“Cum inter coetera ex quibus populus Bononiae conservatitur sit, quod artes dicta civitatis habeant quod inventum fuerat propter tuendos homines parvae conditionis . Ex libro pro B.”
“So that the People of Bologna are preserved among others, it is that the so-called arts of the state have been invented for the protection of men of small estate. Ex Libro pro B.”
— Public decree of 1318
On multiple occasions, when I first started studying Bolognese history, I went in search of information on the districts or neighborhoods of Bologna that were used for militia organization. Unfortunately, my searches often came up wanting. As a result, it’s been a side quest of mine to put together a comprehensive guide, and now that I’ve come across the districts enough in the primary source material, I’ve decided to create the reference that I so longed for. This naturally led me into researching the arms societies, and thus it’s taken on a whole new form and focus. I hope you enjoy.
For further reading make sure you check out Jürg Gassman’s amazing article!
The Districts:
Porta Ravegnana
Porta Stieri
Porta San Proculo
Porta San Piero
This first came to my attention from the Committee for Historic and Artistic Bologna’s records, but was sourced from Giuseppe di Giovanni Battista Guidicini’s 1868 text, Cose Notabili Della Citta di Bologna; Storia Chronolgica de’ suoi Stabili Sacri, Pubblici e Pravati, Volume 1.
The boundaries of the the Porta Piera district were roughly:
From Porta Galliera up to the Cantone dei Fiori. From the Cantone dei Fiori, surrounding the Palazzo del Podestà to the Cantone degli Orefici. From the Cantone degli Orefici through the Spaderie to the Mercato di Mezzo. From this road to Porta Ravegnana, and from Porta Ravegnana to Porta San Vitale. (Guidicini, pg. 28)
The boundaries of the Porta Stiera district encompassed:
From the Porta di Galliera to the Cantone dei Fiori. From the said canton along the Palazzo del Comune to Trebbo dei Carbonesi. The said Trebbo, Barberia and Strada Sant'Isaia up to the gate of this name. (Guidicini pg. 28)
The boundaries of the Porta Stiera district included:
It was surrounded by the road of Sant'Isaia, Barberia and Trebbo dei Carbonesi. From said Trebbo to San Mamolo, along the Palazzo del Comune to the Canton dei Fiori. From this canton behind the Palazzo della Città along the Via degli Orefici, Caprerie, up to the Palazzo della Mercanzia; and from this point along the Via di Strada Castiglione up to the Porta so named. (Guidicini, pg. 29)
The boundaries of the Porta Ravegnana district contained:
Its border started from the Porta di Strada Castiglione up to the Mercanzia, continued along the Via degli Orefici up to the Via delle Spaderie and along this up to the Mercato di Mezzo. From the Mercato di Mezzo to Porta Ravegnana, then along Istrada San Vitale to the Porta di Tal nome. (Guidicini, pg. 29)
The Quartiero
First instituted in 11861, the four districts of Bologna were used for civic and military purposes. Gonfaloniere of each district (Gonfaloniere per quartiero), were elected by the Anziani, and had the ability to raise a local militia in their assigned neighborhood. Three leaders were elected from each district:2
Ghirardacci Book III, Pg. 53 {Civic}
The senate, having left Nicolò, created twelve Gonfallonieri, that is, three per district. San Proculo neighborhood: Giovanni Francesco da Tossignano, Giovanni dal Calice spetiale, Jacomo Zen zifabbri; Porta San Piero: Azzo by Pietro da Quarto, Statio dalle Palleotte, Giovanni by Tomaso Bianchetti; Porta Ravignana: Alessandro di Barto lomeo Mangioli, Ludovico de' Bianchi, Giovanni di Dolfo stracciarolo; Porta Stieri: Bartolomeo di Venente stracciarolo, Ni colò de 'Rustigani, Andrea di Castello. Then he confirms the ten of the balìa which were already created in 1435 before Pope Eugene had the dominion of Bologna.
These local militia were assigned to the defense of their district, though, at times they were used for offensive purposes. In 1446, the Bolognese leadership raises a militia to put down a rebellion in San Giovanni in Persiceto, they called on one male from every household to heed the banner of their district. This muster generated 10,000 soldiers for Romeo Pepoli’s army.3
Ghirardacci Book III, pg. 115 {Military Conscription}
When the senate heard the obstinate response of those of San Giovanni, and as those who were obstinate in not wanting to obey the city, on the 29th of May, on Sunday, they had a man per house armed under a flag per neighborhood, which consisted of ten thousand people, and they sent them to the detriment of the territory of San Giovanni, the ruin of which they remained there until the 8th of June of the following month; nor was there anything healthy left.
Conscription was not always forced and could be voluntary, as we see in 1402, when Giovanni I Bentivoglio sends out his captains with their district banners to gauge the loyalty of the general population prior to the battle of Battle of Casalecchio del Reno.4
Ghirardacci Book II, pg. 530 {Military}
June, they were all armed to gather and present themselves at the places below, where the Captains would also be with their deputies. The Tribe of Porta Ravegnana was to gather outside the city in San Gregorio under the banner of Captain Guido da Manzolino. The Tribe of Porta Stieri, at the Monastery of San Francesco outside the city, under the sign of Nannino Checco. The Tribu of the Porta San Procolo, at the Frati de' Sacchi, under the banner of Nicola Baldoini. The Tribu della Porta San Piero in San Polo di Ravone, under the sign of Leonardo Ghisilieri.
This provides interesting detail about the assigned muster locations of each district. Noticeably, they are associated with specific landmarks. The Porta Ravegnana district rallies in San Gregorio, Porta Stieri at the Monastery of S. Francesco, Porta San Procolo at the Frati de Sacchi, and Porta san Piero in San Polo di Ravone. The districts extended outside of the city walls to parishes, communes, and hamlets associated with greater Bologna. These extended districts were called Tribu, or Tribes, and according to Guidicini (pg. 29-30), they encompassed the following territory:
PORTA SAN PIETRO: S. Egidio, S. Antonio di Savena, S. Alberto, S. Leonardo, S. Donino and Sorgida, S. Nicolò di Villola and S. Giovanni di Calamosco.
PORTA STIERA: S. Maria Maggiore della Beverara, Rovereto, Pescarolo, S. Giuseppe, SM della Mascarella, S. Savino di Corticella, S. Silvestro dei Roncagli, S. Martino di Bertalia, S. Felice, S. Nicolò di S. Felice, S. Lorenzo di Porta Stiera.
PORTA PROCULA: S. Mamma, S. Catterina di Casaglia, S. Catterina di Saragozza, S. Isaia, S. Lucia di Jula, Roncrio and S. Lucia di Barbiano.
PORTA RAVENNATE: S. Giuliano, S. Ruffillo, SM of Miserazano, SM of the Alemanni on the other side of the bridge, S. Giorgio di Ser Magone, S. Giacomo della Croce del Biacco, SM of the Alemanni on this side of the bridge and S. Omobono.
The Gonfaloniere per quartiero could also call for civic councils or hold town halls within their district to rally citizens or to explain an existential situation affecting the city. It looks like these councils were often held in churches central to the neighborhood. Here we see the son’s of Giovanni II Bentivoglio (Annibale, Anton Galeazzo, Ermes, and Alessandro) accompanying the Gonfaloniere of each district to rally the people against the threat of Cesare Borgia5:
Ghirardacci Book III, pg. 316
On the 15th of October, the Senate issued a proclamation and command to all the heads of the houses in the neighborhoods that after dinner they must meet at their churches in their neighborhood, where they would understand what they had to do for the benefit of the city. Therefore the Gonfaloniers of the people, with their banners, with the citizens and sons of Giovanni, returned to the churches of the neighborhoods, that is, Annibale, head of the neighborhood of San Pietro, retreated with the Gonfaloniers and with the entire neighborhood to the church of San Jacomo of the Eremitani, Antonio Galeazzo proto notary went to the church of di Servi for the Porta Ravennata district, Ermes went to the church of San Francesco for the Porta Stieri district, Alessandro went to the church of San Domenico for the Porta San Proculus district. Having therefore gathered all the aforementioned neighborhoods in the said churches, some men, learned and practical, climbed up onto the pulpit and, with a suitable oration, exhorted the people to expose their property and their lives to maintain the government of the city, as at present they were against Duke Valentino.
When a threat was presented, the Gonfaloniere would be in charge of establishing watches and rotations. Here in 1508, we see the general alarm raised due to a possible attack by Ermes and Annibale Bentivoglio, Guido Rangoni, and Mancino da Bologna after the exile of the Bentivoglio faction in 1506.6
Ghirardacci Book III, pg. 383
On this same day a public rumor spread in Bologna that the Bentivogli were preparing to come to Bologna. The governor and the senate were very worried about this, and a general disturbance spread throughout the city, because on every side they began to make very large provisions and guards throughout the city, at the gates and in every district, keeping the lights lit in front of the houses all night and the lights in everyone's homes and on the Asinelli tower and other towers in the city; and because they feared some secret treaty, they did not want any kind of bell to be rung at night, much less the hours.
Another instance in 1451, during the Pepoli and Fantucci conspiracy, which saw Romeo, Jacomo, Oppizzo, Antonio, and Giovanni Battista Pepoli; Giovanni, Antonio, Pietro, and Jacomo Fantucci; Nani and Francesco Viggiani; Alberto and Nicolò di Pietro Musotto, all banished from the territory of Bologna when they rebelled against the reign of Sante Bentivoglio. The city, aware of the looming danger given the popular figures that the conspirators had been when they were key figures in the Bentivogleschi faction, called upon the watches to make sure that no nefarious activity was going on in the streets of the districts.7
Ghirardacci Book III, Pg. 137
Nonetheless, taking courage, he arranged everything for the city, so that if there was a conspiracy there, he would be in vain; and among the many orders, there was one which assigned the gates of the city to be guarded by twelve Gonfaloniers of the people, and the guard of the city to the other four Gonfaloniers, so that each one could browse through his own neighborhood and see who was moving to disturb them. Then he wanted the armed Bentivogli and Malvezzi together with their friends to guard the square, and in this way they placed orders and guards in every part of the city.
Sometimes the districts for the purposes of military maneuver could endeavor to have civic projects approved by the councils and magistrates. In 1322, the Porta Stieri and San Procolo district Milita’s petitioned the Sapienti (Wise Council) to take care of the roads in their districts.
Ghirardacci Book II, pg. 25 (1322)
Those of the Militia of Porta Stieri, and of San Procolo, eager to show their willingness to assist the Palazzo in the event of need, pointing out that the road in the area was all in bad shape, or in such a bad way, that neither on foot nor on horseback was it possible to pass, they begged the Senate to accommodate it, which referred the matter to the Sapienti, who immediately accommodated it, improving the road that came near the Palazzo del Mezzogiorno starting near the houses of the Uberti near the Porta Stieri district up to houses, which are called Storliti.
La Societa d’Armi
Each district’s militia organization historically was broken up into guilds or societies {Arms Societies; la Societa d’Armi (Italian), Societates Armatae (Latin)}, dating back to the 12th century, when the districts were first drawn up (circa 1186). There were 24 Societates Armatae, divided into five guilds per district, while four of the guilds had no fixed district association. Here is a list of the guilds, their insignia, and specific neighborhood within Bologna.
Key: Guild—(Translation) {Insignia; Neighborhood}8
Porta Stiera District:
Leoni—(Lion) {Lion; San Felice and Lamme}
Aquila—(Eagle) {Eagle; Behind the Palazzo Publico and San Salvatore}
Griffoni—(Griffon) {Red Griffon on white field; the Market, near Porta Galleria}
Delfini—(Dolphin) {Dolphin; San Salvatore}
Branca—(Branch) {A leg and foot of a lion; San Colombano and Galleria}
Porta San Pietro District:
Spade—(Swords) {Sword; San Tomasso del Mercato}
(S)Barre—(Bars) {Two crossed black sceptres on a gold field; Unknown}
Draperi per l’Arme—(Cloth Merchants) {Mixed assortment of arms; No neighborhood}
Leopardi—(Leopard) {Leopard; Vinazzi}
Vari—(Grey Fur?) {Vari; San Martino and Mascarella}
Porta San Procolo District:
Castelli—(Castle) {Castle; Strada Castiglione}
Quartieri—(Neighborhoods) {White and Red quartered; San Mamolo and adjacent streets}
Traverse di Barberia—(Crossbars){Red and white bars; Barbaria and San Paolo}
Traverse di Val d’Aposa—(Crossbars) {Unknown; Val d’Aposa}
Schise—(Unknown) {Bands of Red and White; Saragozza}
Porta Ravegnana District:
Cervi—(Deer) {Unknown; Unknown}
dei Rastelli—(Iron Gate or Rake)
dei Balzani—(White footed Horse?) {Field divided in White and Red; Strada San Stefano and part of Strada Maggiore}
delle Chiavi—(Keys) {Keys of St. Peter; San Tomasso della Braina}
dei Branche di Porta San Stephano—(Branch) {Unknown; Porta San Stephano}
Unaffiliated:
Beccai—(Butchers) {Bull; No neighborhood}
Lomardi—(Lombardy) {Justice holding scales and a sword; No neighborhood}
Toschi—(Tuscany) {Red lilly on a field of white; No neighborhood)
Stella —(Star) {Star; Piazza Maggiore—no neighborhood}
Of the unaffiliated guilds, the Beccai, or butchers guild was one of the most preeminent and prominent. The butchers of Bologna were spread across the city, and therefore didn’t tie themselves to one specific district. However, it’s worth noting that the butchers in conjunction with the civic leaders agreed to move a large portion of their slaughtering operation to the Porta Ravegnana district for the hygiene of the city, but maintained meat stalls and business fronts across Bologna, so there was a later concentration of butchers in Porta Ravegnana.9 The other so-called unaffiliated guilds, the Lombardi, Toschi, and Stella were unique because they accepted residents who were born outside of Bologna; the Toschi guild members had ancestral roots in Tuscany, Lombardi guild members had familial ties to northern Italy, and the Stella guild had a conglomeration of scions hailing from Tuscany, Lombardy, and other Italian cities, and therefore weren't associated with a particular district.
Interestingly, there were three guilds in particular that were singled out in 1271 to lead the civic defense of the city, or take charge of the peace, tranquility, and punishment of those who disturb it. By consequence these three guilds received a special upgrade to their coat of arms. They were:10
The Branca: A red lion rampant with a sword in hand on a white field.
The Griffone: A red griffon rampant on a white field.
The Lombardi: Justice sitting with a sword and a scale on a white field.
After the removal of Bertrando del Poggetto from power in 1334, Taddeo Pepoli established a republican regime in Bologna, ingratiating himself with the title, Conservatore di Pace e Giustizia.11 Unfortunately for the old order, Pepoli took power out of the hands of the guilds and concentrated them under his new executive authority.12 In the last year of Peopoli’s life he issued a sweeping survey of the active guilds in Bologna. I’ve shortened the list to only include the arms societies and their associated auditors.
Ghirardacci Pg. 183 (1347)
The aforementioned grant was signed and approved by white and black bean ballot in the Council of the above-mentioned Praetors, Antiani, Consuls, Wise Men, and others, who numbered one hundred and fifty-two, with the order that it also had to send to all the Societies of Arms and Arts, so that it was supported, or confirmed, or reprobated, and for this purpose all the Bailiffs and the Notaries of the said Societies were sought, imposing on them that on that same day they had to hand it over to the General Council signed by the hands of their Notaries, carrying out their scrutiny as established. The companies that had the aforementioned grant were the following, that is.
La Societa de' Beccari per l'Arme (Butchers), Nicola Filippo Bentivoglio suo Notaro.
La Societa dalle Spade (Sword), Paolo di Mino de' Canonici suo Notaro.
La Societa della Branca (Branch), Giacomo di Romeo de' Fiamenghi suo Notaro.
La Societa della Aquila (Eagle), Masino di Egidio Tebaldi suo Notaro.
Las Societa del Leone (Lion), Angdrea di Giovanni da Cento suo Notaro.
La Societa del Giffone (Griffon), Sanuto di Giacomo Sanuti suo Notaro.
La Societa del Stelle (Star), Giacomo di Giovampolo Marcellini suo Notaro.
La Societa del Balzani (Horse?), Petriccivolo di Rolando Malpigli suo Notaro.
La Scoeieta del Castelli (Castle), Giacopino di Albertuccio suo Notaro.
La Societa delle Traverse di Barbaria, Rustigano Rustigani suo Notaro.
La Societa de' Lombardi (Lombardy), Rodolfo di Guido Picciolpassi suo Notai.
La Societa delle Sbarre (Bars), Francesco di Bombologno Orefice suo Notaro.
La Societa de Dragone (Dragon), Bianco di Comaccio Basciacomari suo Notaro.
La Societa de' Tulchi, (Tuscans) Giovanni di Tomaso dal Vicario suo Notaro.
La Societa Quartieri, (Neighborhoods) Matteo di Folco de' Conforti suo Notaro.
La Societa de' Vari per l'Arme, Bellotto di Tano Belloti suo Notaro.
La Societa de' Drappieri per l'Arme (Cloth Merchants), Rolando di Fra Giovanni Fantucci suo Notaro.
La Societa de' Leopardi (Leopard), Francesco di Lorenzo dalle Ceste suo Notaro.
La Societa delle Schise di Saragozza, Perino di Geno Perini suo Notaro.
La Societa della Ciavi (Keys), Guidone di Giacomo Bartolotti suo Notaro.
This is pretty interesting, of the 24 Arms Society guilds only 20 are still present. A new guild formed, or one of them may have changed their name to the Dragon Society—(Dragon) {Dragon; no particular quarter}, which is a pretty cool modification, and the dei Rastelli, Traverese di Val Apossa, Dei Branche di Porta San Stefano, Delfini (Dolphin) and Cervi (Deer) guilds are missing. After the uprising in 1274, which removed the Lambertazzi family from power13, the Delfini, Dei Branche di Porta San Stefano, Bastrelli, Taverse di Val d’Aposa, and Calamatoni guilds were eradicated for their association with the Lambertazzi faction.14
The other notable detail is the presence of Nicola Filippo Bentivoglio as the Notari of the Beccari per l'Arme, as the Bentivoglio family arose from the Butchers guild and had deep connections to the Butchers throughout their rise to power in the subsequent century. {We explore this in depth later}
The Decline, and Rise of a New Order
Alas, the arms guilds wouldn’t survive the final tumults of the 14th century. The rise of the urban oligarchy, plague and the eventual Visconti subjugation would nearly put an end to the Societates Armatae. Factionalism replaced the old civic order as Bologna sought to reinstate it’s old liberal order, and reclaim its republican heritage. The ultimate quest for that purpose was hijacked by powerful personalities in the political sphere like Carlo Zambeccari, Nanne Gozzadini, Salvuzzo, Giovanni and Antongaleazzo Bentivoglio, and of course the Canetoli faction, as well as various Papal regimes and the Visconti.
A 1397 census of the Guilds shows the noticeable decline of the arming guilds in the subsequent half century:15
Mercanti da panno, e Bombasari—L.266; Merzari—L.384; Fabbri—L.516; Beccari—L.624; Lana gentile—L.342; Falegnami—L.360; Lana bisella—L.96; Sarti—L.168; Calzolari—L.494; Mercanti da seta—L.372; Notari—L.1800; Muratori—L.204; Cambiatori—L.1080; Cartolari—L.84; Strazzaroli—L.756; Speziali—L.252; Pellizzari—L.288; Orefici—L.444; Fornari—L.84; Barbieri—L.96; Pellacani—L.120; Quattro arti—L.84; Lombardi—L.108; Toschi—L.120
Only the Butchers (who retained their militant wing for self policing), Cloth Merchants (Drapieri; included in the Mercanti da panno), Lombardi, and Toschi remained. Even if these guilds lost their martial off-shoots, they likely preserved their martial traditions and legacies. Both the Toschi and Lombardi provided a refuge for non-native citizens to settle vendettas, avoid extortion, and acted as a source of local support. We know through the historical chronicle that the Butchers of Bologna were the first to rally to the Bentivoglio banner anytime bell of San Giacomo rang, and the ever pervasive Marescotti clan could always rely on their guild-mates in the Drapieri to provide support for their numerous dust-ups in the streets of Bologna. Both of the aforementioned guilds had a long history of civil unrest well after the dissolution of the arms societies.
One undisputable hallmark of the old order did survive, and that was the districts, as we’ve seen above. Interestingly, we can see the evolution of their reinstatement progress through the turbulence of the 15th century. From Giovanni Bentivoglio’s brief Signoria, where he calls the Tribu to the banner of their districts, to the later refined Quartiero. Rather than arms societies; the guilds, factions, and popolo grosso’s training in arms and urban self defense seemingly became an initiative of the individual or district, leading to the role of a fencing master for hire.
In 1402 we see that this role, Capitani de soldati della guardia d Bologna, was assigned to a student of Fiore dei Liberi, Lancellotto Beccaria:16
Giovanni Bentivoglio, who with his valor and dexterity and the favorable assistance of his friends would certainly have been able to understand, and wanted to be able to meet every need, to free the country from the hands of the sectarian Plebs: and with such persuasions he worked, so that his allies all agreed that Giovanni should be their leader against Nanni's designs: and the following night, having first drawn Martino Tedesco to their side, and Lancellotto Beccaria Captains of the soldiers of the Bologna guard; and according to the order given, they shouted, “Long live the People, and the Guilds!”
—PompeoVizzani (pg. 269)
We can perhaps see this demonstrated in the life of Fillipo Dardi as well, where in 1413, he struck a deal—likely with Ludovico Marescotti—to train a militia for a popular uprising, before striking a similar bargain again, later in 1443, with greater incentives attached. Even Guido Antonio di Luca’s arrival in 1496, in the wake of the violent lessons of the battle of Fornovo, to establish his school at il Casino, for Annibale II Bentivoglio, speaks to this new but slightly matured form of martial reasoning.
Consequently, echoes of the old arms guilds might still remain in the surviving texts of the new masters. For example, the following image opens Antonio Manciolino’s Opera Nova, in 1531:
The special sanctioned crest for the Lombardi Societa d’Armi was: Justice sitting with a sword and a scale on a white field. It's certainly possible that the Manzolino family were members of the Lombardi Societa d’Armi given that their origin, da Manzolino, was in the Bolognese contado, or countryside. To which we can perhaps view Manciolino’s scathing introduction of his Opera Nova with a new lens:
It is the wont of the majority of the commonest maestri of the art of the rational blows of fencing to affix in the highest and most solemn corner of their school a long array of paper, wherein they claim their chapters are written. And in truth, whosoever reads them does find them to be chapters, but rather those that wine vendors place on barrels, a thing more monstrous than human. And how can he be human, if the greed and rapacity of the maestro is openly displayed? But how human of a thing is it to help others, and to bear witness by oneself that some are not born thus rapacious and hard-hearted of instinct? And in my opinion things are placed into the school only for their profit, and not that of others. Hundreds are their chapters, for in them is contained nothing other than the putting of a price on the masterful play of this art, as the virtue of arms has fallen to such baseness that it is wished by them to find her holy members sold at a price through the schools, boasting, without consideration that the dull and the subtle wits can not equally bear this yoke upon their shoulders, and that the art is not a harlot to suffer itself to be sold. And I wish to hold to a more useful path, noting that the school should be devoted to offering some instruction of the art. It is of more worth to me to be useful to my scholars with this work than, through the putting of a price to the play, to provide myself alone with great benefit.
—Antonio Manciolino (Swanger, Wiktenauer)
The language here is interesting, Swanger’s translation, using the word chapters, is probably the closest to the original Italian and echos the sentiment better than Leoni’s use of the word principles, in that the word for chapters, capitoli, is the same nomenclature for guild chapters, and while this could be a deep dig at Marozzo for hanging the Capitoli {book chapters} of his forthcoming Opera Nova in his training space, that’s unlikely—even though it’s fun. I find the metaphor, but rather those that wine vendors place on barrels, to build context around the idea that Manciolino is referring to guild chapters or regulations and rules, rather than chapters written in a book. With that context flushed out, Leoni’s use of principles makes perfect sense, but it lacks that leading context that draws us back to the colloquial nature of the word.
However, it may demonstrate an artifact of the living traditions in conflict with the old orders being maintained by the district militias with nothing but the old chapters to guide their practice.
To this we can add Marozzo's remise about the lack of regulation or certification of new fencing masters, when the Ancients {ie. previous centuries} used to have clearly defined standards and means of authentication:
This occurs because there no longer are, as used to be customary in ancient times, authenticated maestri, who, if they hadn’t first granted their licenses by the other maestri, could not take students; whereas today, anyone can work as a maestro, and take students, and no one is in charge of this. Because of this I want to make everyone understand that it is of great importance to understand these things, insofar as today many valiant youths and experienced men are found who are good and practiced fencers, but are not, however, excellent at teaching, because they have not been mentored by maestri who have equipped them with the means to teach others, and because of this, they err. Seeing such errors occur, this situation has motivated me passionately to apply my wits and my art to advise such of these as take delight in such virtue.
—Achille Marozzo (Swanger, pg. 189)
Marozzo calls himself the Maestro Generale d’ l’Arte dell Armi, his fencing hall was in the Porta Stiera district near the Abbey of San Naborre and Felice. Of course, Marozzo too was a transplant in Bologna, belonging to the ever-feisty Bolognese territorial holding San Giovanni in Persciseto, and settling in the San Felice neighborhood of the Porta Stiera district later in life. Consequently, this is the same district where the Manzolino family were routinely elected as Gonfaloniere (Standard bearer), Sapienti (Wise council), or de’ Ministralietti (Minister) before later appearing in the Porta Ravegnana district {likely due to their association with the Butchers guild}. It's also the district where Filippo Dardi had his school between 1413-1443.
This is only the beginning of this adventure, there is still so much to learn and explore. If you would like to see more content regarding the history of Bologna, the arms societies, and interesting details about the Bentivogleschi art of fencing, subscribe!
Works Cited
Cose notabili della città di Bologna ossia Storia cronologica de' suoi stabili sacri, pubblici e privati per Giuseppe di Gio. Battista Guidicini. Italy, Tipografia delle scienze di Giuseppe Vitali, 1870.
Carducci, Giosuè, et al. Rerum italicarum scriptores: raccolta degli storici italiani dal cinquecento al millecinquecento; Ghirardacchi Volume III. Italy, S. Lapi, 1929.
Ghirardacci, Cherubino. Of the History of Bologna. Volume 2. Italy, Giovanni Rossi, 1657Ghirardacci, Cherubino. Della Historia Di Bologna. Volume 2. Italy, Giovanni Rossi, 1657
Gassmann, J. “The Bolognese Societates Armatae of the Late 13th Century”. Acta Periodica Duellatorum, vol. 2, no. 1, Oct. 2015, pp. 195-33, doi:10.36950/apd-2014-007.
Origins of Bologna; Compagnie delle Arti. Originebologna.com. Accessed 03/21/2024.
Dean, Trevor, and K. J. P. Lowe, editors. Murder in Renaissance Italy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017. Print.
Vizzani, Pompeo. Historie di Bologna: I due ultimi libri delle historie della sua patria. Italy, Rossi, 1608.
Swanger, Jherek. Antonio Manciolino; Opera Nova. Wiktenauer.com. Published 2003. Accessed 03/22/2024.
Swanger, Jherek. Achille Marozzo; The Duel, or the Flower of Arms for Single Combat, Both Offensive and Defensive, by Achille Marozzo. Lulu Press. 22 April 2018. Print.
Giasante, Massimo. PEPOLI, Taddeo; Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 82 (2015). Treccani.it. https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/taddeo-pepoli_(Dizionario-Biografico)/. Accessed 03/22/2024.
Cose notabili della città di Bologna ossia Storia cronologica de' suoi stabili sacri, pubblici e privati per Giuseppe di Gio. Battista Guidicini. Italy, Tipografia delle scienze di Giuseppe Vitali, 1870.
Nel 1186, e poco più tardi, la città fu divisa in quattro Quartieri, pare in causa della istituzione della milizia. Li confini, che qui si danno, non debbonsi credere quelli del 1186, perché a quei di Bologna era limitata a più stretti confini, ma quei primi servirono di base per dilatare i secondi a misura che si andava ampliando, fine all’attual terzo circondario.
Ghirardacci Book III, Pg. 53 {Civic}
Il somigliante fecero li soldati del Piccinino verso Crespellano , Baggiano , San Lorenzo in Collina et Monte Mauro . Il senato , partito Nicolò , crea dodici confallonieri , cioè tre per quartiero . Quartiero di San Proculo : Giovanni Francesco da Tossignano , Giovanni dal Calice spetiale , Jacomo Zen zifabbri ; porta San Piero : Azzo di Pietro da Quarto , Statio dalle Palleotte , Giovanni di Tomaso Bianchetti ; porta Ravignana : Alessandro di Barto lomeo Mangioli , Ludovico de ' Bianchi , Giovanni di Dolfo stracciarolo ; porta Stieri : Bartolomeo di Venente stracciarolo , Ni colò de 'Rustigani , Andrea di Castello . Poi conferma li dieci della balìa che di già furono creati del 1435 prima che Eugenio papa havesse il dominio di Bologna .
Ghirardacci Book III, pg. 115 {Civic and Military Conscripting}
(A)l Intendendo il senato l'ostinata risposta di quei di San Giovanni , et come che ostavano campo pertinaci et ostinati di non volere obbedire alla città , alli 29 di maggio , la domenica , fanno armare un huomo per casa sotto di un confalone per quartiero , che furono da dieci milla persone , et gli mandano a ' danni del territo rio di San Giovanni , alla rovina del quale vi stettero in sino alli 8 di giugno del mese seguente ; nè vi restò cosa che sana fosse .
Ghirardacci Book II, pg. 530 {Military}
Giugno, dovessero tutti armati radunarsi, e presentarsi a luoghi infrascritti, dove anco sarebbero li Capitani loro deputati. La Tribu di Porta Ravegnana, doveva ragunarsi fuori della Citta a San Gregorio sotto l'insegna del Capitan Guido da Manzolino. La Tribu di Porta Stieri, al Monasterio di San Francesco fuori della Citta, sotto l'Insegna di Nannino Checco. La Tribu della porta San Procolo, alli Frati de' Sacchi, sotto l' Insegna di Nicola Baldoini. La Tribu della Porta San Procolo, alla Frati de' Sacchi, sotto l'Insegna di Nicola Baldoini. La Tribu della Porta San Piero a San Polo di Ravone, sotto l'Insegna di Leonardo Ghisilieri.
Ghirardacci Book III, pg. 316 {Military}
Il senato alli 15 di ottobbre fa bandire et commandare a tutti li capi delle case de ' quartieri, che il dopo desinare si debbino ritrovare alle lor chiese del lor quartiero , che quivi intenderebbono quello che haveva no a fare per utile della città . Laonde li confalonieri del popolo , con li loro stendardi , con li cittadini et figlioli di Giovanni , si ridussero alle chiese de quartieri , cioè Annibale capo del quartiero di San Pietro si ridusse con li confalonier i et con tutto il quartiero della chiesa di san Jacomo degli Eremitani , Antonio Galeazzo proto notario andò alla chiesa de ' Servi per il quartiero di porta Ravennata , Ermesse si ridusse alla chiesa di san Francesco per il quartiero di porta Stieri , Al essandro si ridusse alla chiesa di san Domenico per il quartiero di porta San Proculo . Radunati adunque tutti li suddetti 30 quartieri nelle dette chiese , salirono alcuni huomini sopra del pergamo , dotti et pratici , li quali , con accomodata oratione , essortarono il popolo ad esporre la robba et la vita per manteni mento del governo della città , siccome al presente si trovava contro il duca Valentino . Il primo che parlò nella
Ghirardacci Book III, pg. 383 {Military; Provisioning}
In ques to istesso giorno si sparse publica voce in Bologna che li Bentivogli si ponevano a ordine per venire a Bologna . Di che il governatore et il senato n'hebbero grandissimo affanno , et si sparse per tutta la città non poco disturbo , perciochè da ogni parte si comin ciarono a fare grandissime provisioni et guardie per tutta la città , alle porte et per ogni contrada , tenendo li lumi accesi avanti le case tutta la notte et le lumiere a casa di tutti li et sopra la torre degl'Asinelli et altre torre de lla città ; et perchè temevano di qualche occulto trattato , non volsero che la notte suonasse niuna sorte di campane , nè meno le hore . Alli 24 il governatore
Ghirardacci Book III, Pg. 137 {Military Conscription}
Nondimeno , facendo animo , ordinò il tutto per la città , acciochè se vi fosse trattato , dovesse in vano riuscire ; et fra gli molti ordini fu uno che consignorono 45 le porte della città in guardia a dodici confalonieri del popolo , et la guardia della città agl'altri quattro confalonieri , acciochè ciascuno per il suo quartiero havessero a scorrere et vedere chi si movesse per disturbarlo . Poi volse che li Bentivogli et li Malvezzi armati insieme con li loro amici guardassero la piazza , et a questo modo posero in ogni parte della città ordini et guardie .
Origins of Bologna; Compagnie delle Arti. Originebologna.com. Accessed 03/21/2024.
Erano queste compagnie addette ai quartieri di Bologna, ed i loro nomi erano i seguenti :
COMPAGNIA INSEGNA QUARTIERE .
1. Spade Spada S. Tommaso del Mercato.
2. Varri Varri S. Martino e Mascarella.
3. Leoni Leone S. Felice e Lamme.
4. Quartieri Inquartata di bianco e rosso S. Mamolo e strade adiacenti.
5. Branche Una gamba e piede di Leone dette branca./S. Colombano e Galliera.
6. Gridoni Grido d’oro in campo rosso. Mercato.
7. Stelle Stella Piazza.
8. Dragoni Dragone Non avevano particolare quartiere.
9. Foschi Gilio rosso in campo bianco Non avevano particolare quartiere.
10. Beccari Bue Non avevano particolare quartiere.
11. Drappieri Armi Non avevano particolare quartiere.
12. Balzani stemma diviso in Bianco rosso Strada Stefano e parte di Strada Maggiore, Statuto del 1230.
13. Schise Bande scavezze rosse e bianche Saragozza.
14. Leopardi Leopardo Vinazzi.
15. Lombardi La Giustizia Non avevano particolar quartiere.
16. Aquila Aquila Di dietro al palazzo pubblico e San Salvatore.
17. Castelli Castello Strada Castiglione.
18. Traverse Sbarre bianche e rosse Barbaria, S. Paolo, S. Isaia.
19. Chiavi Chiavi Da S. Pietro, ed alla rinfusa si radunavano in S. Tommaso della Braina.
20. Sbarre Due scettri neri incrociati in campo d’ oro./Non si conosce il suo quartiere.
Dopo l’ espulsione dei Lambertazzi furono soppresse le seguenti cinque compagnie perchè di partito Lambertazzo.
21. Delfini S.Salvatore
22. Branchetti Differenti delle Branche = Stra Stefano.
23. Bastrelli
24. Taverna di val d’Aposa
25. Calamatoni
Dean, Trevor, and K. J. P. Lowe, editors. Murder in Renaissance Italy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017. Print.
In Bologna, a particularly eloquent solution was devised, one that came by way of collaboration between the governemtn and the butchers. As mentioned, during the thirteenth century, the Arte dei Beccai made several key real-estate investments buying up a group of buildings in the commercially important zone of the Porta Ravegnana. The purpose was to establish a centralized meat market and slaughterhouse, and the location was strategic for various ways. Besides being near markets, which ensured traffic, the buildings sat over a canal, into which the blood of the slaughtered animals could be washed and the entrails dumped.
Origins of Bologna; Compagnie delle Arti. Originebologna.com. Accessed 03/21/2024.
Nel 1271, essendosi instituito il magistrato detto della pace, composto di tre individui incaricati di mantenere la quiete e la tranquillità pubblica, e punire i perturbatori della medesima, gli furono assegnate tre delle venti compagnie d’ armi per aver braccio forte nelle occorenze, e cioè la Branca, il Griffone e la Lombarda, alle quali fu affidato un particolare stendardo per questo nuovo attributo, e cioè
Alla Branca — Un leone rosso rampante con spada in mano in campo bianco.
Al Griffone — Un griffone rampante rosso in campo bianco.
Ai Lombardi — La giustizia sedente con spada e bilancia in campo bianco.
Giasante, Massimo. PEPOLI, Taddeo; Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 82 (2015). Treccani.it.
Il 28 agosto del 1337, i sostenitori di quest’ultimo occuparono militarmente la piazza e il palazzo del Comune e, senza resistenze di rilievo e con schiacciante maggioranza nel Consiglio del Popolo, Taddeo fu proclamato «governatore generale e perpetuo del Comune e del popolo di Bologna», titolo che in seguito il signore corresse in quello di «conservatore di pace e giustizia», così come i suoi poteri vennero poi meglio precisati da un’ulteriore risoluzione del Consiglio, anch’essa approvata ad ampia maggioranza (Trombetti Budriesi, 2007, pp. 780-788)
Giasante, Massimo. PEPOLI, Taddeo; Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 82 (2015). Treccani.it.
La piena autorità politica, legislativa, finanziaria e militare si concentrava dunque nelle mani del signore che, tuttavia, volle subito presentarsi come continuatore delle prerogative e dei poteri del Comune.
Origins of Bologna; Compagnie delle Arti. Originebologna.com. Accessed 03/21/2024.
L’ autorità di questo Consiglio si fece maggiore dopo le rivoluzioni dell’ anno 1274, che produsse la cacciata del partito lambertazzo, colla quale se si ottenne più calma, si indebolirono le forze dello stato a modo che da quella violenza devesi ripetere il decadimento della Bolognese repubblica.
Origins of Bologna; Compagnie delle Arti. Originebologna.com. Accessed 03/21/2024.
Dopo l’ espulsione dei Lambertazzi furono soppresse le seguenti cinque compagnie perchè di partito Lambertazzo.
21. Delfini (S.Salvatore)
22. Branchetti (Differenti delle Branche = Stra Stefano.)
23. Bastrelli
24. Taverna (di val d’Aposa)
25. Calamatoni
Origins of Bologna; Compagnie delle Arti. Originebologna.com. Accessed 03/21/2024.
Nel 1327 anche le compagnie d’armi vennero mancando, nè più risorsero all’antico loro splendore, dopo aver reso i più segnalati servigi alla patria, in pace, ed in guerra. Sarà di erudizione per conoscere la ricchezza delle arti il dare qui sotto il loro estimo del censo nel 1397:
Mercanti da panno, e Bombasari …..L.266
Merzari ……………………….L.384
Fabbri ………………………..L.516
Beccari ……………………….L.624
Lana gentile …………………..L.342
Falegnami ……………………..L.360
Lana bisella …………………..L.96
Sarti …………………………L.168
Calzolari ……………………..L.494
Mercanti da seta ……………….L.372
Notari ……………………….L.1800
Muratori ………………………L.204
Cambiatori ……………………L.1080
Cartolari ………………………L.84
Strazzaroli ……………………L.756
Speziali ………………………L.252
Pellizzari …………………….L.288
Orefici ……………………….L.444
Fornari ………………………..L.84
Barbieri ……………………….L.96
Pellacani ……………………..L.120
Quattro arti ……………………L.84
Lombardi ………………………L.108
Toschi ………………………..L.120
Vizzani, Pompeo. Historie di Bologna: I due ultimi libri delle historie della sua patria. Italy, Rossi, 1608.
Giovanni Bentivogli, il quale col suo valore, e destrezza, e col favorevole soccorso, de gli amici havrebbe sicuramente potuto, saputo, e voluto puedere ad ogni bisogno, e liberar la patria dalle mani della se ditiosa Plebe: e con tai persuasioni opero, che gli amici tutti d'accordo concertarono, che Giovanni havesse da esser capo loro contra i dissegni di Nanni: e la notte seuente, havendo prima tirato dalla parte loro Martino Tedesco, e Lancillotto Beccaria Capitani de soldati della guardia di Bologna; e secodo l'ordine dato, gridado, Viva il Popolo, e le Arti.