It may here be noticed that the dismemberment of Italian despotisms among joint-heirs was a not unfrequent source of disturbance and a cause of weakness to their dynasties.

At the same time the practice followed naturally upon the illegal nature of the tyrant's title.

He dealt with his cities as so many pieces of personal property, which he could distribute as he chose, not as a coherent whole to be bequeathed to one ruler for the common benefit of all his subjects.

In consequence of such partition, it became the interest of brother to murder brother, so as to effect a reconsolidation of the family estates.

Something of the sort happened on this occasion.