January 1341 - Cola rids Rome of a Scourge

The name on everyone's lips is that of Cola di Rienzo. While the Council of Thirteen sat on their hands and ineffectually discussed the Scimmioni Volanti, the Notaio from the Aventine, a private citizen, took action.

Word went out on the streets of Rome that Cola di Rienzo would display the corpses of two "flying monkeys", on the morrow at midday, in the Campidoglio upon the Capitoline. Who would not wish to see such a sight? The square was thronged, the streets choked with citizens determined to glimpse both the dead demons and the author of their destruction.

Cola di Rienzo mounted the steps of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli. The foul creatures were pinned to frames erected on either side of him like giant bats. He invited some amongst the crowd to come forward to inspect them so that none could claim later that they were but mummery and fakery. His speech was articulate and well received by those assembled. First of all he praised the actions of the brave compares of his entourage who had tracked down and slain the beasts and banished a further one back to the Hell whence it came. He then proceeded to denounce the corruption and inaction of the city authorities in this matter. Finally he waxed lyrical upon the past greatness of Rome when it was a Republic and ruled wisely by its people through representatives chosen for their wisdom and probity and not for their wealth and inherited power. He bade the people there assembled to accompany him to the nearby Senatorial Palazzo where the Thirteen were accustomed to meet, for them formally to received the demon corpses on behalf of the People.

Cola, flanked by the corpses of the flying monkeys, carried by his compares, and followed by a crowd of supporters processed slowly to the Palazzo. He was greeted on the steps, not by one of the Thirteen, who were not in session that day, but by Cardinal Giovanni Colonna, head of the powerful Colonna family. The Cardinal, a man of great personal power and presence, welcomed Cola di Rienzo courteously. He made a short speech recognising his achievement in slaying these ungodly creatures and accepted on behalf of the Council a scroll containing Cola's detailed report on the matter. With a great flourish he presented Cola with a gold medallion, that he claimed had once belonged to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, in recognition of his service to the City. He also produced a bankers draught for 200 florins in recognition of the deed and promised more if in time it was revealed that all the Scimmioni Volanti had indeed been expunged from the City - saying that only time would tell.

To the ordinary citizen two hundred florins was riches indeed and the medallion seemed at a distance to contain a goodly amount of bullion. To others it was but spicci - small change - to men such as Cardinal Colonna and the Thirteen. The most cynical speculated that the medallion was most probably struck yesterday - made of lead, painted with gold leaf. All agreed that Cola di Rienzo had done much to enhance his reputation. Many recalled his speech and a position of power mentioned several times within it - that of Tribune of the People. So it was that the people of Rome began to speak of him as the Tribune of the People - though no such office formally existed in the City governance.