that, after his death, the Florentines conceived such an insuperable aversion against monarchical government, that from thenceforth Florence became a republic. The people took the direction of affairs upon themselves; and the wisdom, spirit, and steadiness, with which they proceeded upon their new model, are almost incredible. They first recalled, and reinstated in their former honours, the noblemen whom Frederic had banished. They next made choice of 12 magistrates, whom they called antiani. They divided their city into six wards, from which their magistrates and all public officers were to be elected. They instituted a militia out of these wards, properly regimented; in or... Florence, determined to oppose all factious designs of their nobles at home, and to repel all attacks from abroad. Every one of the magistrates was a patriot; and Florence soon began to distinguish itself among the states of Italy, as formerly Athens did among those of Greece.

It is natural to think, that a small state, so circumstanced and regulated, would soon be involved in wars both foreign and domestic. This indeed actually happened. The Florentines were engaged in almost perpetual wars with their neighbours; and when these ceased, internal dissensions generally supplied their place. Though greatly celebrated by historians for their valour, these republicans never could make any permanent conquest over their neighbours, or extend their territories in any considerable degree. Nay, they were often in the utmost danger of being totally destroyed, had not some lucky accidents fortunately intervened. In these endless wars, they were supported by the very extensive commerce they carried on, and by which they acquired incredible wealth. But, after commerce had begun more generally to diffuse itself, the Florentines began to lose very considerably of the importance among other nations which they had till then maintained. In 1531, they were compelled to submit to the troops of the emperor Charles V., after a severe siege; and at this time ended the republican government of the city. Alexander de Medici, after marrying the natural daughter of Charles V., was by him made sovereign of Florence. He pretended to govern by the advice of a council of Florentine citizens; but, in fact, behaved to tyrannically, that he was murdered in a short time; and succeeded by Cosmo, son of John de Medici, who had become extremely popular on account of the bravery he had shown in the French and Spanish service. He first obtained the title of Grand Duke of Tuscany; and, as such, was crowned at Rome by pope Pius V., who bestowed the title upon him. He married Eleonora de Toledo, daughter to the duke of Naples; by which connection he established his authority so well, that the Florentines never thought of throwing off the yoke. He attached himself to the interest of the Imperialists; under whose protection he and his successors lived securely, till the time of Cosmo III., who embraced the French interest. This prince, in his youth, had paid a visit to the English court in the time of Charles II., and always professed a great deal of friendship for the family of Stuart. We do not find, however, that he was very liberal in contributing towards the efforts made for replacing king James on the throne of Britain, though often applied to for that purpose. He affected, however, to be the head and patron of all the Roman Catholics in Great Britain, and he exerted all his interest with foreign courts in their behalf. Being a complete politician, his success in this was incredible; and it was primarily owing to him, that the papists met with such indulgences as they did, even after the accession of king George I. He was a great patron of learning and learned men; and his favourite study was chemistry, nor could his friends oblige him more than by sending for medicines prepared in his laboratory by himself. He was courted by all the princes of Europe; and could be called unhappy only in the prospect of his race being extinct with his son, who had no hopes of issue, and was the last of the family. This consideration probably rendered him different to all the stipulations preceding the Quadruple Alliance in 1718; by the fifth article of which, the duchies of Tuscany, Parma, and Placentia, were to be accounted for ever as male-fiefs of the empire, and were to descend, in default of male-heirs, to the queen of Spain's eldest son. To alleviate, however, any chagrin which might be conceived at this article, it was also stipulated, that, during the lives of the possessors of Tuscany and Parma, no forces of any country whatsoever, whether their own or hired, should, by the emperor, the kings of France and Spain, or even by the prince appointed to the succession, be introduced into any garrison, city, port, or town, of those duchies. Yet, notwithstanding this article, it was resolved, that, for the security of the succession, 6000 Swiss were to be put into Leghorn, Porto Ferraro, Parma, and Placentia.—Cosmo did not long survive this definition of his dominions; but died, the most aged prince in Christendom, in 1723. He was succeeded by his son Galton, whose character and manner of life greatly resembled those of his father. He presented memorials against the Quadruple Alliance at the Congress at Cambrai. King George I. declined the sole mediation at this congress which was offered him; upon which the emperor, without the consent of the empire, granted the investiture of the duchies of Tuscany, Parma, and Placentia, to the queen of Spain's eldest son, in case these dukedoms should be vacant for want of heirs. These stipulations were enforced by the treaty of Seville in 1728; by which, also, great numbers of foreign troops were to be introduced into different cities within these duchies. This treaty was guaranteed by Spain, Great Britain, France, and the States-General; but was complained of by the court of Vienna as a breach of an article in the Quadruple Alliance. In the year 1731, however, the great duke, who had conceived an invincible aversion against the house of Austria, not only ratified all the stipulations with regard to the succession, but, in consequence of a new treaty, invited Don Carlos, the apparent successor, over to Florence to be educated.—In a few years, however, the emperor lost Naples and Sicily; and his son-in-law, the duke of Lorraine, was named to the succession of Tuscany, while his duchy of Lorraine was annexed to the crown of France. Duke Galton, in the mean time, was so much decayed in person and intellect, that he took little or no concern about these proceedings; nor did he even make any remonstrances against the Imperial court, who ordered a body of troops to move towards his dominions, in order to drive out the Spaniards, which they accordingly did. He died in July 1737; and the duke of Lorraine instantly seized on his dominions. The queen of Spain could not bear the thoughts of having such a noble acquisition as the duchy of Tuscany torn from her family, and therefore endeavoured to engage the court of Great Britain to assist her in recovering it. To this end she promised, that her husband should renounce all pretensions to Gibraltar and Portmahon, and that the differences subsisting with regard to America should be adjusted. This proposal, however, was rejected; and a war ensued between Great Britain and Spain, and the duke of Lorraine (late emperor of Germany) was suffered to possess the duchy of Tuscany without opposition. Since that time the Florentines have made no figure in history, nor are they likely... likely to do so for a long time to come. In the year 1753 it was resolved, that the whole military force of the great duchy should consist only of three regiments of foot, and one of dragoons, of 500 men each. To support this establishment, a French company offered to farm the revenues of the duchy; but his imperial majesty rejected the proposal, and fixed upon another company composed of his own subjects, to manage the revenues under the direction of M. Richard, a gentleman of Lorraine. By this new institution, the finances of the duchy were divided into 20 shares, one half of which his imperial majesty reserved to himself. By these, and other frugal measures, the emperor was enabled to erect a college for the improvement of agriculture at Florence; a science to which the Florentines are peculiarly adapted. In the year 1755, he raised another regiment of dragoons, and regimented his militia. The duchy is now governed by a council of regency, a military board, and other officers of state; who have made a number of excellent regulations, by which, during the late war, his imperial majesty was enabled to draw many useful recruits from the grand duchy of Tuscany, who did him great service in his armies.

capital of the duchy of Tuscany, and one of the finest cities in Italy. It is divided into two by the river Arno, over which are built several magnificent bridges. It is surrounded on all sides but one with high hills, which rise insensibly, and at last join with the lofty mountains called the Apennines. Towards Pisa, there is a vast plain of 40 miles in length; which is so filled with villages and pleasure-houses, that they seem to be a continuation of the suburbs of the city. The circumference about the walls is near six English statute-miles; and it contains about 9000 houses, great part of which are built uniformly of stone, and many of them surprisingly large and beautiful. According to some, the palaces of Florence are the best built of any in Italy. E. Long. 12. 24. N. Lat. 43. 34.

ancient piece of English gold coin. Every pound weight of standard-gold was to be coined into 50 Florences to be current at five shillings each; all which made in tale 15 pounds; or into a proportionate number of half Florences or quarter-pieces, by indenture of the mint: 18 Ed. III.

Florentine marble. See Citadinesca.

Florescentia, (from floresce, "to flourish or bloom";) the act of flowering, which Linnaeus and the sexualists compare to the act of generation in animals; as the ripening of the fruit is their opinion resembles the birth. See Flower.

Florid style, is that too much enriched with figures and flowers of rhetoric.