Guelfioften

Guelfioften, also known as the Guelphs, were a powerful political faction and dynasty that played a significant role in the history of medieval Italy, particularly in the city-states of Florence, Milan, and Naples. The name "Guelph" derives from the Latin *Guelfus*, a nickname for the Holy Roman Emperor Henry the Lion’s ally, Count Welf VI of Bavaria, who supported the papal cause in the struggle between the Holy Roman Emperors and the Papacy during the Investiture Controversy (11th–12th centuries). The faction’s name became synonymous with papal and papal-friendly aristocratic support, contrasting with the opposing faction, the Ghibellines, who backed imperial authority.

The Guelphs were prominent in Florence from the 12th century onward, often clashing with the Ghibellines over control of the city’s government. The conflict was not purely ideological but also tied to dynastic rivalries and competing interests among noble families. In 1260, the Battle of Montaperti marked a turning point, where the Ghibellines, led by Manfred of Sicily, defeated the Guelphs, leading to a period of Ghibelline dominance. However, the Guelphs regained power in 1289 with the Battle of Campaldino, which secured their control over Florence for much of the following century.

The Guelphs were further divided into "Black" and "White" factions in the 14th century, reflecting internal strife. The Black Guelphs, led by the powerful Medici family, initially held influence, but the White Guelphs, backed by the Florentine people, eventually triumphed in 1382, leading to the exile of the Medici. This period of political instability contributed to the rise of the Florentine Republic and the eventual dominance of the Medici as rulers of Florence in the 15th century.

Beyond Florence, the Guelphs were associated with the House of Anjou, which ruled Naples and Sicily from the 13th century. The dynasty’s legacy endured in Italian politics, with the term "Guelph" occasionally used to describe pro-papal or republican-leaning factions in later centuries. The Guelph-Ghibelline conflict symbolized broader struggles between centralized authority and local autonomy in medieval Europe.