The Origins of Civic Humanism in Italy

As early as Tain 85, Pisa had a government with rotating consulships to prevent the emergence of an autocratic ruler. By the end of the 12th century major Italian cities had adopted such a system and also carved out relative independence from the Holy Roman Empire. Bruni was right that his ideas echoed those of the past, it's just that the past in question was more recent than he cared to admit.