Otto di guardia e balìa della Republica
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
State Archives of Florence
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Viale Giovine Italia 6, 50122 Florence
Contact information: phone number
0039 055263201
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
asfi@archiviodistato.firenze.it
Reference number
Otto di guardia e balìa della Republica
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Otto di guardia e balìa of the Republic
Title (official language of the state)
Otto di guardia e balìa della Republica
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Otto di guardia e balìa
Date(s)
1406/1534
Language(s)
ita
lat
Extent
178 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This fonds comprises records produced by the Otto di Guardia e balía magistrature during the Republican period. It mainly includes orders and resolutions reporting the judiciary activity of this court. Each volume, after an incipit with the name of the officers in charge, the time of their mandate and the name of the notary, contains records in chronological order. The records often include marginal headings with brief data on the provision and the person or people involved, references to other records of legislative provisions and information on the outcome of the procedure. The documentation for the first decades of the court's activity is somewhat incomplete, acquiring a certain chronological continuity only after 1460.
As the Otto di guardia e balìa also had jurisdiction over the Jewish community of Florence, this fonds contains important data regarding the early times of the Portuguese and Spanish Jews settlement in the city and other domains of the State. Particularly interesting are the volumes dating from 1492-1493 (92-97), where it is possible to find evidence on the arrival of Jewish exiles after the expulsion of Spain. For the same reason, the volumes dating from the late years of the 15th century and early 16th century also could be an important source of information regarding Portuguese Jews who settled in Firenze in the aftermath of the banishment and forced conversions in Portugal.
However, it is possible to find in this fonds also data related to Jews of Iberian origin established in the city even before the late-15th century expulsions from Portugal and Spain. For instance, volume 80 (1488) includes a reference to a special tax imposed on some Spanish Jews dwelling in Florence on August 25, 1488 (fol. 62).
As the Otto di guardia e balìa also had jurisdiction over the Jewish community of Florence, this fonds contains important data regarding the early times of the Portuguese and Spanish Jews settlement in the city and other domains of the State. Particularly interesting are the volumes dating from 1492-1493 (92-97), where it is possible to find evidence on the arrival of Jewish exiles after the expulsion of Spain. For the same reason, the volumes dating from the late years of the 15th century and early 16th century also could be an important source of information regarding Portuguese Jews who settled in Firenze in the aftermath of the banishment and forced conversions in Portugal.
However, it is possible to find in this fonds also data related to Jews of Iberian origin established in the city even before the late-15th century expulsions from Portugal and Spain. For instance, volume 80 (1488) includes a reference to a special tax imposed on some Spanish Jews dwelling in Florence on August 25, 1488 (fol. 62).
Archival history
The Otto di guardia e balìa records were kept in the magistrate's office until its extinction in 1777. The Supremo tribunale di giustizia (Supreme Court of Justice) then inherited its competencies and archive. The same court also gathered records of criminal nature produced by other judicial offices since the Republican era. However, in the early 19th century, all judicial records, both civil and criminal, were under the responsibility of the Magistrato Supremo (Supreme Magistrate), regardless of the place where they were physically kept.
A few years later, during the brief period of French domination, the custody of the Florentine judicial archives passed to the cancelliere della Corte d'appello (the chancellor of the Court of Appeal). Despite the legal provisions issued in this regard, the collections were never merged with the other archival complexes produced during the history of the Florentine State and then reunited in the Bureau d'archives générales (later the Conservation générale des archives de Toscane), created on May 20, 1808 and placed under the direction of Luigi Lustrini. However, it is likely that, during the years of French domination, the judicial documentation began to be gathered in some historical buildings of the city, such as the Medici Theater and adjacent venues of the Uffizi.
After the Restaurazione, every measure taken by the French government was abolished, including in the matter of archives. Thus, all the papers returned to the respective offices. However, it did not affect the judicial documents, since they were never actually merged into the then extinct Conservation générale.
In 1855, Otto di guardia e balìa records were incorporated into the Archivio Centrale di Stato di Firenze, together with other criminal archives. According to the provisions of the then superintendent Francesco Bonaini (1806-1874), the documentation of the Republican period was separated from the rest of the records received in the archive and incorporated into the so-called "historical archive" of the Centrale di Stato. Since then, it constitutes an independent fonds.
Around the mid-1870s, when Cesare Guasti was the director of the archive, the fonds were reorganised and relocated according to a functional logic. Then, all records produced by the Florentine judicial magistrates were reaggregated in chronological succession from the republican period up to the most recent times. Since 1876, these fonds became part of the 8th division of the Archivio di Stato di Firenze, relating to the administration of justice. The last reorganisation took place in the early 20th century when the preunification judiciary records were again isolated and placed in the 4th section (financial and judicial archives of the Republic and the Principato), with the exception of the Magistrato dei pupilli fonds.
All these archival fonds, including that of the Otto di guardia e balìa, were severely damaged in the sequence of a flood in 1966. Following the recovery, recognition and restoration interventions, in which the Committee for the Rescue of Italian Art (CRIA ) played an essential role, the documentation was largely restored. However, in some cases, it was not possible to restore exactly the initial situation of the archives. So, even at present, many pieces of the Otto di guardia e balìa fonds are not available for consultation.
A few years later, during the brief period of French domination, the custody of the Florentine judicial archives passed to the cancelliere della Corte d'appello (the chancellor of the Court of Appeal). Despite the legal provisions issued in this regard, the collections were never merged with the other archival complexes produced during the history of the Florentine State and then reunited in the Bureau d'archives générales (later the Conservation générale des archives de Toscane), created on May 20, 1808 and placed under the direction of Luigi Lustrini. However, it is likely that, during the years of French domination, the judicial documentation began to be gathered in some historical buildings of the city, such as the Medici Theater and adjacent venues of the Uffizi.
After the Restaurazione, every measure taken by the French government was abolished, including in the matter of archives. Thus, all the papers returned to the respective offices. However, it did not affect the judicial documents, since they were never actually merged into the then extinct Conservation générale.
In 1855, Otto di guardia e balìa records were incorporated into the Archivio Centrale di Stato di Firenze, together with other criminal archives. According to the provisions of the then superintendent Francesco Bonaini (1806-1874), the documentation of the Republican period was separated from the rest of the records received in the archive and incorporated into the so-called "historical archive" of the Centrale di Stato. Since then, it constitutes an independent fonds.
Around the mid-1870s, when Cesare Guasti was the director of the archive, the fonds were reorganised and relocated according to a functional logic. Then, all records produced by the Florentine judicial magistrates were reaggregated in chronological succession from the republican period up to the most recent times. Since 1876, these fonds became part of the 8th division of the Archivio di Stato di Firenze, relating to the administration of justice. The last reorganisation took place in the early 20th century when the preunification judiciary records were again isolated and placed in the 4th section (financial and judicial archives of the Republic and the Principato), with the exception of the Magistrato dei pupilli fonds.
All these archival fonds, including that of the Otto di guardia e balìa, were severely damaged in the sequence of a flood in 1966. Following the recovery, recognition and restoration interventions, in which the Committee for the Rescue of Italian Art (CRIA ) played an essential role, the documentation was largely restored. However, in some cases, it was not possible to restore exactly the initial situation of the archives. So, even at present, many pieces of the Otto di guardia e balìa fonds are not available for consultation.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Otto di Guardia e Balia was established in 1378, after the "Tumulto dei Ciompi", the popular revolt instigated by wool carders ("ciompi") that took place in Florence in June and August 1378. It was created as an extraordinary court with surveillance and protection duties of public security. After the resolution of January 21, 1380, it became a permanent body of the Florentine Republic.
The court was headquartered in the Pallazo del Podestà, and it was constituted of eight citizens representing the different "Arti" (guilds) of Florence. They were assisted in the exercise of their functions by a staff of officers (ranging between eight and forty), including a notary, a supervisor, a "manigoldo" (an executioner) and guards. The notary, also known as "esecutore degli ordinamenti degli Otto" (executor of the Otto's orders), was a foreigner. In addition to this staff, the Otto had also a network of messengers, agents and spies spread throughout the territories of the Republic and abroad.
Initially, the Otto had mainly operational and executive tasks, such as surveilling and pursuing criminals, preventing the exiles from returning to Florentine territory, controlling potential threats of enemy states and sovereigns, investigating and capturing suspects of rebellion, and collecting confidential information. Their mission also included tasks aimed to maintain public order, such as the supervision of the application of rules relating to the prohibition of circulation at night, illegal trade, gambling and gathering, the control of the proper conduct of the Signoria's election process, the isolation of plague victims, and the management of guard services.
Until the mid-15th century, the Otto were in charge of hiring, dislocating and maintaining the militias stationed in the domain and managing the fortifications in collaboration with other officers. In sum, they coordinated the supervision of the territory by acting as a liaison body between the various local administrative and judicial districts ("podesterie" and "vicariates").
Due to the information in their possession and the functions they exercised, the Otto were often called to participate in the "Consulte" (inquiries) and to take part in the so-called "balìe", i.e. commissions set up at times of emergency and invested with extraordinary powers.
During the 15th century, the Otto underwent a decisive transformation, expanding their powers and judicial functions, albeit mainly in an informal way. Thus, the Otto became, in fact, the highest penal court of the Florentine Republic and an instrument for the affirmation of the Medici's dominance.
In 1478, the statutes of the Otto — the so-called "legge gismondina" — were drafted by regulating their judicial activity and confirming and legalising their most relevant prerogatives. After 1502, with the transfer of the powers of the podestà and the captain of the people to the newly constituted Consiglio di giustizia (Council of Justice), the Otto assumed almost total control of the administration of criminal justice in Florence.
The court was headquartered in the Pallazo del Podestà, and it was constituted of eight citizens representing the different "Arti" (guilds) of Florence. They were assisted in the exercise of their functions by a staff of officers (ranging between eight and forty), including a notary, a supervisor, a "manigoldo" (an executioner) and guards. The notary, also known as "esecutore degli ordinamenti degli Otto" (executor of the Otto's orders), was a foreigner. In addition to this staff, the Otto had also a network of messengers, agents and spies spread throughout the territories of the Republic and abroad.
Initially, the Otto had mainly operational and executive tasks, such as surveilling and pursuing criminals, preventing the exiles from returning to Florentine territory, controlling potential threats of enemy states and sovereigns, investigating and capturing suspects of rebellion, and collecting confidential information. Their mission also included tasks aimed to maintain public order, such as the supervision of the application of rules relating to the prohibition of circulation at night, illegal trade, gambling and gathering, the control of the proper conduct of the Signoria's election process, the isolation of plague victims, and the management of guard services.
Until the mid-15th century, the Otto were in charge of hiring, dislocating and maintaining the militias stationed in the domain and managing the fortifications in collaboration with other officers. In sum, they coordinated the supervision of the territory by acting as a liaison body between the various local administrative and judicial districts ("podesterie" and "vicariates").
Due to the information in their possession and the functions they exercised, the Otto were often called to participate in the "Consulte" (inquiries) and to take part in the so-called "balìe", i.e. commissions set up at times of emergency and invested with extraordinary powers.
During the 15th century, the Otto underwent a decisive transformation, expanding their powers and judicial functions, albeit mainly in an informal way. Thus, the Otto became, in fact, the highest penal court of the Florentine Republic and an instrument for the affirmation of the Medici's dominance.
In 1478, the statutes of the Otto — the so-called "legge gismondina" — were drafted by regulating their judicial activity and confirming and legalising their most relevant prerogatives. After 1502, with the transfer of the powers of the podestà and the captain of the people to the newly constituted Consiglio di giustizia (Council of Justice), the Otto assumed almost total control of the administration of criminal justice in Florence.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
Records are arranged chronologically, except for some units at the end of the fonds.
Access, restrictions
Numbers 1-9, 11, 13, 15-16, 18-20, 23-32, 35-39, 42, 49, 51, 60, 62, 65, 73, 90, 99-101, 103-104, 107, 112, 142, 183, 186, 191, 198-199, 207-208, 214-220, and 227 are unavailable for consultation. Numbers 214-220 were relocated to the Otti di guardia e balía del principato fonds.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2021
Bibliography
Linked resources
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