Since medieval times the area of the Capitol was the seat of the civil administration of the city. On the remains of a fort existed Tabularium family Courses which took over in 1114 the Roman people was chosen as the seat of the city senate and enlarged in the fourteenth century. The dirt clearing in front was devoted to meetings of people and was flanked by buildings to host the Banderesi, that is, of the captains of militia. Michelangelo Buonarroti completely redesigned the square, drawing it in detail and making it no longer turn to the Roman Forum, the Basilica of St. Peter, who represented the new political center of the city.