Hugh of Tuscany

   Ciascun che della bella insegna porta
del gran barone, il cui nome e il cui pregio
la festa di Tommaso riconforta,
   da esso ebbe milizia e privilegio.

(Paradiso XVI.127-30)

   Every man who bears the fine insignia
of the Great Baron, whose name and renown
are renewed on Saint Thomas’ day,
   received from him privilege and military honor.

---

On this plaque are inscribed verses spoken by Cacciaguida who remembers the families whose coats of arms incorporated the insignia of the Margrave Hugh of Tuscany (ca. 950-1001), whose escutcheon appears above the church’s portal. It is his fame and worth that used to be celebrated near his tomb inside the Badia each St. Thomas’ Day (which used to fall on December 21, the date of Hugo’s death). His tomb is inside.

Though not much remembered anymore, Hugo was important in the history of Florence at the end of the tenth century. The city was located within an area of the Holy Roman Empire known as the Margraviate (large district) of Tuscany and Hugo was its ruler. After consolidating his power and establishing enduring institutions in and around Lucca, he was responsible for transferring the seat of his regional government from there to Florence, an action that greatly enhanced the city of Dante’s ancestors.

Because of Florence’s subsequent rapid growth, Hugo was considered a sort of historical father figure of the city. His mother Willa was pivotal in the construction of the Badia and his selection of that church for his burial solidified his reputation in Florence. Eager to establish dependable networks of feudal connections in his preferred place of residence, Hugo selected certain ancient families and promoted them to the nobility. Among these were the families of the Giandonati, Pulci, Nerli, Gangalandi and Della Bella who all added Hugo’s recognizable pales (vertical stripes) to their own coats of arms. Dante recalls Hugo fondly as one of the enlightened rulers of Florence’s past.

Legends about Hugo were first compiled in writings by Peter Damian, but it was in the fourteenth century that the most important one stuck. According to the narrative of a certain notary named Andrea, Hugo much preferred Tuscany to his native Germany and gave himself over to lasciviousness. Once, while he was out hunting near the Arno, the Virgin Mary appeared to him and scolded him severely for his sins. It was not long after that the he had a dream in which he was told to build seven churches, among which was Florence’s Badia.

Coat of Arms of Hugh of Tuscany