Signoria

The Signoria is the government of medieval and renaissance Florence. Its nine members, the Priori were chosen within the guilds of the city, six of them from the major guilds, and two from the minor guilds. The ninth becomes the Gonfaloniere.

The names of all guild members over thirty years old were put in eight leather bags called borse. Every two months these bags were taken from the church of Santa Croce where they were originally kept, and in a short ceremony drawn out at random. Only men who are not in debt or have not served a recent term, or have no relation to the names of men already drawn would be considered eligible for office.

Right after they were elected, the nine were expected to move into the Palazzo 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 green-liveried servants were also provided. The Priori have a uniform of crimson coats, lined with ermine and with ermine collars and cuffs.

The Signoria must also consult two other elected councils collectively known as Collegi. The first is the Dodici Buonomini, with twelve members, and the second, Sedici Gonfaloniere, consisting of sixteen people. Other councils, like the Ten of War, the Eight of Security and the Six of Commence, were elected as the need arises.