For 430 years, the Republic of Lucca was an independent state at the apex of which there was the Collegio degli Anziani (Board of the Elders), to whom all political decisions were entrusted.

There were ten Elders, three for each terziere, in addition to a Gonfaloniere chosen by rotation. They remained in office for two months, during which time they had to give up private affairs and were obliged to remain locked in the Government Palace where they also ate their meals and spent the nights in the ten rooms assigned to them.

The Gonfaloniere played a leading role highlighted by his dress, which differed from that of the other Elders. These were dressed completely in black. The Gonfaloniere, on the other hand, wore a satin or crimson velvet suit as well as silk stockings, shoes and hat. He wore a showy red jacket, called 'of the 60 soups', in homage to the number of meals he would consume during the two months of the Governorship. Both the Gonfaloniere and the other Elders had to provide themselves with the clothings and wigs they had to wear.