The medieval Sienese would certainly not have accepted that part of their notions and activities could be contained within a discrete category bearing the label ‘religion’ and in that sense the title of this chapter is an anachronism. Yet ecclesiastical institutions, at least, are distinguishable from secular ones. The Christian activities and spiritual outlook and feelings of the Sienese is a vast field but, oddly enough, little has been published on the medieval Church and religion of Siena. What follows is a survey based on some of the primary sources.

BISHOP AND COMMUNE

The theme of the interdependence of commune and Church may be best approached through the bishopric and a discussion in the General Council on 7 July 1307 will illustrate the importance of the bishop to the city authorities. The news had spread that Rinaldo Malavolti, bishop since 1282, was dying and that the canons were nervous about danger to episcopal property and pressure being applied to them over the election of Rinaldo's successor. The councillors debated the possibility of the cathedral chapter being overawed in the matter of the election and consequent threats to the peace of the city; ‘the magnates and other men might easily turn to rioting and fighting’ (rixas et arma), thought one speaker. It is not clear what lay behind these rather generic formulae, but one possibility must have been a challenge by another Sienese dynasty to the well entrenched ecclesiastical authority of the Malavolti. Each of the three men who spoke at the meeting accepted that it would be proper for the commune's officers to become involved in the situation, for example by the Nine having talks with the chapter.