The guilds of Florence were secular corporations that controlled the arts and trades in Florence from the twelfth into the sixteenth century. These Arti included seven major guilds (collectively known as the Arti Maggiori), five middle guilds (Arti Mediane) and nine minor guilds (Arti Minori). Their rigorous quality control and the political role in the commune that the Arti Maggiori assumed were formative influences in the history of Florence, which became one of the richest cities of late medieval Europe.
The popolo minuto—skilled workers including weavers, spinners, dyers, boatmen, laborers, peddlers and others—despite constituting a majority of the population, were barred from forming guilds.
Formation of the Arti The guilds, medieval institutions that organized every aspect of a city's economic life, formed a social network that complemented and in part compensated for family ties, although in Florence the welfare side of the guilds' activities was less than in many cities.Levey, 35 The first of the guilds of Florence of which there is notice is the Arte di Calimala, the cloth-merchants' guild, mentioned in a document of about 1150. By 1193 there existed seven such corporate bodies, which each elected a council whose members bore the Roman-sounding designation consoli. A single capo was elected to manage all the business of the guild.
Entrance to the Arti was highly structured from the first records; it was necessary to be the legitimate son of a member, to give proofs of competence in the craft involved, and to pay an entrance tax. Masters of the guilds, who possessed the means of production, took on apprentices and garzoni, the "boys" or journeymen who might work through a long career without ever becoming a master.
Each of the Arti was ruled according to its statutes, which had the force of law, and might pass judgement in controversies among its members and with their workers. In the fourteenth century the guilds established the market tribunal called the Mercatanzia to hear causes that involved more than one of the Arti. The Palazzo del Tribunale della Mercatanzia (illustration, right) still occupies a prominent place in the piazza della Signoria, befitting the controlling role of the Arti in governing Florence.
As elsewhere, the guilds of Florence protected its members from competition within the city by strangers and Florentine outsiders, guaranteed the quality of work through strict supervision of the workshops (botteghe), stipulated work hours, established markets and feast days, and provided public services to its members, and their wives, widows and children. During the fifteenth century city watchmen were organized by the Arti to protect closed workshops and warehouses.
From the beginning, not all Arti were equal: to the original seven Arti Maggiori were added fourteen Arti Minori as the guild system spread.
Role in Florence
Six of the nine Priori of the Signoria of Florence were selected from the major guilds, and two were selected by the minor guilds.<ref name="mcc">McClelland, Aaron D. "Government of Florence." Quattrocento Project.</ref> The "Seven Greater Guilds" are first mentioned distinctly (separating the Calimala[it] from the Wool Trades[it]) in 1197.Staley, 1906, p. 601. The first State enactment appertaining to Guilds was not issued until 1228.
The first scheduled list of Florentine guilds encompassing twenty-one guilds, appeared in 1236.Edgcumbe Staley (1906) The Guilds of Florence, London: Methuen, p.42 The second scheduled list of the twenty-one guilds, differentiating between seven "Greater" Guilds (Arti Maggiori) and fourteen "Lesser" Guilds (Arti Minori), appeared in 1266.Staley, 1906, p. 602. That same year the consuls of the seven "Greater" Guilds became the "Supreme Magistrate of the State". In 1280, the first five of the "Lesser Guilds" were designated "Intermediate Guilds" (Arti Mediane), when the Signoria first assumed office, and their consults were admitted to the conferences of the consuls of the seven "Greater" Guilds.Staley (1906: p.46)
In 1282, three "Priors of the Guilds" were elected, with powers only inferior to the Chief-Magistrate of the State. The third scheduled list of guilds, finalizing their order of precedence for over a century appeared in a 1282 document known as the Foro Fiorentino, currently held at British Library.MS no. 28.178. B.M. The 1282 document groups the greater and intermediary guilds together, thus creating a new partition of twelve greater guilds and nine minor guilds.See Staley (1906: p.47) The nine lowest guilds were allotted banners and coats-of-arms in 1291.
A General Code, a "Statuto", for the guilds was promulgated in 1296 with the founding of the Corte della Mercanzia. The Statutes of all the guilds underwent a complete revision between 1301 and 1307, and the "New Code" was first adopted by the Calimala;Staley, 1906, p. 603. the statutes were again revised in 1386.
Three new operative guilds were formed in 1378 after the Ciompi revolt.Staley, 1906, p. 604. The fourth scheduled list of guilds, appearing in 1415, however, still included only twenty-one guilds, partitioned (as in 1266) between seven greater guilds and fourteen lesser guilds (the intermediary ones having lost their special status).Staley (1906: p.61-62)
The greater guilds attempted in 1427 to reduce the lesser guilds to only seven. This was defeated. But in 1534, the fourteen lesser guilds were arranged into four Universities, and saw many of their privileges curtailed.Staley, 1906, p. 605.
Arti Maggiori Major Guild Symbol Patronage Founding Order NotesArte dei Giudici e NotaiJudges, lawyers, and notaries1197 1Listed first of the "Seven Major Guilds" in the 1236 list, and first of the "Twelve Greater Guilds" of the 1282 list currently at the British Museum;MS no. 28.178. B.M. See also Staley (1906: p.47) and once again first of the new "Seven Major Guilds" in the 1415 revision. Abolished in 1597, the same year a "College of Judges and Notaries" was incorporated.Staley, 1906, p. 606.Arte di CalimalaMerchants, finishers and dyers of foreign clothCirca 1190First mention in documents as the "Calimala Guild". See Staley, 1906, p. 601. 2Reportedly the oldest of the Florentine guilds, originally listed as the Mercantati o Arte di Calimala. From the early thirteenth century, it was one of the three major guilds (the others were the Bankers and the Wool manufacturers) entitled to elect Priori to the Signoria.Arte della LanaWool manufacturers and merchantsPre-1192The consuls of the Lana, Calimala, and Seta guilds signed documents in 1192, which are the oldest extant records of their type. See Staley, 1906, p. 601. 3 (1282) 4 (1236)Elected a Prior from early thirteenth century. Fourth in precedence in 1236, rose to third in 1282. Took charge of Santa Maria del Fiore in 1282.Arte del CambioBankers and money-changersPre-1197First explicit mention of a "Guild of Bankers" is in 1201. See Staley, 1906, p. 173, 601. 4 (1282) 3 (1236) Elected a Prior from early thirteenth century.Arte della SetaSilk weavers and merchantsPre-1192 5Included bronze sculptors. Only began electing a Prior (representative to the Signoria) after 1283.Arte dei Medici e SpezialiPhysicians and pharmacists1197 6Elected Prior only after 1283. Included painters from 1314, and as an independent branch from 1378; also included shopkeepers who sold spices, dyes, and medicines.<ref name="mcc"/>Arte dei Vaiai e PellicciaiFurriers and skinners1197Staley, 1906, p. 275. 7 Elected Prior only after 1283.
Arti Mediane Middle Guild Symbol Patronage Founding Order NotesArte dei BeccaiButchers and graziersCirca 1236Earliest mention of "Arte de' Beccai". Earliest mention of "butcher" in the archives of Florence is in 1110. See Staley, 1906, p. 297. 8 First of the fourteen minor guilds (eighth overall) in 1236, first of the five intermediate guilds (1280) and once again first of the fourteen minor guilds (1415).Staley, pp. 296-297. Associated trades include the pescivendoli (fishmongers).Staley, p.302Arte dei Fabbri BlacksmithsPre-1236Staley, 1906, pp. 307-308. 9 (1415) 10 (1236) Given as the third of the minor guilds in 1236, and third of the intermediate guilds in 1285, it sneaked up and climbed up one position, over the shoemakers in 1415.Staley, p.308Arte dei CalzolaiShoemakersPre-1236Staley, 1906, p. 315. 10 (1415) 9 (1236) Long the second minor guild, the shoemakers' guild slipped one position in 1415, giving way to the Fabbri (blacksmiths). In the 1280 list, it included the curriers (dressed leather workers), which were otherwise associated with the tanners.Arte dei Maestri di Pietra e LegnameMaster stonemasons and wood-carversPre-1236Staley, 1906, p. 325. 11 (1280) 12 (1236) Listed as Muratori e Scarpellini (builders and stonemasons) in the 1236 list, and listed fifth in precedence among the minors (tanners & curriers was fourth). Raised to fourth in 1280, when tanners relegated. Included sculptors.Arte dei Linaioli e RigattieriLinen manufacturers, retail cloth dealers and tailors1266Rigattieri (Retail-Dealers) and Linaiuoli (Linen Drapers) were founded separately in 1266. See Staley, 1906, p. 345. 12 (1280) 16 (1236) Linen drapers and flax workers (linaiuoli) were a lowly ninth of the fourteen minor guilds in 1236. They were conjoined together with the rigattieri ("rag-dealers", i.e. retail cloth vendors) and raised to fifth of the intermediate guilds in 1280. In the 1282 list, the title is listed in short form as merely Rigattieri, and in 1295 expanded to Rigattieri, Linaiuoli, Sarti e Venditori di Pannilini (retail dealers, flax workers, tailors and vendors of linen cloth)Staley, 1906: p.346-47
Arti Minori