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{{Short description|Italian maritime republic (c. 1000–1406)}}
{{Infobox country
| native_name            = {{native name|it|Repubblica di Pisa}}
| conventional_long_name = Republic of Pisa
| common_name            = Pisa
| government_type        = [[Oligarchy|Oligarchic]] [[republic]]
| event_start            = 
| year_start             = {{circa|1000}}
| date_start             = 
| era                    = [[Middle Ages]]
| year_end               = 1406
| date_end               = 
| event_end              = Annexed by the [[Republic of Florence]]
| p1                     = March of Tuscany
| flag_p1                = Coat of arms of the house of Canossa.svg
| border_p1              = no
| s1                     = Republic of Florence
| flag_s1                = Flag of Florence.svg
| s2                     = Principality of Piombino
| flag_s2                = Bandiera Appiani.svg
| image_coat             = Shield of the Republic of Pisa.svg
| image_flag             = Flag of the Republic of Pisa.svg
| flag                   = Flag_of_Tuscany#Republic_of_Pisa
| national_motto         = {{langnf|la|Urbis me dignum pisane noscite signum|Know that I am a worthy sign of the city|break=yes}}
| image_map              = Pisa Map XI century b.C..jpg
| image_map_caption      = Map of Pisa in the 11th century
| capital                = [[Pisa]]
| common_languages       = {{ubl|[[Tuscan language|Tuscan]]|[[Latin]]|[[Italian language|Italian]]}}
| title_leader           = '''Governanti della repubblica'''
| leader1                = [[:it:Giovanni Orlandi|Giovanni Orlandi]]
| year_leader1           = 1063–?
| leader2                = [[Consul]]
| year_leader2           = 1081–1189
| today                  = 
| HDI                    = 
| religion               = [[Roman Catholicism]]
| currency               = ''[[Grosso pisano]]'', ''[[aquilino]]''
| HDI_year               = 
| demonym                = 
| GDP_PPP_year           = 
| GDP_PPP                = 
| area_rank              = 
| area_km2               = 
| population_estimate    = 
| leader3                = ''Consiglio degli Anziani''{{efn|(English: Council of Elders) Was a government institution present in multiple italian city-states in the past. It was a council formed by a small number, varying from place to place, of "elders", considered wise, chosen from among the most powerful noble families of the city itself.}}
| year_leader4           = 1402–1406
| leader4                = [[:it:Gabriele Maria Visconti|Gabriele Maria Visconti]]
| year_leader3           = 1202–1312
| event2                 = [[Battle of Meloria (1284)|Battle of Meloria]]
| date_event2            = 1284
| event1                 = Participation in the [[Third Crusade]]
| date_event1            = 1189–1192
}}

The '''Republic of Pisa''' ({{langx|it|Repubblica di Pisa}}) was an independent state existing from the 11th to the 15th century centered on the [[Tuscany|Tuscan]] city of [[Pisa]]. It rose to become an economic powerhouse, a commercial center whose [[merchant]]s dominated [[Mediterranean]] and [[Italy|Italian]] trade for a century, before being surpassed and superseded by the [[Republic of Genoa]].

The republic's participation in the [[Crusades]] secured valuable commercial positions for Pisan traders, leading to increased wealth and power. Pisa was a historical rival to [[Republic of Genoa|Genoa]] at sea and to [[Republic of Florence|Florence]] and [[Republic of Lucca|Lucca]] on land.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pisa {{!}} Italy|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Pisa-Italy|access-date=2020-10-13|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> It lost its independence to Florence in 1406.

The power of Pisa as a mighty maritime nation began to grow and reached its apex in the 11th century when it acquired traditional fame as one of the main historical [[maritime republics]] of Italy.

== Rise to power ==
During the [[High Middle Ages]] the city grew into a very important commercial and naval center and controlled a [[Trade route#Maritime republics' Mediterranean trade|significant Mediterranean merchant fleet and navy]]. It expanded its influence through the sack of Reggio di Calabria in the south of Italy in 1005. Pisa was in continuous conflict with the [[Saracens]] for control of the Mediterranean. In alliance with Genoa, [[Pisan–Genoese expeditions to Sardinia (1015–1016)|Sardinia was captured in 1016]] with the defeat of the Saracen leader [[Mujāhid al-‘Āmirī]] ({{langx|la|Mogehidus}}). This victory gave Pisa supremacy in the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]]. When the Pisans subsequently ousted the Genoese from Sardinia, a new conflict and rivalry was born between the two maritime republics. Between 1030 and 1035 Pisa went on to successfully defeat several rival towns in the [[Emirate of Sicily]] and conquer [[Carthage]] in North Africa. In 1051–1052, Admiral Jacopo Ciurini conquered [[Corsica]], provoking more resentment from the Genoese. In 1063, the Pisans approached the Norman [[Roger I of Sicily]], who was [[Norman conquest of southern Italy|conducting a campaign]] to conquer Sicily that would last over three decades, with the prospect of a joint attack against [[Palermo]]. Roger declined due to other commitments. With no land support, the Pisan attack against Palermo failed.

In 1060, Pisa engaged in its first battle against Genoa and the Pisan victory helped to consolidate its position in the Mediterranean. [[Pope Gregory VII]] recognized in 1077 the new "laws and customs of the sea" instituted by the Pisans, and Holy Roman Emperor [[Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry IV]] granted them the right to name their own consuls, advised by a Council of Elders. This was simply a confirmation of the present situation, because at the time the [[March of Tuscany|marquis of Tuscany]] (the nominal feudal sovereign of Pisa) had already been excluded from power. [[Mahdia campaign of 1087|Pisa sacked]] the [[Zirid dynasty|Zirid]] city of [[Mahdia]] in 1088. Four years later, Pisan and Genoese ships helped [[Alfonso VI of Castile]] force [[El Cid]] out of [[Valencia]]. In 1092, [[Pope Urban II]] awarded Pisa supremacy over Corsica and Sardinia and at the same time elevated the [[Diocese of Pisa]] to the rank of metropolitan [[archdiocese]].

== Territories and administration ==
[[File:Bohemond daimbert.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Dagobert of Pisa|Dagobert]] sailing in a ship flying the cross of [[St George]]]]
{{multiple image
| align     = 
| direction = vertical
| width     = 250
| footer    = 
| image1    = Pisa - Duomo innevato durante la nevicata del 17 dic 2010.JPG
| alt1      = 
| caption1  = The [[Cathedral of Pisa]] was built during the Republic's heyday (11th and 12th centuries) and financed by the spoils and loot from the [[Mahdia campaign of 1087]]
| image2    = Pisan Republic.png
| alt2      = 
| caption2  = The territorial extent of the Republic of Pisa (12th century)
| image3    = Rilievo sulla torre di pisa che mostra l'antico porto pisano.JPG
| alt3      = 
| caption3  = Relief of the [[Porto Pisano|seaport of Pisa]] on the [[Tower of Pisa]]
}}
The territory subjected to the Republic of Pisa has had important variations over the centuries. During the period of great political and economic expansion, the republic had its own consoles with commercial farms and warehouses in many seaside cities: [[Gaeta]], [[Naples]], [[Salerno]], [[Messina]], [[Palermo]], [[Trapani]], [[Mazara del Vallo]] and in [[Tunis]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Lodolini|first=Armando|title=Le Repubbliche Del Mare|publisher=Biblioteca de Storia Patria|pages=48–67|language=it}}</ref>

Pisan troops were among the first to [[Siege of Jerusalem (1099)|conquer Jerusalem in 1099]], and were led by their archbishop, [[Dagobert of Pisa|Dagobert]], the future [[Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem]]. With significant presences in the [[Levant]], in the [[Byzantine Empire]] and in the Crusader states of [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], particularly in [[Constantinople]] (where the Byzantine Emperor [[Alexius I Comnenus]] granted them special mooring and trading rights), [[Antioch]], [[Latakia]], [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]], [[Acre, Israel|Acre]], [[Jaffa]], [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]], [[Alexandria]] and [[Cairo]]. In all these cities the Pisans were granted privileges and immunity from taxation, but had to contribute to their defense in case of attack. In the 12th century, the Pisan quarter in the eastern part of Constantinople had grown to 1,000 people. The well-known "Società dei Vermigli" was established in [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] and was reported in the defense of the city against the attack by [[Saladin]] in 1187.<ref name=":1" />

For some years of that century, Pisa was the most prominent merchant and military ally of the [[Byzantine Empire]], surpassing the [[Republic of Venice]] itself.

Its influence also extended to the major islands of the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]]:

* [[Sardinia]] from 1207 to 1324.
* [[Corsica]] from 1050 to 1295.
* [[Balearic Islands]] from 1115 to 1184. Pisan merchants were among the initiators of the [[1113–1115 Balearic Islands expedition]].<ref>Charles Julian Bishko (1975), [http://libro.uca.edu/bishko/spr1.htm "The Spanish and Portuguese Reconquest, 1095&ndash;1492"], ''A History of the Crusades, Vol. 3: The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries'', ed. Harry W. Hazard (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press), 405.</ref>

After the [[Battle of Meloria (1284)|defeat of Meloria]] in 1284, the territory of the Republic gradually became more continental, limiting itself to the coast and to the immediate hinterland that from [[Migliarino Pisano|Migliarino]] to [[Piombino]], with the islands of [[Elba]], [[Gorgona (Italy)|Gorgona]], [[Pianosa]], [[Isola del Giglio|Giglio]] and [[Giannutri]] and the exclaves of [[Castiglione della Pescaia]] and [[Porto Ercole]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Benvenuti|first=Gino|title=Storia della Repubblica di Pisa|publisher=Giardini|pages=19; 61; 62; 64–65}}</ref>

The important Pisan port, key to the entire state economy, was defended by some towers on the sea and on the land side by a fortified system of fortresses on the hills behind, having [[Lari, Tuscany|Lari]] as the seat of the captaincy of the upper hills, [[Crespina]], [[Fauglia]], Castellina, [[Rosignano Marittimo|Rosignano]] and finally [[Livorno]] with the plan of [[Porto Pisano]], essential outlet to dominate the western Mediterranean, while the area that intersected the Arno with the Valdera was defended by the castles of Appiano, Petriolo, Montecuccoli and finally, by order of foundation, that of  [[Ponsacco|Ponte di Sacco]] (1392).<ref name=":2" />

Inland, in perennial struggle with the [[Republic of Lucca]], the [[Republic of Florence]] and [[Volterra]], its borders were very fluctuating having as contested castles those of [[Buti, Tuscany|Buti]], [[Palaia]], [[Peccioli]], [[Montopoli in Val d'Arno|Montopoli]] (until 1349), [[Lajatico]], [[Chianni]] ( until 1325), [[Santa Maria a Monte]], [[Pontedera]] and in [[Vecchiano]]. The main strongholds were the Verruca fortress, near [[Calci]], which served as the cornerstone of the mountain defensive system on the Lucca border that ran from the ancient [[lago di Bientina]] to the [[Serchio]] with the castles of [[Caprona, Vicopisano|Caprona]], [[Vicopisano]], [[Asciano]] and [[Agnano, San Giuliano Terme|Agnano]]. On the Florentine road to block the access to Pisa there was the castle of [[Cascina]], the scene of important [[Battle of Cascina]]. [[Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina]] was long disputed by Volterra.<ref name=":2" />

The Maremma territory south of the port of [[Vada, Rosignano Marittimo|Vada]] was administered in the name of the republic by the Pisan counts of [[Della Gherardesca family]] with the castles located in numerous cities such as of [[Guardistallo]], [[Bibbona]], [[Riparbella]] and [[Suvereto]].<ref name=":2" />

<gallery>
File:Marciana Marina - Pisanischer Wachtturm 1.jpg|Pisan watchtower on [[Elba]] built by the Republic as a defence against Saracen pirates
File:Arte islamica, ippogrifo, XI sec 03.JPG|The '''[[Pisa Griffin]]''' – a spoil from one of Pisa's many campaigns against Islamic strongholds
File:A Classical View of Leaning Tower in Pisa.jpg|The flag of Pisa (''[[Pisan cross]]'') flying on the [[Tower of Pisa|Leaning Tower of Pisa]] (built 12th–14th century) 
</gallery>

== Decline==
The rivalry between Pisa and [[Republic of Genoa]] intensified in the [[13th century]] and resulted in the naval [[Battle of Meloria (1284)]], with the casus belli of the rally of Giudice di Cinarca in Pisa,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Héros corses du Moyen Âge - Moyen Âge - Albiana |url=https://www.albiana.fr/moyen-age/363-heros-corses-du-moyen-age-moyen-age.html |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Les éditions Albiana |language=fr}}</ref> fought right in front of the Pisan port. It which marked the beginning of the decline of the power of the city, with the renunciation of any claim on [[Corsica]] and with the sale of part of [[Sardinia]] to Genoa in 1299.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Benvenuti|first=Gino|title=Le repubbliche marinare: Amalfi, Pisa, Genova e Venezia|publisher=Newton Compton; 1st edition|language=it}}</ref>

Furthermore, from 1323, the [[Crown of Aragon|Aragonese]] conquest of Sardinia began, which deprived the city of the dominion over the giudicati of [[Cagliari]] and [[Gallura]].<ref name=":0" />

Given the difficult economic and political situation of the now decadent Republic, on February 13, 1399, the lord of Pisa [[Gherardo Appiani]] sold the city and the countryside for the sum of 200,000 [[Florin|gold florins]] to [[Gian Galeazzo Visconti]] of the Pisan branch of the [[Visconti of Pisa and Sardinia|Visconti family]] to become lord of [[Piombino]] and obtain the appointment as Lord of Pisa.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bueno de Mesquita|first=Daniel Meredith|title=Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan (1351–1402)|publisher=Cambridge University Press}}</ref>

However, the control of the Republic by the Visconti did not last long, in fact Pisa maintained its independence and dominion over that part of the Tuscan coast and beyond until 1406, when it was occupied by the mercenaries [[Angelo Tartaglia]] and [[Muzio Attendolo Sforza]] who ordered the annexation to the [[Republic of Florence]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Garuti|first=Giovanni|title=Medieval knights 1100–1476|publisher=Soldiershop}}</ref>

With Florence's domination began an unstoppable decline of the city which, in the past centuries had spread its Romanesque architectural style, even in Sardinian churches. Suffocated of the commercial and merchant traffic that had characterized its efficiency for centuries, some of the most important Pisan families—such as the [[Alliata]], the [[Della Gherardesca family|Della Gherardesca]], the [[Caetani]] and the Upezzinghi—emigrated to other Italian city-states to escape the Florentine domination, in particular to the [[Kingdom of Sicily]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Memorie istoriche di piu uomini illustri Pisani|publisher=Nabu Press|pages=202|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Petralia|first=Giuseppe|title=Banchieri e famiglie mercantili nel Mediterraneo aragonese: l'emigrazione dei pisani in Sicilia nel Quattrocento|language=it}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[History of Pisa]]
* [[Maritime republics]]
* [[Republic of Genoa]]
* [[Republic of Florence]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

;Citations
* [[John Julius Norwich|Norwich, John Julius]]. ''The Normans in the South 1016–1130''. Longmans: [[London]], 1967.

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Republic of Pisa}}

{{Former monarchies Italian peninsula}}
{{Repubbliche Marinare}}
{{Italy topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pisa, Republic of}}
[[Category:Republic of Pisa| ]]
[[Category:History of Pisa|Republic of Pisa]]
[[Category:Geography of Pisa|Republic of Pisa]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in the Republic of Pisa]]
[[Category:Gothic sites in Tuscany]]
[[Category:Romanesque architecture in Tuscany]]
[[Category:Maritime republics|Pisa (Republic)]]
[[Category:Italian states]]
[[Category:1406 disestablishments in Europe]]
[[Category:States and territories established in the 10th century]]
[[Category:Italian city-states]]
[[Category:Former republics]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 1400s]]