Despotic Rule Replaced Republican Governments in the Italian City-State for the Following

Multiple Choice

Despotic rule replaced republican governments in the Italian city-state for the following reason(s)

A) class warfare between rich merchants and aristocrats led each side to seek one-man rule.
B) republican governments were short-term and unable to handle famines, plagues, and economic disasters.
C) city-states came to rely on mercenary armies in their wars with fellow city-states.
D) mercenary leaders were willing to seize power.
E) All of these