Tuscany

Tuscany, formerly a sovereign grand-duchy in the west of Italy, lying for the most part, but not wholly, south and west of the Apennines, with an area of 9291 sq. m. Pop. (1860) 1,800,000; (1881) 2,208,869; (1890) 2,274,191. The north and north-east of the country is filled with mountains, whence numerous rivers and streams flow down to the sea, the most important of which is the Arno. This district is also the source of the Tiber (q.v.). The rest of Tuscany is an undulating region of hills and dales, except the coasts, which are flat and marshy (see MAREMMA). For the eight provinces of Tuscany, as a compartimento of the kingdom, see ITALY. Its ancient history is described at length in the article ETRURIA, and its mediæval history in the article FLORENCE (cf. also ITALY). It is only necessary to add that modern Tuscany was first constituted in its present dimensions in 1569, when Cosimo de' Medici became Grand-duke. On August 16, 1860, the national assembly of Tuscany pronounced the deposition of the reigning dynasty, and declared for annexation to Sardinia; and in February 1861 it was declared part of the new kingdom of Italy.