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TheSignoria of Florence (Italian for "lordship") was thegovernment of the medieval and RenaissanceRepublic of Florence,[1] between 1250 and 1532. Its nine members, thePriori, were chosen from the ranks of theguilds of the city: six of them from the major guilds, and two from the minor guilds. The ninth became theGonfaloniere of Justice.[2]
The names of all guild members over thirty years old were put in eight leather bags calledborse. Every two months, these bags were taken from the church ofSanta Croce, where they were ordinarily kept, and in a short ceremony drawn out at random. Only men who were not in debt, had not served a recent term, and had no relation to the names of men already drawn, would be considered eligible for office.
Immediately after they were elected, the nine were expected to move into thePalazzo della Signoria, where they would remain for the two months of their office. There they were paid a modest sum to cover their expenses and were provided with green-liveried servants. ThePriori had a uniform of crimson coats, lined withermine and with ermine collars and cuffs.
In undertaking their governmental duties, the Signoria was required to consult two other elected councils collectively known asCollegi. The first was theDodici Buonomini, with twelve members, while the second, theSedici Gonfalonieri, consisted of sixteen people. Other councils, such as the Ten of War, the Eight of Security and the Six of Commerce, were elected as the need arose.
