What were the White Guelfs and Black Guelfs in Florence?

In the 1290s, the ruling Guelf party in Florence fractured into two opposing factions: the Blacks and the Whites. This internal schism originated from a rivalry between two noble families, the Donati and the Cerchi, who were competing for political dominance.123

• Black Guelfs: Led by Corso Donati, this faction generally opposed the democratic Ordinances of Justice and sought to maintain traditional aristocratic power. They eventually formed a strategic alliance with Pope Boniface VIII and the French prince Charles of Valois to regain control of the city.312
• White Guelfs: Led by Vieri dei Cerchi, this faction was more inclined to accept the city's democratic reforms. The poet Dante Alighieri was a member of this group.312

The conflict intensified when the Blacks, supported by papal and French forces, reentered Florence in 1301, terrorized the city, and established a new government. This political upheaval led to the exile of Dante and other prominent White Guelfs, a defining event that profoundly influenced his later literary work, including The Divine Comedy.123