Signoria

As Signoria ( Signoria ) has the form monocratic exercise of power is referred to in historical research, which was prevalent in the municipalities upper and central Italy between the 13th and 15th centuries. Signoria denotes the de facto form of government in which a "Lord" ( signore ) stood at the top, a " strong man ". Signoria called usually the council, who chose the signore and other officials.

This article discusses the general form of this city government, special forms of Signoria can be found in the historic Venetian Republic and the historic city government of Florence, see Gonfaloniere.

History

The municipalities in the medieval Upper and Central Italy (except in the Papal States and not Venice) were under the first since the 10th century, de jure Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. However, since individual families of the people were increasingly influential through trade and commerce, it came in many communities to open power struggles to the government authority. Frequently the subject magnate appointed by the Emperor popolo, organized citizenry.

With the death of Frederick II in 1250 put an end also to the collapse of the imperial administration in Italy kingdom. The ruling already during the lifetime of Hohenstaufen struggle between Guelphs and Ghibellines increased in intensity. Equating " Ghibelline " with " loyal to the Emperor " and " Guelph " with " imperial hostile" is only partially correct. Even the Guelphs in Florence were split in 1300 into two groups. Often the term was used only as an indication of different groups in a community. It also social problems played a significant role, since the power of Konsularfamilien, traditionally played an important role, was provided by " climbers ", for example, from the layer of the merchants in question. The group of Ghibellines recruited usually from groups that want to benefit from the imperial rule. This concerned about the feudal lords in the encounter with the power of municipalities or weak municipalities, which were threatened by expanding neighbors. In the contemporary state tracts the Monarchia and places the previously published work of Convivio of Dante Alighieri reactions on the decline, coupled with the hope of renewal of the imperial power offer.

A direct consequence was the increase in both of violence within certain municipalities as well as fighting between various cities in imperial Italy. To solve this problematic situation now was repeated recourse to the transfer of authority to the Signore and new methods such as the conclave established to independently occupy of external influences and internal party strife offices. These could be filled by leaders of the most important group in the community, by respected and neutral as possible people from the municipality of clerics or non-locals. Since Venice is not part of the Empire and also otherwise often remain neutral within and between the Italian communes to the power struggles, Venetian Nobilhòmini were often called to urban rulers, including the reputation of Venice to have a very correct and well- functioning legal system contributed. From the Signore was not only the restoration of peace and order in the community expected, but also the production of social peace through the participation of " climbers" in political power in the municipality.

An early form of the Signoria was built by Ezzelino da Romano, but without Ezzelino had gained a backing from the city itself. The first formal legal urban Signoria was finally in 1264 Obizzo II d'Este in Ferrara by the municipality in a - transferred solemn Assembly - but arranged by Obizio. After the death of Frederick the II were also built among others in Verona, Mantua and Milan Signorie, mostly from families who had ( the surrounding area ) and in the city itself, present both in the Sienese territory. The formal hedge of the Signore was carried out by the clothing of the important offices of the Podestà and Capitano del Popolo several times in a row or sometimes for life.

In order to obtain an additional power of legitimacy, the new rulers often sought the award of a vicariate by the Pope or the Holy Roman Emperor. Especially the Italian campaign of Henry VII ( 1310-1313 ) caused an expansion of the form of government of the Signoria to other municipalities, as Heinrich often resorted to local people in order to preserve the imperial interests. A well-known example of this are the Visconti in Milan. Other Ghibellines continued after the death of the emperor in August 1313 continues the fight against the Guelphs and erected in the aftermath own dominions ( see, eg, Castruccio Castracane ). From Henry's grandson Charles IV this Vicariate were partly confirmed on his Italian expeditions. In some cities, the Signore assured the actual heritability of his office by the people, so that it was isolated to the formation of dynasties. Due to these factors, the disappearance of traditional community institutions into insignificance was connected in the following period. The prince sat in its place its own administrative machinery and sparked the militia in favor of it devoted to mercenary organizations. However, it was by no means in all municipalities, which was also partially cleaved by internal disputes, to form a Signorie how the exceptions Genoa, Siena and Lucca show. The recovery of the full powers of the municipality in disavowal of signore or extinction of his dynasty was not excluded.

Until the 15th century a number of cities became so powerful that they became autonomous regional states. Neither the Empire nor the Pope to roll back this development by force succeeded. Instead, they distributed privileges and titles of nobility to bind the Signoria itself. With the great success achieved, however, only Cesare Borgia.

Many cities were hereditary principalities. Others have been swallowed by the great territorial states in the 15th century successfully, stretched themselves ( Duchy of Milan, the Republic of Venice, Duchy of Florence (later Duchy of Tuscany ), Kingdom of Naples and the Papal States ).