Calendrical Time and Authority: Podestarial Accession in Episodes 43, 49 and 50, and 53

As noted, podestarial lists contain some of the most consistent and recognizable use of temporal markers in the chronicle; the chronicle begins with lists of podestà in which the temporal intersects with the political. The passage of time is marked by the procession of podestà; lists of podestà tell us that time has a political dimension. The following examples illustrate that the formulaic terms used by the author in these lists also appear elsewhere in the text, where podestà are discussed outside of lists. This close association between named political figures and formulaic representations of calendrical time can be seen throughout the chronicle when podestà are designated, even when these accessions are embedded within narratives.

The basic structure of an entry in a podestarial list is as follows: "Messer X, podestà for Y months/years, in the year Z," often continuing with "in whose time..." This formula which first appears in the lists is also reproduced in the main narrative when the author records a change in podestà, as in the scene which we have designated Episode 43, ff. 26v-27r: "Master Galasso, the count of Monte Feutro, became podestà of Pisa and captain of the Popolo and captain general of war of the commune of Pisa for one year, with fifty knights and thirty ronsini with a salary of XM fiorini of gold, in the year of God 1293" (Messere Galasso, conte di Monte Feutro, fue podestà di Pisa e capitano del popolo e capitano gienerale di guerra del comuno di Pisa anno uno, con cavalli L e ronsini XXX a salaro fiorini XM d'oro, anno di Dio MCCXCIII [f. 26v, l. 34-f. 27r, ll. 1-5]) (emphases mine). 

At f. 30r, Episodes 49 and 50 announce a new podestà: "Master Guido, the count of Monte Feutro, was elected podestà of Pisa and captain general of war of the commune of Pisa at the end of three years, and began in his office at the end of the office of Master Galasso the count, in the year of God 1294. And he remained in his office for six months..." (Messer lo conte Guido da Monte Feutro podestà di Pisa e capitano generale de guerra del comuno di Pisa fue electo in termine de III anni e comincio in lo suo officio finito l'oficio di Messer lo conte Galasso, anni di Dio MCCXCIIII. E stecte in del dicto officio sei mese... [f. 30r, ll. 13-20]) (emphases mine).

The same can be seen Episode 53, f. 32r, as well: "Master Helse, the count of Colle Valle, was podestà for one year, 1294. He whose office began on the fourth of the ides of August "(Messer lo conte da Colle Valle Helse, podestà uno anno, MCCXCIIII. Il quale officio cominici quarto iddu d'Agosto [f. 32r, ll. 19-21]) (emphases mine). The next episode begins with the common phrase "In del cui tempo."

Podestarial accessions are described outside of lists in much the same way as they are described within - it is the author's way of introducing a new podestà. Furthermore, as will become apparent in the next case study, this is not the only instance in which the author uses time as a language of political authority. The political use of time extends to figures outside of the podestariate.