Who were the Compagnacci and why did they resent Savonarola’s reforms?

The Compagnacci were a faction in Florence that emerged as political opponents to the regime supported by the friar Girolamo Savonarola.1

They specifically resented Savonarola’s reforms because of the strict, puritanical lifestyle he imposed upon the city. Savonarola’s moral crusade included campaigns against gambling, blasphemy, and illicit sexual activity. Furthermore, he organized groups of young followers to collect and destroy "vanities"—such as elegant clothing, books, paintings, and dice—in public bonfires, which alienated those who favored the city's previous, more permissive social atmosphere.1

In addition to their opposition to his moral austerity, the Compagnacci were part of a broader coalition of enemies that included the Arrabbiati and the Bigi, who opposed Savonarola due to his political influence, his unwavering support for an alliance with France, and his vocal denunciations of the papacy.1