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

The Story of Italy: Rome, Renaissance, and the Birth of Modern Europe — Fexingo History · May 5, 2026 · 4m · transcript

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…