Nor, when they stooped to become burghers, had they relinquished the use of arms.
Instead of building peaceable dwelling-houses in the city, they filled its quarters with fortresses and towers, whence they carried on feuds among themselves and imperiled the safety of the streets.

It was speedily discovered that the war against the Castles had become a war against the Palaces, and that the arena had been transferred from the open Contado to the Piazza and the barricade.

The authority of the consuls proved insufficient to maintain an equilibrium between the people and the nobles.

Accordingly a new magistrate started into being, combining the offices of supreme justiciary and military dictator.

When Frederick Barbarossa attempted to govern the rebellious Lombard cities in the common interest of the Empire, he established in their midst a foreign judge, called Podesta _quasi habens potestatem Imperatoris in hac parte_.