Esecutori contro la Bestemmia
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
Esecutori contro la Bestemmia
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Executors against the Blasphemy
Title (official language of the state)
Esecutori contro la Bestemmia
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Esecutori contro la Bestemmia
Date(s)
1542/1797
Language(s)
ita
lat
Extent
73 folders
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
This fonds comprises documentation related to judicial processes concerning heresy and moral behaviour. It is divided into 19 document series. Some of the most relevant are: Processi (Processes, 1688-1837); Terminazioni, mandati e scritture (Terminations, mandates and writings, 1753-1774); Notatorio. Sentenze (Notarial deeds. Sentences, 1593-1634); Sentenze casi delegati dal Consiglio di Dieci (Sentences of cases delegated by the Council of Ten, 1627-1691); Ordini, mandati e scritture (Orders, mandates and writings, 1774-1797), among others.
For the study of the Jewish communities, the sentences of cases delegated by the Consiglio di dieci (Council of Ten) are particularly interesting. It was under the jurisdiction of this institution the responsibility to keep a register of all foreigners in Venice, generating multiple documents with references to Portuguese and Spanish Jews who came to the city.
The production of documentation concerning Jews was reinforced after July 18, 1612, when the Esecutori contro la Bestemmia acquired the duty of granting residence permits to newly arrived Jews. In addition, they were responsible for monitoring behaviours and potential abuses committed by members of the Jewish community. For instance, on February 20, 1575, a Jew called Noah was accused by the Esecutori for keeping a gaming house for Jews and Christians in the Ghetto (buste 56, not. 2, fol. 127v). Another example is a fine issued on September 22, 1568, by the Esecutori against a group of Levantine Jews for publishing and possessing unlicensed Hebrew books (b. 56, not. 2, fol. 43).
For the study of the Jewish communities, the sentences of cases delegated by the Consiglio di dieci (Council of Ten) are particularly interesting. It was under the jurisdiction of this institution the responsibility to keep a register of all foreigners in Venice, generating multiple documents with references to Portuguese and Spanish Jews who came to the city.
The production of documentation concerning Jews was reinforced after July 18, 1612, when the Esecutori contro la Bestemmia acquired the duty of granting residence permits to newly arrived Jews. In addition, they were responsible for monitoring behaviours and potential abuses committed by members of the Jewish community. For instance, on February 20, 1575, a Jew called Noah was accused by the Esecutori for keeping a gaming house for Jews and Christians in the Ghetto (buste 56, not. 2, fol. 127v). Another example is a fine issued on September 22, 1568, by the Esecutori against a group of Levantine Jews for publishing and possessing unlicensed Hebrew books (b. 56, not. 2, fol. 43).
Archival history
Whilst they remained in activity, the Esecutori contro la Bestemmia did not show any particular endeavours in organising their archive. As soon as 1628, attempts were made to define proceedings and establish deadlines for the registration of documents, with little success. In 1651, it was defined that the registration of any process was mandatory in the maximum period of three days. This imposition was eliminated in 1676, when it was decided to have the sentence transcribed by the notary immediately after each process, aiming to hold an effective control over the documents. The archive collections also suffered from lack of magistrates, secretaries and notaries, and from the impact of the different historical conjunctures and the large amount of documentation produced by the thousands for trials conducted by the Esecutori. Until mid-December 1951, the archive of the Esecutori contro la Bestemmia was divided into two parts: the first containing the Capitolari (internal records), the Notatori (notarial deeds) and all the other acts issued by this court; and the second including documents related to each process. The reorganisation of this fonds was carried out in the middle of the 20th century, aiming to restore the correct arrangement of the documents and transfer the documents belonging to other institutions.
Administrative / Biographical history
Established on December 20, 1537, by the Consiglio di dieci (Council of Ten), the Esecutori contro la Bestemmia (Executors against the Blasphemy) were in charge of judging crimes against religion and morality. Their authority derived from the Consiglio di dieci (Council of Ten), which was the court of appeal in case of any disputes that had origin in the sentences of the Esecutori.
The Esecutori intervened in matters of typography, bets and theatres, including disputes between sponsors and artists. They also had jurisdiction over disputes involving foreigners, Grisons, Jews, and Protestants.
The Consiglio di dieci gradually expanded the authority of the Esecutori. On June 7, 1553, they were given the capacity to judge as a second instance court, together with the Savi all'eresia (wise men for heresy), any sentences regarding prostitutes. On October 17, 1569, they were also granted the power to judge autonomously any case against blasphemers that arose from information given by the "relatori" (local agents) of the Terraferma (Mainland), in towns without courts. On September 25, 1628, the election of the Esecutori was transferred to the Senate without prejudice of the close ties between them and the Consiglio di dieci. They were entrusted with the appointment of two heads for each district, obliged to notify the guards of the Piazza Ducale of any misdeed or seditious murmur. Although this institution had no legislative power, it was expected to apply the decrees issued by other bodies, such as the Consiglio di dieci or the Senate. It held the power to issue proclamations, of whose right the Esecutori made extensive use in certain periods.
The Esecutori intervened in matters of typography, bets and theatres, including disputes between sponsors and artists. They also had jurisdiction over disputes involving foreigners, Grisons, Jews, and Protestants.
The Consiglio di dieci gradually expanded the authority of the Esecutori. On June 7, 1553, they were given the capacity to judge as a second instance court, together with the Savi all'eresia (wise men for heresy), any sentences regarding prostitutes. On October 17, 1569, they were also granted the power to judge autonomously any case against blasphemers that arose from information given by the "relatori" (local agents) of the Terraferma (Mainland), in towns without courts. On September 25, 1628, the election of the Esecutori was transferred to the Senate without prejudice of the close ties between them and the Consiglio di dieci. They were entrusted with the appointment of two heads for each district, obliged to notify the guards of the Piazza Ducale of any misdeed or seditious murmur. Although this institution had no legislative power, it was expected to apply the decrees issued by other bodies, such as the Consiglio di dieci or the Senate. It held the power to issue proclamations, of whose right the Esecutori made extensive use in certain periods.
Source:
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is divided into series, according to types of documents.
Many processes were lost with time, as a result of the poor archival policies. Examining the documentation in detail, it is possible to verify the absence of processes, for instance, for the decade 1614-1624 (Alinberti, 2012). Examples like these are numerous in other document series.
Many processes were lost with time, as a result of the poor archival policies. Examining the documentation in detail, it is possible to verify the absence of processes, for instance, for the decade 1614-1624 (Alinberti, 2012). Examples like these are numerous in other document series.
Finding aids
Inventory with partial onomastic index from the late 19th century (no. 1951)
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Bibliography
Linked resources
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