Collegio
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
State Archives of Venice
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Campo dei Frari, San Polo 3002, 30125 Venice
Contact information: phone number
0039 0415222281
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
as-ve@archivi.beniculturali.it
Reference number
Collegio
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
College
Title (official language of the state)
Collegio
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Collegio
Date(s)
1223/1797
Language(s)
ita
Extent
3,130 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The documentation of the Collegio is particularly complex, as it was an assembly with consultative powers for a broad range of matters, with strong entanglements with other Venetian institutions. The college also dealt with religious issues, including those that were related to ecclesiastical benefices, rights of patronage, relations with the Holy See and issues concerning bishops. It was also under its competencies to welcome foreign ambassadors.
Documents related to Jews and Conversos are surely numerous and findable in different series of the Collegio fonds. It is the case of the Esposizioni Roma (presentations from Rome) series, which comprises records regarding encounters between the nuncio and the Collegio. Two examples of documentation regarding Sephardic Jews and Conversos in this series are the following:
Esposizioni Roma, reg. 19, fols. 52-53, 57v, July 23, August 3, 1621: documents regarding the case of Jorge and Fernão Dias, two Portuguese brothers, merchants, who lived as Christians in Cannaregio, from 1602 to 1615 and later converted to Judaism in Venice. For this reason, they were denounced to the Inquisition.
reg. 4, fol. 197v, September 20, 1591: the case of João Lopes, a Portuguese New Christian, close to Pope Sixtus, who ended up departing to Salonica, probably to live as a Jew.
Another series containing records on the same matters is the Suppliche (supplications). For instance, it includes information on a petition presented to the Senate by Gaspar Ribeiro and his son, João Ribeiro, to be granted the right of citizenship (filza VI, fol. 241, June 5, 1578). Another example is a petition by Vincenzo Scroffa and his wife, Violante, requesting that a ship with 700 barrels, which was built in the Black Sea and had belonged to the above mentioned Gaspar Ribeiro and João Ribeiro, both deceased, should be considered part of their heritance, since Gaspar was Violante's father (filza VII, fol. 113, May 5, 1582).
Documents related to Jews and Conversos are surely numerous and findable in different series of the Collegio fonds. It is the case of the Esposizioni Roma (presentations from Rome) series, which comprises records regarding encounters between the nuncio and the Collegio. Two examples of documentation regarding Sephardic Jews and Conversos in this series are the following:
Esposizioni Roma, reg. 19, fols. 52-53, 57v, July 23, August 3, 1621: documents regarding the case of Jorge and Fernão Dias, two Portuguese brothers, merchants, who lived as Christians in Cannaregio, from 1602 to 1615 and later converted to Judaism in Venice. For this reason, they were denounced to the Inquisition.
reg. 4, fol. 197v, September 20, 1591: the case of João Lopes, a Portuguese New Christian, close to Pope Sixtus, who ended up departing to Salonica, probably to live as a Jew.
Another series containing records on the same matters is the Suppliche (supplications). For instance, it includes information on a petition presented to the Senate by Gaspar Ribeiro and his son, João Ribeiro, to be granted the right of citizenship (filza VI, fol. 241, June 5, 1578). Another example is a petition by Vincenzo Scroffa and his wife, Violante, requesting that a ship with 700 barrels, which was built in the Black Sea and had belonged to the above mentioned Gaspar Ribeiro and João Ribeiro, both deceased, should be considered part of their heritance, since Gaspar was Violante's father (filza VII, fol. 113, May 5, 1582).
Archival history
The oldest references to the existence of archives in the Republic of Venice suggest the concentration of documents in the Basilica of Saint Mark, the Doge's Palace and the buildings of the different Councils and Colleges of government.
Efforts to organise and better preserve written documents of the institutions of the Republic are known in the 13th century. For instance, in 1266, the Maggior Consiglio (Major Council) determined that all its decisions should be transcribed and that one of the copies should be stored in the archive of the Quarantia (Council of forty). In 1271 and 1272, new orders determined that all "avogadori" (magistrates) should return any documents that they eventually had in their possession for their own personal use to the Doge's archives.
On October 27, 1283, a deliberation referred to the fact that the laws of the Maggior Consiglio were registered in ten books. Subsequently, it was determined the creation of a commission to copy the laws that were still in place. The existence of a Cancelleria Ducale (Chancellery in the Doge's Palace) where the most important documents were stored, with proper officials, probably became a reality in this period.
After the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797, document collections faced many challenges as they were separated to different areas of the city, while others were transported to other cities, such as Paris, Vienna and Milan. In 1807, the fonds was divided and stored in three main buildings: political documentation was transferred to the Scuola di S. Teodoro, judicial documentation was transferred to the Convent of S. Giovanni Laterano, and the documentation related to state and financial matters was deposited at S. Provolo.
On December 13, 1815, Francesco I determined the reunification of the archival collections and, in 1822, the Convent of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari was chosen to become the main building of the archive. In the last decades of the 19th century, some additional structures were added. At the same time, a successful negotiation process allowed for the return of almost all archival collections that had been sent to other cities in the first decades of the 19th century.
Efforts to organise and better preserve written documents of the institutions of the Republic are known in the 13th century. For instance, in 1266, the Maggior Consiglio (Major Council) determined that all its decisions should be transcribed and that one of the copies should be stored in the archive of the Quarantia (Council of forty). In 1271 and 1272, new orders determined that all "avogadori" (magistrates) should return any documents that they eventually had in their possession for their own personal use to the Doge's archives.
On October 27, 1283, a deliberation referred to the fact that the laws of the Maggior Consiglio were registered in ten books. Subsequently, it was determined the creation of a commission to copy the laws that were still in place. The existence of a Cancelleria Ducale (Chancellery in the Doge's Palace) where the most important documents were stored, with proper officials, probably became a reality in this period.
After the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797, document collections faced many challenges as they were separated to different areas of the city, while others were transported to other cities, such as Paris, Vienna and Milan. In 1807, the fonds was divided and stored in three main buildings: political documentation was transferred to the Scuola di S. Teodoro, judicial documentation was transferred to the Convent of S. Giovanni Laterano, and the documentation related to state and financial matters was deposited at S. Provolo.
On December 13, 1815, Francesco I determined the reunification of the archival collections and, in 1822, the Convent of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari was chosen to become the main building of the archive. In the last decades of the 19th century, some additional structures were added. At the same time, a successful negotiation process allowed for the return of almost all archival collections that had been sent to other cities in the first decades of the 19th century.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Collegio (college) of Venice was an assembly that brought together different bodies of governance. It was customary that the college assemblies served to debate important affairs, sometimes ordering the creation of special commissions intended to deal and advise on specific matters. Some of them would later become permanent if they proved to be advantageous for the government of the Republic.
The members of the Collegio were called "savi" (wise men). The Collegio was formed by the Signoria and three groups of "savi", who were called the "tre mani" (literary, the three hands) of the Collegio. When together in assembly, they formed the Pien Collegio (Full College), which had its own attributions. First and foremost, they had pre-consultative capacity in most matters that were later dealt with by the different groups of "savi" or the Senate in matters of political importance.
Their deliberation capacities were larger in matters related to the Church, as it was customary for the Pien Collegio to settle the disputes that arose in matters of ecclesiastical benefits and patronages, assisted by the Consultori in jure (consultants or advisers for law).
In articulations with other institutions, the Collegio also dealt with matters related to specific privileges of other cities and some issues concerning the "dazi" and "gabelle" (taxes). It was also under the Collegio’s obligations to receive the ambassadors of foreign states, as well as the nuncios of the Holy See and the bishops and prelates sent or appointed to the Venetian Republic. In matters of jurisdictional conflicts, it was also the Collegio’s role to deal with conflicts between magistrates or between communities.
The Collegio was, therefore, formed by four main groups:
1) the Serenissima Signoria, composed of the Doge of Venice and its closest advisors;
2) the Savi del Consiglio (wise men of the council), who were considered to be the Savi Grandi (Great wise men), or the Savi del Consiglio dei Pregadi (Council of the Pregadi, that was later called Senate). The number of "savi" who composed the Collegio varied, but was ultimately fixed in six members that would exercise their role for six months. Their functions were very broad and only the most highly regarded and esteemed patricians were called to this office;
3) the Savi di terra ferma (wise men for the hinterland), whose inclusion in the Collegio had probable origins in the extraordinary election of a special commission of "savi" to advise the Collegio in the context of the wars of 1412. This position became a regular appointment since 1420, at least. They became a permanent group of five "savi" appointed by the Senate;
4) the Savi agli ordini (wise men to the orders). The first references to their presence in the Collegio date back to 1402. They were five "savi" also elected by the Senate. In the early days, they were entrusted with issues related to the maritime activity of the Republic. Later, their position became mostly occupied by young patricians as a sort of training ground to initiate them in matters of the government of the Republic. They had no deliberative vote.
In 1526, the jurisdiction of the Collegio was increased, when it was given the power not to disclose to the Senate any acts that it deemed appropriate to keep secret ("comunicate non letter"). This faculty together with others that the Collegio already possessed — for instance, to issue decrees during the holidays of the Senate ("decreti mandantibus sapientibus") or to suspend the execution of any decision taken by the senators —, made the Collegio, especially in 1700, the most relevant government institution of the Republic.
The members of the Collegio were called "savi" (wise men). The Collegio was formed by the Signoria and three groups of "savi", who were called the "tre mani" (literary, the three hands) of the Collegio. When together in assembly, they formed the Pien Collegio (Full College), which had its own attributions. First and foremost, they had pre-consultative capacity in most matters that were later dealt with by the different groups of "savi" or the Senate in matters of political importance.
Their deliberation capacities were larger in matters related to the Church, as it was customary for the Pien Collegio to settle the disputes that arose in matters of ecclesiastical benefits and patronages, assisted by the Consultori in jure (consultants or advisers for law).
In articulations with other institutions, the Collegio also dealt with matters related to specific privileges of other cities and some issues concerning the "dazi" and "gabelle" (taxes). It was also under the Collegio’s obligations to receive the ambassadors of foreign states, as well as the nuncios of the Holy See and the bishops and prelates sent or appointed to the Venetian Republic. In matters of jurisdictional conflicts, it was also the Collegio’s role to deal with conflicts between magistrates or between communities.
The Collegio was, therefore, formed by four main groups:
1) the Serenissima Signoria, composed of the Doge of Venice and its closest advisors;
2) the Savi del Consiglio (wise men of the council), who were considered to be the Savi Grandi (Great wise men), or the Savi del Consiglio dei Pregadi (Council of the Pregadi, that was later called Senate). The number of "savi" who composed the Collegio varied, but was ultimately fixed in six members that would exercise their role for six months. Their functions were very broad and only the most highly regarded and esteemed patricians were called to this office;
3) the Savi di terra ferma (wise men for the hinterland), whose inclusion in the Collegio had probable origins in the extraordinary election of a special commission of "savi" to advise the Collegio in the context of the wars of 1412. This position became a regular appointment since 1420, at least. They became a permanent group of five "savi" appointed by the Senate;
4) the Savi agli ordini (wise men to the orders). The first references to their presence in the Collegio date back to 1402. They were five "savi" also elected by the Senate. In the early days, they were entrusted with issues related to the maritime activity of the Republic. Later, their position became mostly occupied by young patricians as a sort of training ground to initiate them in matters of the government of the Republic. They had no deliberative vote.
In 1526, the jurisdiction of the Collegio was increased, when it was given the power not to disclose to the Senate any acts that it deemed appropriate to keep secret ("comunicate non letter"). This faculty together with others that the Collegio already possessed — for instance, to issue decrees during the holidays of the Senate ("decreti mandantibus sapientibus") or to suspend the execution of any decision taken by the senators —, made the Collegio, especially in 1700, the most relevant government institution of the Republic.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is divided into three main series - Minor consiglio, Serenissima signoria, and Collegio - each of them subdivided into secondary series.
Access, restrictions
Finding aids
Different finding aids are available both in place and online. See them in the archive online database below.
Links to finding aids
Existence and location of copies
Considering the institutional nature of the Collegio, as an assembly that aggregated officials and magistrates from other institutions, it is possible to find some documents in other related fonds.
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Bibliography
Linked resources
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