HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT OF CANNETI

The "District of Canneti" was born officialy in year 1962, and the events we are now about to tell you about link us to our town's most important feast, the Feast of Barbarossa. In 1962 the town of San Quirico decided to remember the most important and fascinating event in our local history with a feast, to be repeated annually. This is the meeting, occured in 1155, between the Cardinals sent by Pope Hadrian IV (in the world Nicholas Breakspear called "the Englishman") and Frederic I Hohenstaufen called "Barbarossa" ("Redbeard"), III Duke of Svevia, King of Germany, King of Italy, and designated as legitimate ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. Purpose of this meeting was precisely to disuss the terms of his Coronation, and everything turned out well, as an agreement was found, Frederic went on to Rome and on the 18th of June 1155 was crowned by the Pope in exchange for handing over Arnaldo of Brescia (the friar considered a heretic by the Church) who had been kept prisoner by his supporters. Since then, in memory of those happy events, Barbarossa decided to raise our town to the rank of See of an Imperial Vicariate, dignity that was kept up to the fall of the Republic of Siena.


Pageboy and Lady - 1962		The Canneti - 1962

The Feast of Barbarossa is held every year on the third Sunday in June; it unfolds in four main events: 1) announcement to the population and proclamation of the competitions between flag-wavers and bowmen of the various Districts, with the draw of the different combinings of contestants, in front of the Church of San Francesco - 2) thetrical commemoration of the historic meeting, in the Churchyard of the magnificent Chiesa Collegiata - 3) historical procession along the mediaeval streets of the ancient part of town - 4) competitions between bowmen and flag-wavers, in the "field of arms" in the top part of the beautiful Horti Leonini.


Pageboy and Lady - 1965		Flag-wavers - 1972

The town was divided into four districts, originated from the logic of mediaeval toponymy: Borgo (bottom part of the built-up area inside the walls where tradesmen and craftsmen lived), Castello (top part of the built-up area inside the walls with public buildings and garrisons), Prato (outside the walls area, mainly country), and finally our District of Canneti (area outside the walls towards Siena and Montalcino, stopping point of passing armies, and also outside-town shelter for pilgrims) . . . this is where we lodged Barbarossa's army. The name Canneti (Cane-breaks) comes from the fact that until not long ago there were, in this area, many stretches of water rich in this spontaneous and precious vegetation; our colours, blue and white, remind us of those waters.


The Canneti - 1970		Dinner for everyone in Via Nuova

Since the very beginning, for reasons that appear easy to understand after what is written above, our District has always been the smallest of all (counting only 24 families in 1962!), but it has always had the right winning spirit, deservingly enclosed in the motto we chose for ourselves: "unus sed draco"... One, But Dragon! And the Dragon is our emblem, a rampant dragon the colour of gold; it was chosen for two reasons: because it is a symbol not only of stength and might but also of mediaeval legends on dragons that, they say, had their dwelling in lands rich in stretches of water; because it is a solitary animal that has always had to fight alone against all . . . like us! And from the very beginning the fight was tough, close, and . . . victorious. In the middle sixties we were already top of the Roll of Honour of the flag-wavers and the bowmen. Unfortunately shortly after we had to relinquish our supremacy but only beacuse of poor generational replacement and certainly not for the unworthiness of those who were spirit and soul of Canneti; in fact it was thanks to the precious work done then that the District was kept united, our values alive, and a chance to grow in the best way possible given to all the leaders and supporters who came after. We therefore had to be satisfied with discontinuous success during all the '70s (nevertheless conquering the Coat in 1977) and '80s, up to the '90s, the truly glorious '90s that saw us win 9 Pitchers with 2 Coats, thus bringing us at a stone's throw from the top of the Roll of Honour, both with our flag-wavers and our bowmen. But Canneti is not only this . . . you can read about the rest if you continue exploring the other sections of this site. Here is a list of all those who had the honour to lead our District, with their roles, and - near the names of the Captains - the number of Pitchers conquered.

CAPTAINS (a Captain is responsible of everything that is done in the District, and represents it in every occasion; he is elected every year by the District Council that groups all the followers who are of age) = 1962 Ermanno Ricci, 1963-1967 Mario Casini (4), 1968 Agostino Golinelli, 1969-1979 Giulio Morelli (4), 1980-1981 Mauro Generali, 1982-1985 Fausto Morelli (2), since 1986 Paolo Saletti (13)

DEPUTY-CAPTAINS (a Deputy-Captain substitutes the Captain in his duties when he is unable to for any reason; he is nominated by the Captain) = 1962 Mario Casini, 1963-1964 Nello Lorenzoni, 1965-1968 Giulio Morelli, 1969-1974 Giuseppe Toti, 1975-1979 Mauro Generali, 1980-1981 Fausto Morelli, 1982-1985 Paolo Saletti, 1986-1991 Fausto Morelli, 1992-2000 Maurizio Micheli, since 2001 Filippo Quinci

Priors (honorific title conferred exclusively to ex-Captains and to those whose actions proved them worthy of preserving the spirit and values of the District, being depositaries of the Statute; there is no limit in number to their election, and they are nominated by the Captain at the Council's proposal) = Giulio Morelli since 1979, Mauro Generali since 1981, Fausto Morelli since 1985, Orfeo Sorbellini since 1997, Armando Dinetti since 1999, Enzo Bensi since 2002.

SECRETARIES (a Secretary collaborates with the Captain in the current management of the District; he is nominated by the Captain, but only if the latter considers it necessary) = 1962- 1979 Giulio Morelli, 1980-1985 Duccio Papini, 1986-1990 Fausto Morelli, since 1991 Beatrice Zamperini

TREASURERS (a Treasurer collaborates with the Captain in the management and care of District property; he is nominated by the Captain, but only if the latter considers it necessary) = 1962-1974 Giuseppe Toti, 1975-1979 Giulio Morelli, since 1980 Paolo Saletti


C.E.C. (?) forever		The future has already begun

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The Mediaeval Group

Our victories

The howl of the Dragon Riguardo and the Pope The Great Council

Quartiere di Canneti - Via Simone Martini, 37 - 53027 - San Quirico d'Orcia (Siena) - tel. e fax 0577-897642

E-mail: info@canneti.it