Giudici del piovego
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 piovego
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Magistrates of piovego
Title (official language of the state)
Giudici del piovego
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Giudici del piovego
Date(s)
1514/1797
Language(s)
lat
ita
Extent
169 folders
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This fonds contains judicial documentation related to the defence of the jurisdiction of the Doge and the Republic of Venice. It concerns matters of importance to the territory, such as the supervision of roads, lands and canals; legal issues about illegal contracts and usury; or the capacity to advise on the authorisation for the construction of new buildings.
Some of the most relevant series that are part of this fonds are: Capitolare ed altre leggi (chapters and other laws, 1249-1788); Copie di documenti (copies of documents, 13th-18th centuries); Scritture (scriptures, 1626-1678); Querele (quarrels, 1601-1796); Esami di testimoni, procure, sentenze volontarie, civili, absenti (examinations of witnesses, powers of attorney, voluntary, civil, absentee sentences, 1531-1796); Sentenze (sentences, 1595-1758); Denuncie segrete (secret denunciations, 1626-1692); Contratti (contracts, 1748-1786); among others.
Considering the jurisdiction of the Giudici del piovego, there is abundant documentation related to commercial disputes among this fonds, including some involving Iberian Jews and Conversos. An example is a judicial case that opposed João Ribeiro and Gabriel Ribeiro against Abraham Abencini, regarding the value of certain goods (buste 1, Capitolare 1254-1568, seconda folazione, fols. 61v-74v.). The case was originated by different evaluations on the value of some pearls and nutmeg. Abencini considered that the pearls were worth at least 1,000 ducats, and the nutmeg less than 2,000. João Ribeiro and Gabriel Ribeiro vigorously protested, alleging that they had never extorted any illegal interest payments, asserting that Abencini's claims were faulty. At the end, however, the Giudici del Piovego ruled in favour of Abencini, and the Ribeiros were condemned to pay capital and interest, which together amounted to a sum of 3,814 ducats. They were also condemned to pay a fine of about 11.5 ducats, and the money they had lent was also confiscated and its interest lost. Later, as a result of an appeal, the confiscation was reduced.
Some of the most relevant series that are part of this fonds are: Capitolare ed altre leggi (chapters and other laws, 1249-1788); Copie di documenti (copies of documents, 13th-18th centuries); Scritture (scriptures, 1626-1678); Querele (quarrels, 1601-1796); Esami di testimoni, procure, sentenze volontarie, civili, absenti (examinations of witnesses, powers of attorney, voluntary, civil, absentee sentences, 1531-1796); Sentenze (sentences, 1595-1758); Denuncie segrete (secret denunciations, 1626-1692); Contratti (contracts, 1748-1786); among others.
Considering the jurisdiction of the Giudici del piovego, there is abundant documentation related to commercial disputes among this fonds, including some involving Iberian Jews and Conversos. An example is a judicial case that opposed João Ribeiro and Gabriel Ribeiro against Abraham Abencini, regarding the value of certain goods (buste 1, Capitolare 1254-1568, seconda folazione, fols. 61v-74v.). The case was originated by different evaluations on the value of some pearls and nutmeg. Abencini considered that the pearls were worth at least 1,000 ducats, and the nutmeg less than 2,000. João Ribeiro and Gabriel Ribeiro vigorously protested, alleging that they had never extorted any illegal interest payments, asserting that Abencini's claims were faulty. At the end, however, the Giudici del Piovego ruled in favour of Abencini, and the Ribeiros were condemned to pay capital and interest, which together amounted to a sum of 3,814 ducats. They were also condemned to pay a fine of about 11.5 ducats, and the money they had lent was also confiscated and its interest lost. Later, as a result of an appeal, the confiscation was reduced.
Archival history
The Giudici del piovego was one of the magistracies elect by the Maggior Consiglio (Major Council). The oldest references to the existence of archives in the Republic of Venice indicate 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
New efforts to organise and better preserve written documents of the institutions of the Republic are known in the 13th century. As an example, in 1266, the Maggior Consiglio (Major Council) determined that all its decisions should be transcribed and that one of the copies should be stored at 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 determined the creation of a commission to copy those laws that were still in place. The existence of a Cancelleria Ducale (Chancellery in Doge's Palace) where the most important documents were stored and with proper officials, became, probably, 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 were divided in three main buildings: the Scuola di S. Teodoro for political documentation, the Convent of S. Giovanni Laterano for judicial documentation and the S. Provolo for State for financial matters. 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.
New efforts to organise and better preserve written documents of the institutions of the Republic are known in the 13th century. As an example, in 1266, the Maggior Consiglio (Major Council) determined that all its decisions should be transcribed and that one of the copies should be stored at 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 determined the creation of a commission to copy those laws that were still in place. The existence of a Cancelleria Ducale (Chancellery in Doge's Palace) where the most important documents were stored and with proper officials, became, probably, 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 were divided in three main buildings: the Scuola di S. Teodoro for political documentation, the Convent of S. Giovanni Laterano for judicial documentation and the S. Provolo for State for financial matters. 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.
Sources:
Administrative / Biographical history
The Giudici del Piovego ((magistrates or judges of the Piovego) already existed in the first half of the 13th century. They had extensive competencies and jurisdiction over matters related to the supervision of public streets and the minor canals of the city, lands, water and the marshes of the Doge. It was also under the Giudici's jurisdiction to issue permissions for the construction of new buildings, or to be aware and act on all contracts that contained illegal clauses or damaged unfairly one of the parties. In matters of usury, the Giudici del Piovego had criminal competencies, and their decisions on this matter could not be appealed if the previous sentence had not been executed.
Furthermore, the Giudici judged exclusively all disputes whose sentences were worth less than ten lire, with the exception of a few cases that were under the Giudice del Forestier's (literally, judge of forests) jurisdiction. Its activity served mostly to protect the jurisdiction of the Republic of Venice.
On July 7, 1282 and September 19, 1290, the Maggior Consiglio invested the Giudici del Piovego with renewed judicial power in order for it to be able to verify and sentence the legal status of hydraulic resources — namely, "specchi d'acqua" (ponds), marshes and sandbanks of the entire lagoon — and to protect the property of the municipality against any usurpation of private individuals, families or ecclesiastics entities.
The new judicial authority was followed by the expansion of its administrative functions, aiming at safeguarding public rights, which included the responsibility to issue construction and occupation licenses of public areas.
It also fell under its jurisdiction cases related to abusive work and, in the criminal field, those related to false exchange letters and illegal or unfair private documents and contracts. Under its jurisdiction were Jews and Christians, Venetians and foreigners.
The activity of the Giudici del Piovego ceased with the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797.
Furthermore, the Giudici judged exclusively all disputes whose sentences were worth less than ten lire, with the exception of a few cases that were under the Giudice del Forestier's (literally, judge of forests) jurisdiction. Its activity served mostly to protect the jurisdiction of the Republic of Venice.
On July 7, 1282 and September 19, 1290, the Maggior Consiglio invested the Giudici del Piovego with renewed judicial power in order for it to be able to verify and sentence the legal status of hydraulic resources — namely, "specchi d'acqua" (ponds), marshes and sandbanks of the entire lagoon — and to protect the property of the municipality against any usurpation of private individuals, families or ecclesiastics entities.
The new judicial authority was followed by the expansion of its administrative functions, aiming at safeguarding public rights, which included the responsibility to issue construction and occupation licenses of public areas.
It also fell under its jurisdiction cases related to abusive work and, in the criminal field, those related to false exchange letters and illegal or unfair private documents and contracts. Under its jurisdiction were Jews and Christians, Venetians and foreigners.
The activity of the Giudici del Piovego ceased with the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797.
Sources:
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
Most of the documentation from the 16th to 18th century are copies of older documents that were lost. The fonds is divided into series, following types of documents.
Access, restrictions
The following folder is available online:
Finding aids
Links to finding aids
Existence and location of originals
The Piovego code, containing judgments concerning water from 1282 to the mid-fourteenth century, in which documents produced by the parties are transcribed or summarised, was discovered in 1746 by Tommaso Temanza in the archives of the Magistrato alle acque (water magistrate). The original is currently in the Correr Museum. It was published by Strina (1985/2006).
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivio di Stato di Venezia | Collections (official language of the state) |