gonfalonier

[gon-fuh-luh-neer]

noun

1. the bearer of a gonfalon.

2. a chief magistrate or some other elected official in any of several medieval Italian republics.

gonfalonier

/ ˌɡɒnfələˈnɪə /

noun

1. the chief magistrate or other official of a medieval Italian republic, esp the bearer of the republic's gonfalon

Word History and Origins

Origin of gonfalonier¹

1580–90; < French < Italian gonfaloniere. See gonfalon, -ier ²

Example Sentences

"Evviva the Church" was the first cry; the second, "Evviva the people of Perugia"; and lastly, "Evviva Messer Imbroglia," a roving adventurer who alternately fought for the Duke of Milan and the Pope, and finally entered Assisi at the head of a large cavalcade as Captain and Gonfalonier of the city.

From Project Gutenberg

Gonfalonier′, one who bears a gonfalon: the chief magistrate in many Italian cities because of his bearing this flag.

From Project Gutenberg

Florence, in particular, towards the close of the middle ages, had presented on a small scale a spectacle analogous to ours; the noble classes had first been succeeded by the burgher classes, and then one day the latter were, in their turn, expelled from the government, and a gonfalonier was seen marching barefoot at the head of the people, and thus leading the Republic.

From Project Gutenberg

It was borne by the counts of Vexin, as leaders of the men of Saint Denis, and when the Vexin was incorporated in the kingdom of France the title of Gonfalonier de Sant Denis passed to the kings of France, who thus became the bearers of the “oriflamme,” as the banner of St Denis was called.

From Project Gutenberg

“Gonfalonier” was the title of civic magistrates of various degrees of authority in many of the city republics of Italy, notably of Florence, Sienna and Lucca.

From Project Gutenberg