Commentary Par XVI 127-132

Carroll: '"The great baron" was the Marquis Hugh of Brandenburg, viceroy in Tuscany of Otho III.  Villani says he knighted five Florentine families, who for love of him bore his arms.  One of these, the Della Bella, is here referred to as having surrounded the arms with a border of gold.  It was a member of this family, the famous Giano della Bella, who in 1293 proposed the Ordinances of Justice, in order to curb the lawlessness of his own order, the nobles, and it is probably he who is referred to as having "joined himself with the people."  How the Marquis Hugh was converted, built the Badia, died on S. Thomas' Day, and was buried in the monastery, will be found in Villani, IV.2.'