Signoria
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Asignoria(Italian:[siɲɲoˈriːa]) was the governing authority in many of theItalian city-statesduring theMedievalandRenaissanceperiods.[1] The wordsignoriacomes fromsignore(Italian:[siɲˈɲoːre]), or "lord",an abstract noun meaning (roughly)" government "," governing authority ",de facto"sovereignty", "lordship";pl.:signorie.
Signoriaversus thecomune
[edit]In Italian history the rise of thesignoriais a phase often associated with the decline of themedieval communesystem of government and the rise of the dynastic state. In this context the wordsignoria(here to be understood as "lordly power" ) is used in opposition to the institution of the commune or city republic.
Contemporary observers and modern historians see the rise of thesignoriaas a reaction to the failure of thecomunito maintain law-and-order and suppress party strife and civil discord. In the anarchic conditions that often prevailed in medievalItalian city-states,people looked to strong men to restore order and disarm the feuding elites.[1]
In times of anarchy or crisis, cities sometimes offered thesignoriato individuals perceived as strong enough to save the state. For example, theTuscanstate ofPisaoffered thesignoriatoCharles VIII of Francein the hope that he would protect the independence of Pisa from its long term enemyFlorence.Similarly,Sienaoffered thesignoriatoCesare Borgia.
Types
[edit]The composition and specific functions of thesignoriavaried from city to city. In some states (such asVeronaunder theDella Scalafamily or Florence in the days ofCosimo de MediciandLorenzo the Magnificent), thepolitywas what we would term today aone-party statein which the dominant party had vested thesignoriaof the state in a single family or dynasty.
In Florence, the arrangement was unofficial, as it was not constitutionally formalized before theMediciwere expelled from the city in 1494.
In other states (such as theVisconti of Milan), the dynasty's right to thesignoriawas a formally recognized part of the commune's constitution, which had been "ratified" by the people and recognized by thepopeor the Holy Roman Empire.
The term is also used to refer to certain small feudal holdings inSicilysimilar tomanorial lordshipsand, like them, were established inNormantimes. With the abolition of feudalism in Sicily in 1812, some of the holdings became baronies. More often, a barony consisted of several signorie.
Use of word
[edit]In a few states, the word was sometimes used to refer to theconstitutional governmentof a republic rather than the power exercised by an individualmonarchor noble family.
For example, the word was sometimes used in Renaissance times to refer to the government of the Republics ofFlorenceor ofVenice,as in Shakespeare'sOthelloin which Othello says:
- "Let him do his spite:
- My services which I have done the signiory
- Shall out-tongue his complaints "
- – (Act one, scene one)
Occasionally, the word referred to specific organs or functions of the state. Thesignoriain theRepublic of Florencewas the highest executive organ, and theSignoriaof theRepublic of Venicewas mainly a judicial body.
List ofsignorie
[edit]City | Family | Period | Allegiance | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Monaco | Grimaldi |
1287–1612 | Guelph | Gained independence fromGenoain 1287. TitledPrinces of Monacosince 1612. |
Milan | Della Torre |
1259–1277 | Guelph | Deposed by Ghibelline party, led by Visconti. |
Visconti |
1277–1302 | Ghibelline | Took over Milan afterBattle of Desioin 1277. Deposed by Della Torre in 1302. | |
Della Torre |
1302–1311 | Guelph | Deposed and exiled by EmperorHenry VII. | |
Visconti |
1311–1395 | Ghibelline | Re-enthroned by Henry VII in 1311. TitledDukes of Milanfrom 1395. | |
Mantua | Bonacolsi |
1272–1328 | Variable | Overthrown in a revolt backed by Gonzaga in 1328. |
Gonzaga |
1328–1433 | Ghibelline | TitledMargraves of Mantuafrom 1433. | |
Verona | Della Scala |
1282–1387 | Ghibelline | Overthrown by aVisconti-backed revolt in 1387. |
Treviso | Da Camino |
1283–1312 | Guelph | Overthrown in a conspiracy in 1312. |
Padua | Da Carrara |
1318–1405 | Guelph | Overthrown by theRepublic of Venicein 1405. |
Ferrara | Este |
1209–1471 | Guelph | TitledDukes of Ferrarafrom 1471. |
Modena | 1336–1471 | TitledDukes of Modena and Reggiofrom 1471. | ||
Pio |
1336–1599 | Unclear | Titled Lords ofCarpi(1336-1527) andSassuolo(1499-1599)[2] | |
Bologna | Pepoli |
1337–1350 | Guelph | Overthrown byViscontiarmy in 1350. |
Bentivoglio |
1401–1506 | Ghibelline | Overthrown byPope Julius IIin 1506. | |
Ravenna | Da Polenta |
1275–1441 | Guelph | Overthrown and exiled by theRepublic of Venicein 1441. |
Forlì | Ordelaffi |
1295–1359 (Interregnum) 1376–1480 |
Ghibelline | Declined due to conflicts inside city. Peacefully deposed in 1480. |
Riario |
1480–1499 | Guelph | De facto a satellite ofMilanfrom 1488, under regentCaterina Sforza. Overthrown byCesare Borgiain 1499. | |
Borgia |
1499–1503 | Guelph | Ruled over allRomagna,with Cesare asDuke of Romagna. | |
Ordelaffi |
1503–1504 | Ghibelline | Line extinct in 1504. | |
Pesaro | Malatesta |
1285–1445 | Guelph | Overthrown in a coup led by theSforzain 1445. |
Rimini | 1295–1500 | Overthrown byCesare Borgiain 1500. | ||
Cesena | 1378–1465 | Line extinct in 1465. | ||
Urbino | Da Montefeltro |
1213–1234 | Ghibelline | TitledCounts of Urbino(the Dukes) from 1234. |
Lucca | Quartigiani | 1308–1316 | Guelph | Overthrown in a coup led by theAntelminelliin 1316. |
Antelminelli |
1316–1328 | Ghibelline | Overthrown by Guelph party in 1328. | |
Guinigi | 1400–1430 | Guelph | Deposed by the restoration of theRepublicin 1430. | |
Florence | Medici |
1434–1494 (Interregnum) 1512–1527 (Interregnum) 1530–1532 |
Guelph | TitledDukes of Florencefrom 1532. |
Pisa | Della Gherardesca |
1316–1347 | Ghibelline | Deposed and replaced by the Gambacorta family in 1347. |
Gambacorta | 1347–1392 | Guelph | Overthrown by a conspiracy in 1392. | |
Appiano |
1392–1399 | Unclear | Overthrown by theViscontiin 1399. | |
Visconti |
1399–1406 | Ghibelline | Overthrown by theRepublic of Florencein 1406. | |
Siena | Petrucci |
1487–1525 | Ghibelline | Peacefully deposed byrepublicaninstitutions in 1525. |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ab"Signoria".Enciclopedia Treccani(in Italian).
- ^Ori, Anna Maria."PIO - Dizionario biografico degli italiani"[PIO - Biographical Dictionary of the Italians].Enciclopedia Treccani(in Italian).