View source for Signoria

{{Short description|Medieval Italian governing body}}
{{Redirect|Signore|the honorific|Italian honorifics|the village in India|Signore, Udaipurwati}}

{{Italics title}}
[[File:Palazzo Vecchio by nigth.jpg|thumbnail|[[Palazzo Vecchio]], the former seat of the Signoria of [[Florence]]]]
A '''''signoria''''' ({{IPA|it|siɲɲoˈriːa|lang}})  was the governing authority in many of the [[Italian city-states]] during the [[Middle Ages|Medieval]] and [[Renaissance]] periods.<ref>[https://www.treccani.it/vocabolario/signoria/ Signoria, Treccani Vocabolario]</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/signoria/|title=Signoria|website=Enciclopedia Treccani|language=IT}}</ref>
The word ''signoria'' comes from ''signore'' ({{IPA|it|siɲˈɲoːre|lang}}), or "[[lord]]", an abstract noun meaning (roughly) "government", "governing authority", ''de facto'' "sovereignty", "lordship"; {{plural form}}: ''signorie''.<ref name=":0"/>

==History of the ''Signoria''==
During the late 13th and early 14th centuries, a significant shift occurred in the governance of Italian cities. Whereas citizens had once chosen their own leaders, they began to entrust power to a single ruler. Such authority often spiraled out of control when the citizens could not depose of rulers who had failed to govern wisely.<ref name="ragazzi"/> This transition had far-reaching consequences and was met with mixed reactions at the time. In ''[[The Divine Comedy]]'', [[Dante]] frequently depicted Italy as a land ruled by despots and condemned the rise of lordship, associating it with humanity’s most destructive impulses such as pride, which drove some individuals to assert dominance over their fellow citizens.<ref>''The Borgias: The Hidden History'', by G. J. Meyer, pg. 151</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1f36CwAAQBAJ&dq=divine%20comedy&pg=PA303 | title=The Divine Comedy | isbn=978-1-63106-156-1 | last1=Alighieri | first1=Dante | date=21 September 2015 | publisher=Quarto }}</ref> Others defended the emergence of these rulers, believing that only a strong leader could end the internal strife that had long plagued their cities and restore stability.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Signoria - Enciclopedia |url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/signoria_(Enciclopedia-dei-ragazzi)/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Treccani |language=it}}</ref>

Contemporary observers and modern historians see the rise of the ''signoria'' as a reaction to the failure of the ''comuni'' to maintain law-and-order and suppress party strife and civil discord. In the anarchic conditions that often prevailed in medieval [[Italian city-states]], people looked to strong men to restore order and disarm the feuding elites.<ref name=":0" />

In times of anarchy or crisis, cities sometimes offered the ''signoria'' to individuals perceived as strong enough to save the state. For example, the [[Tuscany|Tuscan]] state of [[Pisa]] offered the ''signoria'' to [[Charles VIII of France]] in the hope that he would protect the independence of Pisa from its long term enemy [[Florence]]. Similarly, [[Siena]] offered the ''signoria'' to [[Cesare Borgia]].

==Politics==

By the beginning of the 14th century, a number of cities in northern Italy were ruled by signori: Milan by the Visconti family, Ferrara by the Este, Verona by the Della Scala, Padua by the Carrara. The earliest signori in Tuscany were the [[condottieri]] (mercenaries) Uguccione della Faggiuola at Pisa and Lucca (1313–16), and Castruccio Castracani, also at Lucca (1320–28).<ref name="Britannica">{{Cite web |title=Signoria {{!}} Florence, Republics & Communes {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/signoria |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ragazzi">{{Cite web |title=Signoria - Enciclopedia |url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/signoria_(Enciclopedia-dei-ragazzi)/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Treccani |language=it}}</ref>

Initially, some cities dismantled lordships once conflicts subsided. However, when a ruler maintained power across multiple wars, the likelihood of their continued rule increased. The hereditary transmission of power, as seen in 1264 when Azzo d'Este passed his position to his nephew Obizzo, contributed to the normalization of one-man rule. This precedent encouraged similar developments in other cities, solidifying the institutionalization of lordship in northern and central Italy.<ref name="ragazzi"/>

In areas that were not under the rule of a prince, the name Signoria often refers to the ruling body of magistrates.<ref name="Britannica"/> In [[Florentine Republic|Florence]], those who made up the signoria were often members of the most distinguished families.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance . Renaissance . Republic |url=http://www.pbs.org/empires/medici/renaissance/republic.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=www.pbs.org}}</ref>

==List of ''signorie''==
{| class="wikitable" style="line-height:1.4em; text-align:center"
|-
! City
! Family
! Period
! Allegiance
! Notes
|-
| {{arms|Monaco}}
| '''[[House of Grimaldi|Grimaldi]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of arms of Grimaldi.svg|35px]]
| 1287{{ndash}}1612
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Gained independence from [[Republic of Genoa|Genoa]] in 1287.<br/>Titled [[List of rulers of Monaco|Princes of Monaco]] since 1612.
|-
| rowspan=4 | {{arms|Milan}}
| '''[[Della Torre]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of arms of the House of Della Torre (1274).svg|42x42px]]
| 1259{{ndash}}1277
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Deposed by Ghibelline party, led by Visconti.
|-
| '''[[Visconti of Milan|Visconti]]'''<br/>[[File:Arms of the House of Visconti (1277).svg|35px]]
| 1277{{ndash}}1302
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Ghibelline]]
| Took over Milan after [[Battle of Desio]] in 1277.<br/>Deposed by Della Torre in 1302.
|-
| '''[[Della Torre]]'''<br />[[File:Coat of arms of the House of Della Torre (1274).svg|42x42px]]
| 1302{{ndash}}1311
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Deposed and exiled by Emperor [[Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry VII]].
|-
| '''[[Visconti of Milan|Visconti]]'''<br/>[[File:Arms of the House of Visconti (1395).svg|35px]]
| 1311{{ndash}}1395
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Ghibelline]]
| Re-enthroned by Henry VII in 1311.<br/>Titled [[Dukes of Milan]] from 1395.
|-
| rowspan=2 | {{arms|Mantua}}
| '''[[Bonacolsi]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of arms of the House of Bonacolsi.svg|35px]]
| 1272{{ndash}}1328
! style="font-weight:normal" | Variable
| Overthrown in a revolt backed by Gonzaga in 1328.
|-
| '''[[House of Gonzaga|Gonzaga]]'''<br/>[[File:Arms of the house of Gonzaga (ancient).svg|35px]]
| 1328{{ndash}}1433
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Ghibelline]]
| Titled [[Margravate of Mantua|Margraves of Mantua]] from 1433.
|-
| {{arms|Verona}}
| '''[[Scaliger|Della Scala]]'''<br/>[[File:Stemma della Scala.svg|35px]]
| 1282{{ndash}}1387
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Ghibelline]]
| Overthrown by a [[Visconti of Milan|Visconti]]-backed revolt in 1387.
|-
| {{arms|Treviso}}
| '''[[Da Camino]]'''<br/>[[File:Da Camino-Stemma.svg|35px]]
| 1283{{ndash}}1312
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Overthrown in a conspiracy in 1312.
|-
| {{arms|Padua}}
| '''[[Carraresi|Da Carrara]]'''<br/>[[File:Stemma Nobiliare Carrara.svg|35px]]
| 1318{{ndash}}1405
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Overthrown by the [[Republic of Venice]] in 1405.
|-
| {{arms|Ferrara}}
| rowspan=2 | '''[[House of Este|Este]]'''<br/>[[File:Arms of the house of Este (1).svg|35px]]
| 1209{{ndash}}1471
! rowspan=2 style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Titled [[Duchy of Ferrara|Dukes of Ferrara]] from 1471.
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{arms|Modena}}
| 1336{{ndash}}1471
| Titled [[Duchy of Modena and Reggio|Dukes of Modena and Reggio]] from 1471.
|-
| '''[[Pio di Savoia|Pio]]'''<br/>[[File:Arms of the house of Pio di Savoia.svg|35px]]
|1336{{ndash}}1599
!style="font-weight:normal" | Unclear
|Titled Lords of [[Carpi, Emilia-Romagna|Carpi]] (1336-1527) and [[Sassuolo]] (1499-1599)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/pio_%28Dizionario-Biografico%29/|title=PIO - Dizionario biografico degli italiani|last=Ori|first=Anna Maria|website=Enciclopedia Treccani|language=IT|trans-title=PIO - Biographical Dictionary of the Italians}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2 | {{arms|Bologna}}
| '''[[Pepoli]]'''<br/>[[File:Arms of the house of Pepoli.svg|35px]]
| 1337{{ndash}}1350
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Overthrown by [[Visconti of Milan|Visconti]] army in 1350.
|-
| '''[[Bentivoglio family|Bentivoglio]]'''<br/>[[File:Arms of the house of Bentivoglio.svg|35px]]
| 1401{{ndash}}1506
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Ghibelline]]
| Overthrown by [[Pope Julius II]] in 1506.
|-
| {{arms|Ravenna}}
| '''[[Da Polenta family|Da Polenta]]'''<br/>[[File:Coa fam ITA Da Polenta.jpg|35px]]
| 1275{{ndash}}1441
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Overthrown and exiled by the [[Republic of Venice]] in 1441.
|-
| rowspan=4 | {{arms|Forlì}}
| '''[[House of Ordelaffi|Ordelaffi]]'''<br/>[[File:Arms of the house of Ordelaffi.svg|35px]]
| 1295{{ndash}}1359<br/>{{small|(Interregnum)}}<br/>1376{{ndash}}1480
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Ghibelline]]
| Declined due to conflicts inside city.<br/>Peacefully deposed in 1480.
|-
| '''[[Riario]]'''<br/>[[File:CoA Riario 2.svg|35px]]
| 1480{{ndash}}1499
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| De facto a satellite of [[Duchy of Milan|Milan]] from 1488, under regent [[Caterina Sforza]].<br/>Overthrown by [[Cesare Borgia]] in 1499.
|-
| '''[[House of Borgia|Borgia]]'''<br/>[[File:Arms of the house of Borgia (1).svg|35px]]
| 1499{{ndash}}1503
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Ruled over all [[Romagna]], with Cesare as [[Duke of Romagna]].
|-
| '''[[House of Ordelaffi|Ordelaffi]]'''<br/>[[File:Arms of the house of Ordelaffi.svg|35px]]
| 1503{{ndash}}1504
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Ghibelline]]
| Line extinct in 1504.
|-
| {{arms|Pesaro}}
| rowspan=3 | '''[[House of Malatesta|Malatesta]]'''<br/>[[File:Arms of the house of Malatesta.svg|35px]]
| 1285{{ndash}}1445
! rowspan=3 style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Overthrown in a coup led by the [[House of Sforza|Sforza]] in 1445.
|-
| {{arms|Rimini}}
| 1295{{ndash}}1500
| Overthrown by [[Cesare Borgia]] in 1500.
|-
| {{arms|Cesena}}
| 1378{{ndash}}1465
| Line extinct in 1465.
|-
| {{arms|Urbino}}
| '''[[House of Montefeltro|Da Montefeltro]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of arms of the House of Montefeltro.svg|35px]]
| 1213{{ndash}}1234
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Ghibelline]]
| Titled [[Duchy of Urbino|Counts of Urbino]] (the Dukes) from 1234.
|-
| rowspan=3 | [[File:Arms of the Republic of Lucca.svg|20px]] [[Republic of Lucca|Lucca]]
| '''[[Quartigiani]]'''
| 1308{{ndash}}1316
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Overthrown in a coup led by the [[House of Antelminelli|Antelminelli]] in 1316.
|- 
| '''[[House of Antelminelli|Antelminelli]]'''<br/>[[File:Coa fam ITA castracani degli antelminelli.jpg|35px]]
| 1316{{ndash}}1328
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Ghibelline]]
| Overthrown by Guelph party in 1328.
|- 
| '''Guinigi'''
| 1400{{ndash}}1430
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Deposed by the restoration of the [[Republic of Lucca|Republic]] in 1430.
|-
| {{arms|Florence}}
| '''[[House of Medici|Medici]]'''<br/>[[File:Augmented Arms of Medici.svg|35px]]
| 1434{{ndash}}1494<br/>{{small|(Interregnum)}}<br/>1512{{ndash}}1527<br/>{{small|(Interregnum)}}<br/>1530{{ndash}}1532
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Titled [[Duchy of Florence|Dukes of Florence]] from 1532.
|-
| rowspan=4 | {{arms|Pisa}}
| '''[[Della Gherardesca family|Della Gherardesca]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of arms of the House of della Gherardesca.svg|35px]]
| 1316{{ndash}}1347
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Ghibelline]]
| Deposed and replaced by the Gambacorta family in 1347.
|-
| '''Gambacorta'''
| 1347{{ndash}}1392
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]]
| Overthrown by a conspiracy in 1392.
|-
| '''[[Appiani family|Appiano]]'''<br/>[[File:Arms of the house of Appiano.svg|35px]]
| 1392{{ndash}}1399
! style="font-weight:normal" | Unclear
| Overthrown by the [[Visconti of Milan|Visconti]] in 1399.
|-
| '''[[Visconti of Pisa and Sardinia|Visconti]]'''<br/>[[File:Arms of the House of Visconti (1395).svg|35px]]
| 1399{{ndash}}1406
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Ghibelline]]
| Overthrown by the [[Republic of Florence]] in 1406.
|-
| {{Coat of arms|Siena}}
| '''[[Petrucci family|Petrucci]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of arms of the House of Petrucci.svg|35px]]
| 1487{{ndash}}1525
! style="font-weight:normal" | [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Ghibelline]]
| Peacefully deposed by [[Republic of Siena|republican]] institutions in 1525.
|}

==See also==
* [[Seignory]]
* [[Signoria of Florence]]
* [[Signoria of Venice]]
* [[Forni della Signoria]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Italian city-states|*]]
[[Category:Italian Renaissance]]