COMMUNE AGE
CIVITAS CASTELLI

Becoming a free Commune, with its own law, around the 1100 (Cassolo was the first consul on 1167) and with a large jurisdiction (from Cortona to Mercatello, and from Borgo San Sepolcro to Urbania) Città di Castello underwent the Church and Empire joined ruleship.
Recovering its autonomy, the town created a strong political influence and became an important strategical point between Perugia and Arezzo. Alternating between pro-Guelph and pro-Ghibelline support, it underwent the alternative sovereignty of these two strong powers, with short freedom times.
After the long reign of Federico II, the town linked itself to Florence, eventually returning to the Ecclesiastic State, despite further periods of pro-Ghibelline rule, with some lands still in Longbard's hands and with further dioceses enlarging.
From 1257 to 1283 the town (called since 1230, Civitas Castelli) started to expand, increasing the town gates from 4 to 10 (Capitananze) which corresponded with the territory division. For the first decade of the XIII Century, the town established a consular government. The Communal Statute of the 1261 gave large powers to the Capitano del Popolo (People's Captain elected by the General Council) to the detriment of the Podestà. Three years after the slaves liberation in 1270, the town arranged a new statute and new organisation.
Between 1323-1325 the town fell under the domination of the Tarlati di Pietramala family and, Ghibelline from Arezzo, while domination of Malatesta family from Rimini spread up to Borgo San Sepolcro.
The interference of politic's from Florence increased in these times, as the Lords where Malatesta's relatives and also Pietramala's friends/tutors from who Tifernati were liberated with the insurrection on 1334.
They created a powerful lead to Civitas Castello, an important economic development, that was the basis of Città di Castello large importance during the Middle-Age and, mainly, the Renaissance.
A Statute issued on 1336 granted the town to eight priors. Around 1350, there was created the title of Vicar (designate by the Papal Authority). In 1371 the "Otto di Balia" Council was nominated. From among the 56 active Arts and Crafts corporations governed by special statutes, it is important to note the flourishing state of the Wool Craft Corporation.The material craft's increasing numbers attracted many merchants from Florence. Since the end of 1200 the Vitelli Family, that were destined to become the local rule family, became important as merchants.
The University of Lanary (wool crafts) became very important and the Commune gave it San Giacomo Hospital, placed in the street that is still keeps the same name.
Doctors and notaries, together with carpenters, smiths, potters, stonemasons, millers, goldsmith, bread makers, barbers, greengrocers, woodcutters, hatters, blacksmiths, united in their own Corporation were very active. In the countryside the medieval economy system was substituted by the métayer system.