Eight of Santa Maria Novella
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Eight of Santa Maria Novella were a radical group involved in the Ciompi Revolt in Florence in 1378.
In 1378, revolt broke out in Florence. After the ciompi (wool carders) had taken the Palace of the Signoria, a new group of priors took control of the city, led by Michele di Lando. Although this leadership did carry out a number of radical reforms including the formation of three new guilds to represent the poorer workers, many of the aristocracy and the wool workers remained dissatisfied, particularly those from south of the Arno.[1] They therefore went to the Palace of the Signoria once again to challenge the new government. The protesters were told to leave and give up their weapons and in return, the priors would legislate to meet their demands. The protesters left but afterwards, they feared that they had been tricked so they gathered in large numbers and selected the Eight of Santa Maria Novella to hold the priors accountable. The Eight were drawn from the lowest tiers of society and set up their base in a Dominican priory.[2]