The Rise of the Signori

During the thirteenth century, new groups, generally made up of the non-noble classes—the popolo (“people”), who fought on foot—attempted to take power from the nobility in many Italian communes. The popolo incorporated members of city associations such as craft and merchant guilds, parishes, and the commune itself. In fact, the popolo was a kind of alternative commune. Armed and militant, the popolo demanded a share in city government. In 1223 at Piacenza, the popolo and the nobles worked out a plan to share the election of their city’s government; such power sharing was a typical result of the popolo’s struggle. In some cities, however, nobles dissolved the popolo, while in others the popolo virtually excluded the nobles from government. Such factions turned northern Italian cities into centers of civil discord.

Weakened by this constant friction, the communes were tempting prey for great regional nobles who, allying with one or another urban group, often succeeded in establishing themselves as signori (singular signore, “lord”) of the cities, keeping the peace at the price of repression. Thirteenth-century Piacenza was typical: first dominated by nobles, the popolo gained a voice by 1225; but then by midcentury both the nobles and the popolo were eclipsed by the power of a signore.