The year of Christ 1237, Messer Rubaconte da Mandello of Milan being Podesta of Florence, the new bridge was made in Florence, and he laid the first stone with his own hand, and threw the first trowelful of mortar, and from the name of the said Podesta the bridge was named Rubaconte. And during his government all the roads in Florence were paved; for before there was but little paving, save in certain particular places, master streets being paved with bricks; and through this convenience and work the city of Florence became more clean, and more beautiful, and more healthy. [Sidenote: 1238 A.D.] [Sidenote: 1240 A.D.] [Sidenote: 1248 A.D.] Sec. 27.--_How and when there was a total eclipse of the sun._ Sec. 28.--_Of the coming of the Tartars into the parts of Europe, as far as Germany._ Sec. 29.--_Of a great miracle of an earthquake in Burgundy._ Sec. 30.--_Of a great miracle that took place in Spain._ Sec. 31.--_How the town of Sanginiegio was rebuilt and then destroyed._ Sec. 32.--_How the Tartars routed the Turks._ Sec. 33.--_How the Guelf party was first driven from Florence by the Ghibellines and the forces of the Emperor Frederick._ [Sidenote: 1248 A.D.] [Sidenote: Par. xvi. 109, 110.] [Sidenote: 127.] [Sidenote: 121, 104, 101, 112-114, 115-117.] [Sidenote: 108.] [Sidenote: 110, 111.] [Sidenote: Cf. Par. xvi. 151-154.] [Sidenote: 93, 66, 140-144, 127, 93.] [Sidenote: Par. xv. 115.] [Sidenote: Cf. Inf. x. 48.] In the said times when Frederick was in Lombardy, having been deposed from the title of Emperor by Pope Innocent, as we have said, in so far as he could he sought to destroy in Tuscany and in Lombardy the faithful followers of Holy Church, in all the cities where he had power. And first he began to demand hostages from all the cities of Tuscany, and took them from both Ghibellines and Guelfs, and sent them to Samminiato del Tedesco; but when this was done, he released the Ghibellines and retained the Guelfs, which were afterwards abandoned as poor prisoners, and abode long time in Samminiato as beggars. And forasmuch as our city of Florence in those times was not among the least notable and powerful of Italy, he desired especially to vent his spleen against it, and to increase the accursed parties of the Guelfs and Ghibellines, which had begun long time before through the death of M. Bondelmonte, and before, as we have already shown. But albeit ever since this the said parties had continued among the nobles of Florence (who were also ever and again at war among themselves by reason of their private enmities), and albeit they were divided into the said parties, each holding with his own, they which were called the Guelfs loving the side of the Pope and of Holy Church, and they which were called the Ghibellines loving and favouring the Emperor and his allies, nevertheless, the people and commonwealth had been maintained in unity to the well-being and honour, and good estate of the republic.