Quarantia criminale o Quarantia o Consiglio di quaranta al criminal
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
Quarantia criminale
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Council of Forty for crime or Council of Forty or Council of Forty for criminal justice
Title (official language of the state)
Quarantia criminale o Quarantia o Consiglio di quaranta al criminal
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Quarantia criminale
Date(s)
1342/1797
Language(s)
lat
ita
Extent
475 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The Quarantia criminale fonds comprises documentation produced by this institution between the 14th and the 18th centuries. Initially, the Quarantia Criminale had jurisdiction over a wide range of areas, concerning not only judicial matters, but also economic, monetary and political ones, resulting in the production of different types of documents. With the foundation of new courts and the increasing complexity of the structures of governance, especially from the 14th century onwards, its activity became mostly related to criminal processes, including the granting of pardons and liberation of convicts. It also kept jurisdiction over some economic matters, such as the approval of creditors agreements and the establishment of taxes, often related to the Jewish community of Venice.
In this fonds, it is possible to find 18 storage units with hundreds of documents related to the Jewish community of Venice, most of them produced exclusively in the 18th century, except for four from the 17th century. There is several references to the "banchi di pegno" (pawnshop) of the Jewish Ghetto (453, fols. 6-8 or 449, fols. 6-7), as well as information regarding deposits (459) or judicial processes against Jews (465).
These documents concerning the Jewish community are available online on:
In this fonds, it is possible to find 18 storage units with hundreds of documents related to the Jewish community of Venice, most of them produced exclusively in the 18th century, except for four from the 17th century. There is several references to the "banchi di pegno" (pawnshop) of the Jewish Ghetto (453, fols. 6-8 or 449, fols. 6-7), as well as information regarding deposits (459) or judicial processes against Jews (465).
These documents concerning the Jewish community are available online on:
Archival history
Initially, the documentation of the Quarantia, as well as the archives of all other major institutions of governance, was part of the Cancelleria Ducale (ducal chancellery), located in the palace of the Doge of Venice.
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. The Convent of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari remains the location of the Archivio do Stato today.
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. The Convent of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari remains the location of the Archivio do Stato today.
Sources:
Administrative / Biographical history
The Quarantia Criminale had its origins between 1179 and 1223, and was one of the most important institutions of Venice, with jurisdiction over a broad field of political, economic and legislative subjects. It also interfered in administrative, monetary and financial issues, along with the Great Council of Venice.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, its power was gradually reduced as a consequence of the creation of other institutions and courts, including a second Quarantia (Council of forty) for civil matters in 1441, and a third one in 1492.
Then, the Quarantia focused its activity mostly on matters of criminal justice that were not subject to the Consiglio di dieci (Council of ten), or as a court of appeal for civil or criminal justice for the city and state of Venice. It also kept jurisdiction over matters of credit activity and confirmation of taxes, as well as over the local Jewish community and the "banchi di pegno" (pawnshop) of the Jewish Ghetto.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, its power was gradually reduced as a consequence of the creation of other institutions and courts, including a second Quarantia (Council of forty) for civil matters in 1441, and a third one in 1492.
Then, the Quarantia focused its activity mostly on matters of criminal justice that were not subject to the Consiglio di dieci (Council of ten), or as a court of appeal for civil or criminal justice for the city and state of Venice. It also kept jurisdiction over matters of credit activity and confirmation of taxes, as well as over the local Jewish community and the "banchi di pegno" (pawnshop) of the Jewish Ghetto.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
As a result of the large jurisdiction and the longevity of the Quarantia, the documentation is divided by both subjects and types of documents. The existence of internal finding aids for each documentary series is variable.
Access, restrictions
Some document series are available online:
Finding aids
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Bibliography
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivio di Stato di Venezia | Collections (official language of the state) |