"The first Lombard duke of whom any sure record remains is a certain 'Alovisino' who flourished about the year 685; and the last, though of more doubtful existence, is 'Tachiputo,' in the 8th century, when Lucca was the principal seat of government, with the privilege of coining, although her Counts were not always Dukes and Marquises of Tuscany. About the year 800, the title of Duke seems to have changed to that of Count, and although both are afterwards used the latter is most common: Muratori says, that this dignity was in 813 enjoyed by a certain Boniface whom Sismondi believes to be the ancestor of Countess Matilda; but her father, the son of Tedaldo, belonged to another race: he was the grandson to Attone, Azzo, or Adelberto, Count of Cannosa. … The line of Boniface I. finished in 1001 by the death of Hugo the Great. … After him, on account of the civil wars between Ardoino and Henry, there was no permanent Duke until 1014, when the latter appointed Ranieri, whom Conrad the Salique deposed in 1027, making room for Boniface the father of Countess Matilda. This heroine died in 1115 after a reign of active exertion for herself and the Church against the Emperors, which generated the infant and as yet nameless factions of Guelph and Ghibeline. … See 'War of Investitures,' PAPACY: A. D. 1056-1122] The fearless assertion of her own independence by successful struggles with the Emperor was an example not overlooked by the young Italian communities under Matilda's rule. … These seeds of liberty began first to germinate amongst the Lombard plains, but quickly spreading over the Apennines were welcomed throughout Tuscany. … See ITALY: A. D. 1056-1152. It seems probable that in Tuscany, towards the commencement of the 12th century, the Count's authority had passed entirely into the principal communities, leaving that of the Marquis as yet untouched; but there are reasons for believing that the Countess Matilda in some of her difficulties was induced to sell or cede a portion of her power, and probably all that of the Count's. … Altogether, there appears little reason to doubt the internal freedom of most Tuscan cities very early in the 11th century." _H. E. Napier, Florentine History, book 1, chapter 4 (volume 1)._ ALSO IN: _P. Villari, The Two First Centuries of Florentine History, volume I, chapter 2._ TUSCANY: A. D. 925-1020. The rise of Pisa. See PISA. TUSCANY: A. D. 1063-1200. Cultivation of architecture at Pisa. See PISA: A. D. 1063-1293. TUSCANY: A. D. 1077-1115. Countess Matilda and her Donation to the Holy See. See PAPACY: A. D. 1077-1102. TUSCANY: A. D. 1215. Beginning of the wars of Guelfs and Ghibellines. See ITALY: A. D. 1215. TUSCANY: A. D. 1248-1278. The Guelf and Ghibelline wars.