Guilds of Florence

The guilds of Florence were important groups that managed different jobs and trades in the city of Florence from the 1100s to the 1500s. These groups were called Arti, and there were three kinds: seven major guilds known as the Arti Maggiori, five middle guilds called the Arti Mediane, and nine smaller guilds named the Arti Minori. They made sure that work was done well and also had a big say in how the city was run, helping Florence become one of the wealthiest places in late medieval Europe.

These guilds were very careful about who could join them. Even though most people in Florence were skilled workers like weavers, spinners, dyers, boatmen, and laborers, they were not allowed to form their own guilds. This group, known as the popolo minuto, made up the majority of the city's population but did not have the same chances as those in the guilds.

The guilds played a key role in the history of Florence, shaping not only the city's economy but also its politics and culture. They helped create a system where quality and skill were highly valued, leaving a lasting legacy in the way work and trade were organized during that time.

Formation of the Arti

The guilds in Florence were groups that organized trades and crafts, helping to build a strong community. The first known guild, the Arte di Calimala, for cloth merchants, appeared around 1150. By 1193, there were seven main guilds, each with its own leaders called consoli.

Joining a guild was very organized. You had to be a son of a guild member, show skill in the craft, and pay a fee. Guild masters hired apprentices and workers called garzoni. The guilds made rules that acted like laws, helping to settle disagreements. They also set up a special court in the 1300s to handle issues between different guilds. These guilds protected their members, made sure work was high quality, and provided help to members and their families.

Role in Florence

In Florence, guilds played an important role in the city's government and trade. Six of the nine leaders, called Priori, of the Signoria of Florence came from the major guilds, while two came from the minor guilds. The guilds helped control the quality of goods and had a strong influence on how the city was run.

The guilds changed over time. In 1197, seven major guilds were first mentioned. By 1282, a document called the Foro Fiorentino listed the guilds in order of importance. In 1378, three new guilds were created after a revolt, and in 1534, the lesser guilds were grouped into four Universities.

Arti Maggiori

The Arti Maggiori were the seven major guilds in Florence, Italy, during the Middle Ages. These guilds controlled important trades and arts, helping to make Florence a very rich and famous city. They also played a big role in the government of Florence, making sure that work was done well and fairly. Their rules and ways of doing things helped shape the city's history and success.

Arti Mediane

The Arti Mediane, or middle guilds, were an important group of trades in Florence during the medieval period. Alongside the major and minor guilds, they helped control the arts and trades of the city, contributing to Florence's growth and wealth. These guilds made sure that work was done well and played a part in the city's politics.

Arti Minori

The Arti Minori, or "minor guilds," were nine smaller trade groups in Florence alongside the major and middle guilds. These guilds included trades such as apothecaries, physicians, and notaries. Though they held less political power than the major guilds, they still played an important role in the city's economy and daily life.

Artists

In Florence, artists did not have their own special guild. Painters were part of the guild for Doctors and Apothecaries because they bought their colors from apothecaries. Sculptors belonged to the guild of Masters of Stone and Wood, or to the metalworkers’ guild if they worked with metal. Many artists were also members of a group called the confraternity of St. Luke, which started in 1349. Later, in the 1500s, this group moved to SS. Annunziata and joined with sculptors from another group dedicated to St. Paul. Eventually, this became the Accademia e Compagnia delle arti del Disegno in 1563 and became part of the city's guild system in 1572.

The guilds played a big role in supporting art. They worked together to create statues for Orsanmichele. The Calimala guild paid for the Baptistry and Ghiberti’s famous doors. The Lana guild took care of the cathedral, paying for the cupola, the altar frontal, and other important pieces. The Seta guild built and managed the Ospedale degli Innocenti.

Universities

In 1427, some nobles in Florence tried to change the way guilds worked, but they were stopped by Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici, which helped the Medici family become popular. Later, in 1534, Cosimo I de' Medici grouped some smaller guilds together into four new organizations called "universities." These were:

• L'Università di Por San Piero – included butchers, provisioners, and bakers.
• l'Università de' Fabbricanti – included locksmiths, masters of stone and wood, armourers, and carpenters.
• l'Università de' Maestri di Cuoiame – included shoemakers, tanners, and saddlers.
• l'Università de' Linaiuoli – included linen-drapers, retailers, tailors, vintners, and innkeepers.

These universities were later changed or combined. Eventually, all Florentine guilds were abolished in 1770, with their roles taken over by a single chamber of commerce, except for one guild that lasted until 1777.