The central Italian city of Lucca, a…

The central Italian city of Lucca, a commune since the twelfth century and a prosperous commercial and artistic center, comes under the rule of the ambitious mercenary Castruccio Castracani, a Ghibelline leader.

By 1320, Castracani had openly declared war on the Guelphs of Florence, dispatching Luccan troops to pillage Florentine territory.

After fresh Florentine troops finally check the Luccans, Castruccio allies himself with Pistoia; by mid-June of 1323, Luccan troops ravaging the Florentine countryside advance to within ten miles of the city.

A desperate Florence negotiates and raises a new army to keep the Luccans at bay.