Giudici del proprio
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
Giudici del proprio
Title (English)
Magistrates of proprio
Title (official language of the state)
Giudici del proprio
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Giudici del proprio
Date(s)
1235/1797
Language(s)
ita
Extent
3,260 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Giudici del proprio fonds contains judicial documentation related to civil cases in diverse matters, such as payment and restitution of dowries, custody of goods of Venetians deceased in foreign lands, disputes between siblings and relatives, among others. It contains 41 series, many of them related to judicial processes, management of financial resources, and execution of wills.
Scattered throughout this fonds, there is some documentation related to the Jewish community of Venice. The Vadimoni (bails) series, which comprises evidences related to dotal credits of widows and successors, contains some good examples. For instance, a free Latin translation of a ketubah de-yirkessa (lost ketubah) presented by Ester, widow of Abraham Cusi, for the recognition of her dowry, in 1634 (Vadimoni, 1633-35, n. 156, fols. 71-72). Years before, in 1618, Ester and her husband Abraham Cusi, whose Christian name was Manuel Peres, had presented themselves before the rabbis of the Congregation of Talmud Torah of the Ponentine Jews of Venice and requested a new ketubah, since the original was lost (Vadimoni, 1633-35, b. 156, fol. 11-12). Published in Cusin (2000).
Scattered throughout this fonds, there is some documentation related to the Jewish community of Venice. The Vadimoni (bails) series, which comprises evidences related to dotal credits of widows and successors, contains some good examples. For instance, a free Latin translation of a ketubah de-yirkessa (lost ketubah) presented by Ester, widow of Abraham Cusi, for the recognition of her dowry, in 1634 (Vadimoni, 1633-35, n. 156, fols. 71-72). Years before, in 1618, Ester and her husband Abraham Cusi, whose Christian name was Manuel Peres, had presented themselves before the rabbis of the Congregation of Talmud Torah of the Ponentine Jews of Venice and requested a new ketubah, since the original was lost (Vadimoni, 1633-35, b. 156, fol. 11-12). Published in Cusin (2000).
Archival history
The Giudici del proprio was one of the magistracies created to improve and assist in the governance of the Republic of Venice. It was one of the uffici di Palazzo, which were offices directly connected to the Doge's Palace.
Efforts to organise and 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 especially referred to the fact that the laws of the Maggior Consiglio were registered in ten books. Subsequently, it 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.
Despite the fact that the Giudici del Proprio were created in the 13th century, most of the documentation of this fonds is from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Some records were lost over time. By comparing the 18th-century inventory (Catastico nuovo delle vecchie scritture del palazzo, 1773-1779) to the currently preserved documentation, it is possible to notice that some series and units are missing, namely: Deputazioni di causa (nos. 1-47); Cittazioni (nos. 1-54); Intimazioni (nos. 1-2); Scriver in corte (nos. 1-20); Nomina ordinari (nos. 1-17); Multorum (nos. 1-3); records nos. 14-19 of the Divisioni series; no. 62 of Lettere; no. 9 of Suppliche, risposte e delegazioni; no. 44 of Sentenze a interdetti; no. 1 of Interdetti; no. 55 of Inventari e stime; nos. 2 and 55 of Dimande, scritture e risposte; and no. 1 of Module e delegazioni.
Efforts to organise and 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 especially referred to the fact that the laws of the Maggior Consiglio were registered in ten books. Subsequently, it 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.
Despite the fact that the Giudici del Proprio were created in the 13th century, most of the documentation of this fonds is from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Some records were lost over time. By comparing the 18th-century inventory (Catastico nuovo delle vecchie scritture del palazzo, 1773-1779) to the currently preserved documentation, it is possible to notice that some series and units are missing, namely: Deputazioni di causa (nos. 1-47); Cittazioni (nos. 1-54); Intimazioni (nos. 1-2); Scriver in corte (nos. 1-20); Nomina ordinari (nos. 1-17); Multorum (nos. 1-3); records nos. 14-19 of the Divisioni series; no. 62 of Lettere; no. 9 of Suppliche, risposte e delegazioni; no. 44 of Sentenze a interdetti; no. 1 of Interdetti; no. 55 of Inventari e stime; nos. 2 and 55 of Dimande, scritture e risposte; and no. 1 of Module e delegazioni.
Sources:
Administrative / Biographical history
The Giudici del proprio already existed in the first half of the 13th century. It had extensive competencies and jurisdiction over matters related to civil and criminal law that were gradually reduced with the creation of new institutions and magistrates. As a result, almost all jurisdiction over criminal cases was completely lost. In civil matters, the Giudici del proprio acted mostly on affairs related to marriage dowries, successions ab intestate, and other matters related to the inheritance of assets. The Giudici del proprio also dealt with the appointment of the procurators of San Marco for the office of "esecutori testamentari" ( executors of wills) in the absence of commissioners. The Giudici had custody of the assets of the Venetians who died outside of Venice, and they could decide over matters related to divisions and disputes between siblings and relatives, as well as other litigations related to inheritances.
The Giudici del Proprio ceased their activity after the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797.
The Giudici del Proprio ceased their activity after the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797.
Sources:
Access points: locations
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds divided into series, according to types of documents. Numbering restarts in each series.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Linked resources
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