Guilds of Ankh-Morpork

History of Guilds

Ankh-Morpork has over 300 guilds.

Some guilds have been in existence for centuries, and some guilds are modern forms of ancient syndicates. The Patrician Lord Vetinari made the guilds register with the Patrician's Palace, and made them regulate their members' behaviors. For example, before the legalization of the guilds, thieves could rob and mug as many people for as many times as they, the thieves, liked, and the monetary gain may be high or low depending on luck or hard work; after legalization, the Thieves' Guild makes money mainly by having rich people pay an annual premium so that members of the guild do not have to break into people's houses and rob them. This and similar systems make life more predictable, and people, including the Thieves, have time to get on with their lives.

Guild enforcers police the behaviors of guild members and make working a privilege of guild members. This ensures two things: clients will get fully professional services, and guild members can charge a high price for their work. Guild enforcers have the right and indeed duty to catch and punish a working non-member; this kicks the City Watch out of a lot of its traditional jurisdiction (A cop will only catch you. What would, say, an Assassin do to a freelancer?). A Guildhouse and its grounds are considered private properties, and even in case of a suspected crime are not to be intruded by Watchmen. Many guilds take in orphans and train them up in guild schools, giving them skills for a career for life- the surnames (Clockson, Ludd) are a telling sign of this heritage. Some guilds, such as the Assassins' Guild, offer such a high-quality education that people pay for their children to be educated there. Many guilds hire their own physicians and run their own private hospitals for members.

Most Powerful Guilds

In Ankh-Morpork, citizens do not vote, and the Patrician is the absolute ruler; however, Lord Vetinari does hold meetings with civic leaders. During these meetings, the more powerful guilds appear to be:

• Assassins' Guild, leader Lord Downey
• Beggars' Guild, leader Queen Molly
• Fools' Guild, leader Dr. Whiteface
• Seamstresses' Guild, leader Mrs Rosemary Palm
• Thieves' Guild, leader Mr Boggis
• Guild of Merchants, leader; Current Grand Master is the greengrocer Antimony Parker.

Mr. Slant, president of the Guild of Lawyers, also has heavy influence on matters, but this is less because of the power of the members, and more because Slant himself personifies precedents and is terrifyingly good at finding precedents and loopholes.

Additional Guilds

Other guilds mentioned through the books include:

Guild of Accountants and Usurers, leader Mr Frostrip Actors' Guild Apothecaries, Society Of Archaeologists' Guild Alchemists' Guild, leader Thomas Silverfish Ancient And Alluvial Lodge of the Fraternal Herders Association‎ Architects' Guild Armourers' Guild Artificers' Guild, leader Mr Pony Bakers' Guild Bandits' Guild Guild of Barber-Surgeons Benevolent Company of Rope Makers and Braiders Butchers' Guild, leader Gerhardt Sock Guild of Butlers, Valets and Gentlemen's Gentlemen, president, Mr Neattley. Carters' and Drovers' Guild Chefs' Guild Clockmakers' Guild, Secretary Dr Hopkins Council of Churches, Temples, Sacred Groves and Big Ominous Rocks (While not a guild per se, the Council performs the same political role for its member organizations as many of the Guilds do for their members.) Guild of Confectioners Conjurers' Guild Guild of C.M.O.T. Dibblers Dogs' Guild (previous leader Big Fido) Guild of Embalmers and Allied Trades Guild of Engravers and Prìnters (formerly the Guild of Engravers) Guild of Ecdysiasts, Nautchers, Cancanieres and Exponents of Exotic Dance Firefighters' Guild

Guild of Fools and Joculators and College of Clowns Gamblers' Guild, leader Scrote Jones Glassblowers' Guild Haberdashers' Guild Handlemen's Guild Guild of Historians Guild of Lags, headed by Joe "Lifer" Bushyhead Launderers' Guild, headed by Mrs. Manger Guild of Lawyers Guild of Merchants, (formerly Guild Of Merchants and Traders) Guild of Musicians Guild of Plumbers and Dunnikin Divers Guild of Priests, Sacerdotes and Occult Intermediaries Rat Guild (alleged) Ratcatchers' Guild Guild of Shoemakers and Leatherworkers Smugglers' Guild Tailors' Guild Teachers' Guild, latest leader Master Greetling Guild of Trespassers Guild of Town Criers Guild of Victims, only member Mr Echinoid Blacksly Watchmen's Guild A new guild associated with the Clacks but distinct from the Handlemens' Guild above, is briefly mentioned in The Fifth Elephant, but is not formally named..

Annotation

Until recently, Japanese police considered Yakuza gangs a necessary evil that helped keeping street crime down, under the motto: the only thing worse than organized crime is disorganized crime. Vetinari would approve.