LOCATION@1 's republic , struggling internally between nobles and the popular party , usually worked in political opposition to its great rival , LOCATION@2 , and was in the 13th century predominantly Ghibelline in opposition to LOCATION@2 's LOCATION@3 position -LRB- this conflict formed the backdrop for some of PERSON@1 's ORGANIZATION@1 -RRB- .

LOCATION@1 's republic , struggling internally between nobles and the popular party , usually worked in political opposition to its great rival , LOCATION@2 .
