Together with the <i>gonfaloniere di giustizia</i> the priors constituted the Signoria, Florence's principal executive magistracy. Legislation was initiated by the Signoria in consultation with the two advisory colleges (<i>collegi</i>). Their number changed over time but was established at eight after 1343, with two representatives per quarter. The officeholders, collectively known as <i>signori</i>, were assisted by a notary (<i>notaio della Signoria</i>). Serving in the priorate was the highest honor a family could achieve in Republican Florence.
Online Tratte Code: 8
Tre Maggiori
December 29th, 1387
gonfaloniere di Compagnia (company standard-bearer (Nineteen/Sixteen))
A standard-bearer of the urban militia who also served on one of the two primary advisory colleges (<i>collegi</i>) of the Signoria. From around 1304, nineteen <i>gonfalonieri di Compagnia</i> were drawn from the city’s six <i>sestieri</i>. Following the reorganization of 1343, their number was reduced to sixteen, one from each <i>gonfalone</i> of the four new quarters, and their <i>collegio</i> became known as the Sixteen (<i>Sedici</i>).
Online Tratte Code: 16
Tre Maggiori
August 29th, 1394
console, Arte del Cambio (consul, Bankers and Money Changers Guild)
One of four consuls governing the Bankers and Money Changers Guild, elected for four-month terms beginning in January, May, or September.
Online Tratte Code: 23
Major Guild
August 8th, 1395
console, Arte del Cambio (consul, Bankers and Money Changers Guild)
One of four consuls governing the Bankers and Money Changers Guild, elected for four-month terms beginning in January, May, or September.
Online Tratte Code: 23
Major Guild
August 13th, 1397
Mercanzia (Mercanzia)
Established in 1308, a Florentine association with jurisdiction over commercial affairs, initially governed by representatives of five major guilds—the Merchants, Bankers, Wool, Silk, and Doctors and Apothecaries—with a representative of the minor guilds added in 1372.
Online Tratte Code: 6
Other
March 20th, 1399
Mercanzia (Mercanzia)
Established in 1308, a Florentine association with jurisdiction over commercial affairs, initially governed by representatives of five major guilds—the Merchants, Bankers, Wool, Silk, and Doctors and Apothecaries—with a representative of the minor guilds added in 1372.
Online Tratte Code: 6
Other
December 10th, 1401
console, Arte del Cambio (consul, Bankers and Money Changers Guild)
One of four consuls governing the Bankers and Money Changers Guild, elected for four-month terms beginning in January, May, or September.
Online Tratte Code: 23
Major Guild
December 14th, 1402
Mercanzia (Mercanzia)
Established in 1308, a Florentine association with jurisdiction over commercial affairs, initially governed by representatives of five major guilds—the Merchants, Bankers, Wool, Silk, and Doctors and Apothecaries—with a representative of the minor guilds added in 1372.
Online Tratte Code: 6
Other
September 1403
buonuomo (good man (Twelve))
A member of one of the two primary advisory colleges (<i>collegi</i>) known as the Buonuomini. They discussed legislation in consultation with the Signoria, and after 1321 their number was standardized at twelve with two representatives from each <i>sestiere</i>; after 1343, three from each quarter.
Online Tratte Code: 12
Tre Maggiori
December 12th, 1403
console, Arte del Cambio (consul, Bankers and Money Changers Guild)
One of four consuls governing the Bankers and Money Changers Guild, elected for four-month terms beginning in January, May, or September.
Online Tratte Code: 23
Major Guild
August 7th, 1404
ambasciatore (ambassador)
A diplomatic agent formally appointed and sent on a mission to represent a government or other authority in dealings with another power.
Other
1404
gonfaloniere di Compagnia (company standard-bearer (Nineteen/Sixteen))
A standard-bearer of the urban militia who also served on one of the two primary advisory colleges (<i>collegi</i>) of the Signoria. From around 1304, nineteen <i>gonfalonieri di Compagnia</i> were drawn from the city’s six <i>sestieri</i>. Following the reorganization of 1343, their number was reduced to sixteen, one from each <i>gonfalone</i> of the four new quarters, and their <i>collegio</i> became known as the Sixteen (<i>Sedici</i>).
Online Tratte Code: 16
Tre Maggiori
August 29th, 1405
console, Arte del Cambio (consul, Bankers and Money Changers Guild)
One of four consuls governing the Bankers and Money Changers Guild, elected for four-month terms beginning in January, May, or September.
Online Tratte Code: 23
Major Guild
December 15th, 1406
priore (prior)
Together with the <i>gonfaloniere di giustizia</i> the priors constituted the Signoria, Florence's principal executive magistracy. Legislation was initiated by the Signoria in consultation with the two advisory colleges (<i>collegi</i>). Their number changed over time but was established at eight after 1343, with two representatives per quarter. The officeholders, collectively known as <i>signori</i>, were assisted by a notary (<i>notaio della Signoria</i>). Serving in the priorate was the highest honor a family could achieve in Republican Florence.
individual has matriculated, joined, or been named to this group, including one who has joined a monastery, friary, or convent as a member or third order
Citizens of Florence could claim membership in a gonfalone other than where they lived for purposes of taxation and political sortition, usually that of their father or other ancestor and related to where the family traditionally held its highest-value properties. The 1427 catasto contains numerous examples of a declared residence (casa per abitazione) in a parish not physically located in the gonfalone from which the tax declaration was made. Residence is "surmised" when extrapolated from political service or tax records that do not indicate the parish of residence and "documented" when the physical location of a house is known.
