The Political Role of Magistri and Populares in Late Medieval Sicily

Between the end of the 14^th century and the first half of the 15^th century, a steady increase in royal fiscal pressure had a strong impact on the debates in the Sicilian urban governments. The clash between distinct groups on fiscal matters increased dramatically and developed in tandem with exclusionary laws proposed by the main parties for the purpose of reducing the role of large segments of the population, specifically the magistri and populares, in the governments. The comparison of local fiscal policies and exclusionary laws is an enlightening key to discerning the composition and role of groups too often considered only at the margin of the political arena. Their social stratification is striking, as is the sophistication of their strategy to avoid the exclusionary laws while also maintaining and increasing their presence. By focusing on the composition of the magistri and populares, this paper will address the gradual political recognition achieved by these alignments in the 14^th through the 15^th centuries, despite the oligarchy’s attempt to marginalize them. The negotiations with the royal court will be analyzed in particular. These negotiations were carried out through emulation of the oligarchy’s strategies. Magistri and populares countered the exclusionary laws by adopting the same language and negotiations used by the oligarchy with the royal court, and at the same time by proposing new goals reflecting the needs, expectations and culture of their own parties.