Consultori in jure
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
Consultori in jure
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Consultants in law
Title (official language of the state)
Consultori in jure
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Consultori in jure
Date(s)
1606/1797
Language(s)
ita
Extent
593 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This fonds contains documentation produced by the "consultori" (advisors or consultants) in specific cases in which their legal opinion was required. By virtue of the Archival History of this fonds, the pieces of advice given by the "consultori" are, sometimes, attached to documents of other institutions that were part of the case concerning each issue.
Among the cases reported to the "consultori", some are concerning Sephardic Jews and Iberian conversos living in the Republic of Venice. It is the case of a reply by Paolo Sarpi to a previous consultation of the Assistenti (or Tre Savii sopra l'Eresia, literally, three wisemen for the heresy), who represented the interests of the state in the Inquisition of Venice, regarding the case of a New Christian, Simão Gomes, who, in Venice, had been seen wearing a red hat of a professing Jew and, for this reason, was accused of apostasy. The record dates from December 17 and 20, 1616 (filza 12, fols. 384, 386-7).
Among the cases reported to the "consultori", some are concerning Sephardic Jews and Iberian conversos living in the Republic of Venice. It is the case of a reply by Paolo Sarpi to a previous consultation of the Assistenti (or Tre Savii sopra l'Eresia, literally, three wisemen for the heresy), who represented the interests of the state in the Inquisition of Venice, regarding the case of a New Christian, Simão Gomes, who, in Venice, had been seen wearing a red hat of a professing Jew and, for this reason, was accused of apostasy. The record dates from December 17 and 20, 1616 (filza 12, fols. 384, 386-7).
Archival history
The "consultori" (advisors or consultants) had access to the archives of the Doge, but they had no office in the palace and there was no specific archive of their own. The original records of the matters they were requested to give advice on were kept in the files of the Senate's deliberations or in other sections, while the minutes remained in the personal archive of each "consultore".
The first exception occurred after the death of one "consultore" named Sarpi, on January 15, 1623. Then, the Senate ordered that all his papers of public interest were to be kept in the Convento dei servi (convent of the servants) and should be consigned to its secretary. From that moment onwards, the same procedure was followed with all his successors. In the same cases, the documents were in fact transcribed, creating a sort of second archive. These documents were organised by subject, and were sometimes enriched by other documents related to the issues being dealt with.
This fonds underwent various alterations in the 17th and 18th centuries, when some documents were compiled in miscellanies or other forms of organisation and ordination.
The activity of the Consultori in jure ceased with the fall of the Republic of Venice, in 1797.
The first exception occurred after the death of one "consultore" named Sarpi, on January 15, 1623. Then, the Senate ordered that all his papers of public interest were to be kept in the Convento dei servi (convent of the servants) and should be consigned to its secretary. From that moment onwards, the same procedure was followed with all his successors. In the same cases, the documents were in fact transcribed, creating a sort of second archive. These documents were organised by subject, and were sometimes enriched by other documents related to the issues being dealt with.
This fonds underwent various alterations in the 17th and 18th centuries, when some documents were compiled in miscellanies or other forms of organisation and ordination.
The activity of the Consultori in jure ceased with the fall of the Republic of Venice, in 1797.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Consultori in jure (legal consultants) were not an autonomous institution with proper structure and competences. They were a group of individuals whose task was to assist the institutions of the Republic and the Doges in legal issues.
There were three consultants: a state consultant (in jure), a theologian trained in canon law, and another one that acted as a reviewer of the letters sent by the Roman Curia. The state consultant was permanently established by virtue of a decree of the Maggior Consiglio (Major Council) in 1301, with the task of providing assistance to the government in matters of legal doctrine. His election was initially a prerogative of the Doge and his councilors until 1541, when it passed to the Consiglio di dieci (Council of Ten) and finally to the Senate.
The canonist was established for the first time during the conflitto dell'Interdetto (interdict conflict) in 1606-7, which opposed Pope Paul V to the Republic of Venice. At the time, the institutions of Venice felt the need to appoint a clergyman that could illustrate governance in these matters, and thus appointed Fr. Paolo Sarpi as his first holder on January 28, 1606. The office was later given a coadjutor, who, in 1656, was separated from the canonist, becoming a permanent and autonomous function as the reviser for briefs and other letters that were sent by the Roman Curia, as well as matters of temporal possession of ecclesiastical benefits. Both were elected by the Senate.
There were three consultants: a state consultant (in jure), a theologian trained in canon law, and another one that acted as a reviewer of the letters sent by the Roman Curia. The state consultant was permanently established by virtue of a decree of the Maggior Consiglio (Major Council) in 1301, with the task of providing assistance to the government in matters of legal doctrine. His election was initially a prerogative of the Doge and his councilors until 1541, when it passed to the Consiglio di dieci (Council of Ten) and finally to the Senate.
The canonist was established for the first time during the conflitto dell'Interdetto (interdict conflict) in 1606-7, which opposed Pope Paul V to the Republic of Venice. At the time, the institutions of Venice felt the need to appoint a clergyman that could illustrate governance in these matters, and thus appointed Fr. Paolo Sarpi as his first holder on January 28, 1606. The office was later given a coadjutor, who, in 1656, was separated from the canonist, becoming a permanent and autonomous function as the reviser for briefs and other letters that were sent by the Roman Curia, as well as matters of temporal possession of ecclesiastical benefits. Both were elected by the Senate.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The documentation concerning the "consultori" underwent various alterations since the 17th century. As a result, the data provided in the finding aids are only indicative. For the series of individual "consultori", the dates indicated may refer to the document or to the period of activity of the consultants. Many consultations are signed by two or more consultants.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Bibliography
Linked resources
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