1687 Florencian crisis

The 1687 Florencian crisis began as a series of conflicts between supporters of the Kamra ta 'l-Għelieqi (Chamber of the Fields), the representative body of the inland communes of Florencia, and the Kunsill tal-Kosta (Council of the Coast), elected by the merchant houses and burghers of the island, for control of the island.

In 04.II.1687, the Mulej, elected prince of Florencia for a life term, ordered the re-establishment of the Esercito Florentiana (Florencian Army) and the Corpo dei Carabinieri (Carabineers Corps), as a means of curbing the rise of brigandry throughout the island. In spite of the proposed force being of only modest size, and in line with historical precedent, the Kunsill immediately sought to veto its establishment - fearing that an armed force at the command of the Mulej would inevitably be used to curb the liberties of the merchant houses, who had no desire to relinquish the great freedom of action they had acquired for themselves following the expulsion of the Black Legions. In spite of the Mulej offering to compromise and limit the forces raised to a smaller unit of Carabinieri alone, the delegates of the Kunsill, now seeking to formalise their supremacy over the executive, rejected the proposal and voted to withhold supplies from the Mulej for so long as he persisted with his plans. This in turn enraged the Kamra, whose communities had been sorely affected by the rise of organised crime on the island, and who voted to support the Mulej by withholding supplies to the merchant houses and by imposing tolls upon road traffic into and out of the cities along the coast. Unsurprisingly the Kunsill was further outraged at this development and denounced the members of the Kamra as being brigands and highway bandits in their own right.

The Mulej meanwhile, constrained to rely upon the resources of his own house, unfurled the civic gonfalone from the Governor’s Palace in Capitolia on 08.II.1687 and summoned his comrades from the War of Independence and the armed retainers of his house to the defence of his person and his office. 581 armed fighters heeded his call and helped to fortify the Governor's Palace. The members of the Kunsill, alarmed at this provocative act, called upon their supporters to assemble at their grand town houses and there to receive arms in turn.

On the following day, as news spread across the island and barricades began to be erected in Capitolia, the Kamra sent out a warning to the communes to arm their nightwatchmen and constables and to deputise men of fighting age to assist in the defence of their communities. In Capitolia itself the Kunsill busied itself hiring local unemployed youths to protest in the plaza before the Governor's Palace. The initially peaceful demonstration turned violent when the fighters within the palace sallied to disperse, with cudgels and rifle butts, an impromptu street market run by known black marketeers which they feared was being used as a cover to establish an encampment in the plaza from which a siege of the palace could be sustained. The attempted eviction turned into a massed brawl as the stallholders desperately fought to defend their wares whilst the protesters began to pelt the Mulej's fighters with rocks and broken up portions of pavement slabs. One such rock struck an inexperienced young fighter, sending him sprawling to the ground, dropping his M1656 submachine-gun - a weapon notorious for its accidental discharges and going off half-cocked if suddenly jolted. So it would prove in this instance, resulting in a burst of sudden gunfire that panicked the crowd of demonstrators and convinced the defenders of the palace that they were being fired upon. Fearful of being rushed by the stampeding mob, the gunmen now fired into the crowds of civilians, killing sixteen and sending the rest scattering in terror. As news of the killings spread the fury of the mob knew no bounds. Properties belonging to known supporters of the Mulej, along with homes and businesses belonging to individuals from the inland communes were set ablaze. An unknown number of individuals were slain by the rampaging mob during the ensuing night of violence, though reports of assassinations, stabbings, lynchings, rapes, and beatings were legion. By morning's light a pale of smoke hung over the city and upwards of twenty-thousand terrified citizens were fleeing for the highlands of the interior.

Sanaman forces on the island, consisting of the I and II Marine Expeditionary Units totaling 3,200 troops, of which the first one was based in Capitolia, initially remained passive during the crisis. When the extent of the unrest became apparent, the I MEU moved to secure and hold Capitolia port, while II MEU secured Capitolia's main airport. The official reason was to provide routes for both relief and evacuation efforts.