ABSTRACT
From at least the thirteenth century, every new bishop of Florence ceremonially entered the city and took possession of the diocese through an elaborate ritual.1 The clergy and religious of the city processed from the cathedral to one of the city’s southern gates to meet the new prelate, who kissed their processional crosses in greeting, donned the miter and vestments signifying his office, and mounted a white horse. Representatives of the Visdomini families, who were considered the guardians of the see and who administered its properties during episcopal vacancies, raised a special baldachin over the mounted bishop and served as his honor guard (adestratores). The procession then led the bishop into the city, through the Oltrarno, over the river, to various stops in the old urban center, and finally to the episcopal palace behind the baptistery of San Giovanni. There the representatives of the Visdomini families swore their loyalty to the new bishop, gave him the keys to the palace, and turned over a register recording their administration of the see’s properties during the vacancy.
