occupied by nobles and powerful lords which were not under obedience to the city, and some of them held with the city of Fiesole, nevertheless, within the city the citizens were united, and it was strong in position and in walls, and in moats full of water; and within the little city there were in a short time more than 150 towers pertaining to citizens, and each one 120 cubits high, without counting those pertaining to the city; and by reason of the height of the many towers which then were in Florence, it is said, that it showed forth from afar as the most beautiful and proudest city of its small size which could be found; and in this space of time it was very well peopled, and full of palaces and of houses, and great number of inhabitants, as times went. We will now leave for a time the doings of Florence, and will briefly relate concerning the Italian emperors, which were reigning in those times after the French ceased to be emperors; for this is of necessity, seeing that by reason of their lordship many disturbances came to pass in Italy; and afterwards we shall return to our subject. [Sidenote: 901 A.D.] Sec. 4.--_How and why the Empire of Rome passed to the Italians._ Sec. 5.--_How Otho I. of Saxony came into Italy at the request of the Church, and did away with the government of the Italian emperors._ END OF SELECTIONS FROM BOOK III. BOOK IV. [Sidenote: 955 A.D.] Sec. 1.--_How the election to the Empire of Rome fell to the Germans, and how Otho I. of Saxony was consecrated Emperor._ Sec. 2.--_Of the Emperor Otho III., and the Marquis Hugh, which built the Badia at Florence._ [Sidenote: 979 A.D.] [Sidenote: Par. xvi. 127-132.]