The Republic of Florence, or the Florentine Republic, is a city-state that is centered on the city of Florence, located in modern Tuscany, Italy.The republic is founded in 1115, when the Florentine people rebel against the Margraviate of Tuscany upon Margravine Matilda's death.

The Florentines form a commune in Matilda's place.

The republic is ruled by a council, known as the signoria.

The signoria is chosen by the gonfaloniere (titular ruler of the city), who is elected every two months by Florentine guild members.The republic has a checkered history of coups and counter coups against various factions.

The Medici faction gains governance of the city in 1434, upon Cosimo de' Medici's counter coup against the faction that sends him into exile the previous year.

The Medici keep control of Florence until 1494.

Giovanni de' Medici (later Pope Leo X) re-conquers the republic in 1512.The Medici's authority is repudiated for a second time in 1527, during the War of the League of Cognac.

The Medici re-assume their rule in 1531, after an 11-month siege of the city.

The republican government is disestablished in 1532, when Pope Clement VII appoints Alessandro de' Medici "Duke of the Florentine Republic", thereafter making the republic a hereditary monarchy.