Conversely, I've always found city-state politics horribly messy (even though I'm a political historian), but this tongue-in-cheek intro sincerely did wonders. Instead of getting hung up on pinning down causes, thinking more about networks and traditions gave me a much clearer sense of the dynamics.
February 16, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Conversely, I've always found city-state politics horribly messy (even though I'm a political historian), but this tongue-in-cheek intro sincerely did wonders. Instead of getting hung up on pinning down causes, thinking more about networks and traditions gave me a much clearer sense of the dynamics.
"as all right-thinking Christians can agree, the investiture powers of the Papacy are properly subordinate to those lawfully exercised by godly temporal rulers, and so—" *interrupted by three dozen heavily armed Guelphs*
February 3, 2026 at 7:47 PM
"as all right-thinking Christians can agree, the investiture powers of the Papacy are properly subordinate to those lawfully exercised by godly temporal rulers, and so—" *interrupted by three dozen heavily armed Guelphs*
Today after the Julius Caesar reading group, some of the high schoolers stuck around because they wanted to talk with each other about the Guelphs and the Ghibellines from Dante again.
I read Dante with them two years ago and I'm frankly shocked that they remember them.
I read Dante with them two years ago and I'm frankly shocked that they remember them.
January 29, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Today after the Julius Caesar reading group, some of the high schoolers stuck around because they wanted to talk with each other about the Guelphs and the Ghibellines from Dante again.
I read Dante with them two years ago and I'm frankly shocked that they remember them.
I read Dante with them two years ago and I'm frankly shocked that they remember them.
I discuss the Guelphs and Ghibellines as purple vs green.
January 29, 2026 at 7:51 PM
I discuss the Guelphs and Ghibellines as purple vs green.
![MEPHISTOPHELES. Quite so! Now there's no holding
them; those knights
Bang away, fighting ceremonious fights, As in the dear old times they used to do.
Now empty greaves and brassards clash Like Guelphs and Ghibellines, swift and rash Their ancient quarrel they renew.
In the long-wonted ways set fast, They are implacable to the last;
Their hubbub's spreading far and wide.
These devil's feasts, say what you will, Thrive best on partisan hatred sill;
Fine horror-fare it can provide..
Now hear it roar! The cliffs resound With hideous shrill satanic sound, And all in panic dread are bound.
[Warlike tumult in the orchestra, finally giving way to triumphant martial music.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:urxfjtwd7ct2hpmwdc3u26iy/bafkreihop6zrqkbebeyuq6ldxvyt33dqdaexiuqcahfchrf75u7p2fxrqy@jpeg)
Asking the Florentines I meet if they’re Guelphs or Ghibilines.
January 24, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Asking the Florentines I meet if they’re Guelphs or Ghibilines.
This important issue is maybe not getting as much attention as it should. Guelph was facing the same issue, but has been turning it around. One of my journalism students, Adam Simmons, wrote about it. Perhaps a useful case study for Waterloo Region? dmjzone.ca/guelphs-blue...
Guelph’s Blue Built Home program is making every drop count
dmjzone.ca
January 24, 2026 at 3:11 PM
This important issue is maybe not getting as much attention as it should. Guelph was facing the same issue, but has been turning it around. One of my journalism students, Adam Simmons, wrote about it. Perhaps a useful case study for Waterloo Region? dmjzone.ca/guelphs-blue...
Btw, question for the #nerdlings - these are for using with the Baron’s War rules in the conflicts between the Guelphs and Ghibellines in Italy. Unfortunately, I know basically nothing about that period.
Does anyone know/recommend places to find colour schemes and heraldries to use from then?
Does anyone know/recommend places to find colour schemes and heraldries to use from then?
January 17, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Btw, question for the #nerdlings - these are for using with the Baron’s War rules in the conflicts between the Guelphs and Ghibellines in Italy. Unfortunately, I know basically nothing about that period.
Does anyone know/recommend places to find colour schemes and heraldries to use from then?
Does anyone know/recommend places to find colour schemes and heraldries to use from then?
Today we are all Guelphs.
January 9, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Today we are all Guelphs.
If you are still upset about Bernie Bros, do you also hold anger at the Ghibellines exiling the Guelphs in 1248?
January 6, 2026 at 5:05 AM
If you are still upset about Bernie Bros, do you also hold anger at the Ghibellines exiling the Guelphs in 1248?
@yeoldecrimepodcast.bsky.social
The War of the Bucket (1325)
Basically, two Italian city-states, Modena and Bologna, were already bitter political rivals (Ghibellines vs. Guelphs). Their tensions were high, and then Modenese soldiers stole a wooden bucket from a well in Bologna’s public square.
The War of the Bucket (1325)
Basically, two Italian city-states, Modena and Bologna, were already bitter political rivals (Ghibellines vs. Guelphs). Their tensions were high, and then Modenese soldiers stole a wooden bucket from a well in Bologna’s public square.
December 25, 2025 at 1:59 AM
@yeoldecrimepodcast.bsky.social
The War of the Bucket (1325)
Basically, two Italian city-states, Modena and Bologna, were already bitter political rivals (Ghibellines vs. Guelphs). Their tensions were high, and then Modenese soldiers stole a wooden bucket from a well in Bologna’s public square.
The War of the Bucket (1325)
Basically, two Italian city-states, Modena and Bologna, were already bitter political rivals (Ghibellines vs. Guelphs). Their tensions were high, and then Modenese soldiers stole a wooden bucket from a well in Bologna’s public square.
We are all Guelphs now
Stephen Miller's wife is declaring war on Pontifex maximus.
December 20, 2025 at 8:41 PM
We are all Guelphs now
Dark night of the soul. Real Guelphs and Ghibellines hours.
December 16, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Dark night of the soul. Real Guelphs and Ghibellines hours.
And finally, for the reader who likes being several months ahead of the curve, and who likes Shakespeare, Dante, Eco, Calvino, Guelphs vs Ghibellines, medieval maps, the Third Man Phenomenon, doomed romance and bad fairies: you can pre-order Mercutio!
Mercutio
From Sunday Times bestselling author of The Embroidered Book and The Valkyrie comes an opulent 13th century epic retelling of the life of Mercutio before he ever encountered Romeo and Juliet. On the b...
harpercollins.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 10:04 PM
And finally, for the reader who likes being several months ahead of the curve, and who likes Shakespeare, Dante, Eco, Calvino, Guelphs vs Ghibellines, medieval maps, the Third Man Phenomenon, doomed romance and bad fairies: you can pre-order Mercutio!
Yeah I agree it puts it in a weird spot especially if you want to get big early modern events of ~1450-1600 to happen-ish but I do like getting Guelphs and Ghibelines, the HYW, Timur, the collapse of the Yuan and more pre-columbian time for the Americas even if those aren't all working super well
December 6, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Yeah I agree it puts it in a weird spot especially if you want to get big early modern events of ~1450-1600 to happen-ish but I do like getting Guelphs and Ghibelines, the HYW, Timur, the collapse of the Yuan and more pre-columbian time for the Americas even if those aren't all working super well
Next the DJ Dumpster Institute of Peace will announce Dear Leader ended the war between Guelphs and Ghibellines.
The United States Institute of Peace is now the Donald J Trump Institute of Peace.
He’s just announced he’s ended another war - between the resources-rich DRC and Rwanda.
“Today, we commit to stopping decades of violence and bloodshed, and to begin a new era of harmony and cooperation…”
He’s just announced he’s ended another war - between the resources-rich DRC and Rwanda.
“Today, we commit to stopping decades of violence and bloodshed, and to begin a new era of harmony and cooperation…”
December 4, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Next the DJ Dumpster Institute of Peace will announce Dear Leader ended the war between Guelphs and Ghibellines.
So, background #1: The Kingdom of Italy in the 12th and 13th centuries became the battlefield in a long-running conflict between two factions called the Guelphs and the Ghibellines (these names aren't important to the story, but they're fun to write and say).
December 2, 2025 at 6:29 PM
So, background #1: The Kingdom of Italy in the 12th and 13th centuries became the battlefield in a long-running conflict between two factions called the Guelphs and the Ghibellines (these names aren't important to the story, but they're fun to write and say).
Had he left a legitimate heir we'd have been ruled by the Wittlesbachs of the Lower Palatinate rather than the Guelphs of Brunswick & Wettins of Saxony.
📅#OTD 1682, London. Death of Prince Rupert.
The prince's last outing had been to the theatre. Fever and a cough turned to pleurisy.
Between 5am and 6am on 29th, he died like a ‘ripened Fruit, that being arrived at its perfect maturity, drops of its own accord’.
The prince's last outing had been to the theatre. Fever and a cough turned to pleurisy.
Between 5am and 6am on 29th, he died like a ‘ripened Fruit, that being arrived at its perfect maturity, drops of its own accord’.
November 29, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Had he left a legitimate heir we'd have been ruled by the Wittlesbachs of the Lower Palatinate rather than the Guelphs of Brunswick & Wettins of Saxony.
y'know it all started with the guelphs and the ghibellines
November 24, 2025 at 6:18 PM
y'know it all started with the guelphs and the ghibellines
I gotta be honest I can never remember which one is the Guelphs and which one is the Ghibelines
November 21, 2025 at 12:47 AM
I gotta be honest I can never remember which one is the Guelphs and which one is the Ghibelines
Now we gotta name some (more) small bodies after Guelphs and Ghibellines to fully achieve Dante synergy
November 18, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Now we gotta name some (more) small bodies after Guelphs and Ghibellines to fully achieve Dante synergy
Bro, we are Guelphs. Problem?
November 17, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Bro, we are Guelphs. Problem?
Always have been a Guelphs (Gaylph) myself.
November 4, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Always have been a Guelphs (Gaylph) myself.