In a few states, the word was sometimes used to refer to the constitutional government of a republic rather than the power exercised by an individual monarch or noble family. For example, the word was sometimes used in Renaissance times to refer to the government of the Republics of Florence or of Venice, as in Shakespeare's Othello in which Othello says: "Let him do his spite: My services which I have done the signiory Shall out-tongue his complaints" - (Act one, scene one) Occasionally, the word referred to specific organs or functions of the state. The signoria in the Republic of Florence was the highest executive organ, and the signoria of the Republic of Venice was mainly a judicial body. List of signorie See also Seignory Signoria of Florence Signoria of Venice Forni della Signoria References Italian Renaissance