Commune - Comune (English) Italian

Autonomous cities developed in various parts of northern and central Italy from the 11th century onwards. The tradition of cities had existed in Italy since ancient times, but some cities already had the right and custom of holding public assemblies at the end of the 10th century. During this period, commerce developed and urban populations increased, and in the 11th century new movements such as the Church Reformation and the Crusades arose. In the midst of such upheaval, the unity of city residents strengthened, and eventually autonomous bodies called comunes appeared in various cities. At first, comunes were temporary sworn bodies for the purpose of maintaining peace, but gradually they developed into permanent urban political organizations represented by consuls. Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (reigned 1152-90) tried to suppress the comunes in northern Italy, but was eventually forced to recognize the autonomy of cities with the Peace of Constance (1183). Not only merchants and craftsmen, but also lords and other landowners from the surrounding rural areas participated in the comunes, and so the comunes became territorial governing powers with surrounding territories (contades). In the 12th and 13th centuries, the development of the urban economy and the influx of people from the surrounding areas caused the political order of the comunes to become unstable. For this reason, the podestà system was devised, which delegated administration to influential people from outside the city for a certain period of time. In addition, the emerging citizen class, who had previously been excluded from politics, formed the popolo, a self-defense organization, and in the second half of the 13th century, this became an important institution within the comunes. The arte (guild organization) was used as its foundation. However, the number of people who could participate in urban politics was effectively limited, and the majority of small merchants and craftsmen were excluded.

After the 13th century, commune politics became unstable due to conflicts between communes and factions, and eventually the Signoria system was established, in which one powerful person held full power over the city. In the 15th century, this system spread widely except for a few cities such as Venice and Florence. The establishment of the Signoria system marked the end of the commune system. In addition, communes established in urban settlements in rural areas are specifically called "rural communes." Local governments equivalent to cities, towns, and villages are still called communes today.

[Kouichirou Shimizu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

11世紀以降、北・中部イタリアの各地に発達した自治都市。イタリアでは古代以来都市の伝統が存続していたが、都市によってはすでに10世紀末に市民集会を開く権利と慣習をもっていたものもある。この時代には商業の発展、都市人口の増大が生じ、さらに11世紀には教会改革や十字軍のような新たな運動が生じていた。このような激動のなかで都市住民の団結は強まり、やがてコムーネと称する自治団体が各地の都市で出現した。コムーネは、初め平和維持のための一時的な誓約団体であったが、しだいにコンソレ（執政官）を代表とする恒常的な都市の政治機構に発展した。神聖ローマ皇帝フリードリヒ1世（在位1152～90）は北イタリアのコムーネを弾圧しようとしたが、結局コンスタンツの和（1183）によって都市の自治権を認めざるをえなくなった。コムーネには商人、手工業者だけでなく、周辺農村の領主その他の土地所有者層が参加していたため、コムーネは周辺領域（コンタード）をもつ領域支配権力となった。12、13世紀には都市経済の発展や周辺からの人口流入によってコムーネの政治秩序が動揺した。そのため都市外の有力者に一定期間の行政を委任するポデスタ制が考案された。また、従来政治から排除されていた新興市民層が自衛団体であるポポロを形成し、13世紀後半にはこれをコムーネ内部の重要な機関とした。アルテ（ギルド組織）がその基盤として活用された。しかし、都市政治に参加できる者は事実上限定されており、大多数の小商人、職人は排除されていた。

　13世紀以降コムーネ相互の抗争や党派の対立によってコムーネ政治は不安定となり、やがて1人の有力者が都市の全権を掌握するシニョリーア制が成立し、15世紀にはベネチア、フィレンツェなどごく少数の都市を除いて広く普及するようになった。シニョリーア制の成立でコムーネ体制は終わりを告げることになる。なお、農村の都市的集落に成立したコムーネをとくに「農村コムーネ」とよぶ。また、現在でも市町村にあたる地方自治体はコムーネとよばれる。

［清水廣一郎］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例