CAPTAIN CONTRADA OF THE WAVE - FROM THE PAST

A book of Resolutions of 1524, the oldest conserved in any Contrada archive, shows that the members of the Contrada of the Wave not only had a perfectly functioning organization at that time, complete with officers, assemblies and headquarters, but also that their main objective was to participate and win in every jousting match , tournament, hunt or Palio race contested in Siena.
The banner of the Contrada was striped black and white.
In a spectacular processional float was presented by the Wave on 12 April 1717, in the pageant inaugurating the Palio held in honor of the new lady governor of Siena, Violante of Bavaria.
The chronicler mentions a “majestic float in the shape of a rock ,drawn by seahorses. Neptune bearing his trident held the loftiest place on the rock”. The Contrada banner on this occasion showed “waves of cobalt blue and white”.
To put an end to the proud antagonism that for more than a century had fueled violent clashes in the old marketplace between the members of the Wave and the Tower, the Chief magistrate of Siena organized a solemn ceremony in 1713.The leaders of the two Contrade signed before a notary a “treaty to last in perpetuity,” whit which they “mutually forgave and forgot each and every affront, resentment and aggression, violence and offences.” But nowadays this ancient antagonism is not died.
 

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