The Guelf Party in Florence had a long history, going back to the 1100s as strong supporters of papal power over emperor power. During the Fourteenth-century, the Guelfs and Ghibellines (the rival faction who favored the Holy Roman Emperor over the Papacy) became less dominant but still remained a way to identify oneself. The Tuscan region saw communes split in two, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica Florence, Montepulciano, Bologna, and Orvieto all favored the Guelf party whereas Pisa, Siena, Pistoia, and Arezzo supported the Ghibellines.1 Catherine had relationships with almost every city just mentioned and had strong connections with the Guelf party in Florence. Noted members of the Guelf party in Florence were: Piero Canigiani, Ristoro Canigiani, Cristoforo Canigiani, Barduccio Canigiani, Carlo Strozzi, Niccolò Soderini, Nanni di ser Vanni Servai, Buonaccorso di Lapo, Stoldo di Bindo Altoviti, and Lapo di Castiglionchio.2