How a strategic medieval march shaped the rise and fall of Italian power

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The March of Tuscany was more than a border territory; it was a kingmaker. From the Carolingian era to the rise of independent city-states, this collection of counties served as a pivotal battleground where emperors, popes, and powerful dynasties vied for control over the heart of medieval Italy.

Established as a Carolingian creation following the conquest of the Lombard kingdom in 773/74, the March of Tuscany emerged from the northern remnants of the Lombard Duchy of Tuscia. Centered originally on Lucca, the region became a critical political asset. By the late ninth century, the support of its margraves was essential for any candidate seeking the crown of Italy. The Bonifacii dynasty, beginning with Adalbert I in 846, held the march until 931, when King Hugh of Arles installed his own relatives, the Bosonids, to consolidate power.

The march’s significance peaked under the counts of Canossa. Boniface III, who styled himself both duke and margrave, commanded such immense influence that he posed a direct challenge to the Holy Roman emperors. His daughter, Matilda, inherited this vast power, utilizing her control over Tuscany to support the Papacy during the intense Investiture Controversy. Her death in 1115 marked a definitive shift in the region's political landscape, signaling the end of the era of feudal princes.

Following the decline of these great dynasties, the march fractured into a collection of competing city-states and maritime republics. While imperial vicars attempted to maintain control throughout the 12th and 13th centuries, the rise of the Tuscan League in 1197 demonstrated the growing autonomy of local cities and bishops. By the 14th century, Florence began its long process of territorial expansion, eventually absorbing rivals like Arezzo, Pisa, and Siena. This transition from a centralized imperial march to a landscape dominated by independent communes fundamentally reshaped the trajectory of northern Italy.

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