Orlando Bonsignori

Orlando Bonsignori was born into a family of the small-time merchant in Siena. Along with his brother Bonifazio, he worked in the family business Bonsignori società, gathering valuable business experience and contacts from an early age. The company, founded in 1209, was among other things involved in collecting the customs duty for salt entering Siena and Grosseto, and in small-scale banking for the Papacy.

After their father’s death, brothers inherited a thriving banking and trade enterprise. Cooperation with the popes began under Pope Gregory IX – with Bonifazio operated at the papal court representing the family business, while Orlando stayed in Siena being responsible for coordination of business partners and agents. Under Pope Innocent IV, the Bonsignori brothers gained papal protection and the court title “familiars nostril”, or “members of our household”.

In 1255, following the death of Bonifazio, the firm went through restructuration which resulted in organization of the “Gran Tavola (Bank) dei Bonsignori”. It would become the largest banking operation in the 13th century Siena, and certainly one of the greatest in Europe at the time. It remained in operation until 1298 when it went bankrupt.

Papal banking was just one spectrum of his business. In 1253, Orlando gained partial control over the silver mines at Montieri near Volterra, and was active in cloth trade between central Italy and Champagne fairs in France. He also served as financier of the King Henry III of England and the abbot of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, which opened the door for other similar cooperation. One part of his wealth he invested in land in the vicinity of Sant’Angelo in Colle, Italy.

Although he was political supporter of the Ghibellines, that fact didn’t prevent him in providing financial support for the Guelphs, their opponents.