Registri delle cancellerie dello Stato e di magistrature diverse
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
State Archives of Milan
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Via Senato 10, 20121 Milan
Contact information: phone number
0039 027742161
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
as-mi@beniculturali.it
Reference number
Registri delle cancellerie dello Stato
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Records of the Chancelleries of the State and diverse magistracies
Title (official language of the state)
Registri delle cancellerie dello Stato e di magistrature diverse
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Cancellerie dello Stato di Milano
Date(s)
1538/1796
Language(s)
ita
lat
spa
Extent
58.9 linear metres (972 storage units)
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Registri delle Cancellerie dello Stato fonds comprises records from the chancelleries of the State of Milan and other judicial officers. The documents are organised into 45 series, containing records and transcriptions of privileges, licenses, safe-conducts, pardons, royal dispatches, royal letters and orders, government decrees, etc. The majority of the records are copies of decrees, privileges, licenses and other records issued by the government chancelleries. Offices and courts whose names entitle some of the series are the recipients of the records issued by the chancelleries.
This fonds contains some pieces of evidence on the transit of Iberian New Christians and Jews through the territory of the State of Milan and the concession of safe-conducts, privileges and mercies to them. One example is an order that the governor of Milan gave to the Podestà di Pavia to release a Portuguese called Aluisio and his companions who had been arrested in Milan on November 17, 1546 (serie XV, busta 5). This document is published in Leoni (2011).
This fonds contains some pieces of evidence on the transit of Iberian New Christians and Jews through the territory of the State of Milan and the concession of safe-conducts, privileges and mercies to them. One example is an order that the governor of Milan gave to the Podestà di Pavia to release a Portuguese called Aluisio and his companions who had been arrested in Milan on November 17, 1546 (serie XV, busta 5). This document is published in Leoni (2011).
Archival history
The Registri delle Cancellerie dello Stato fonds is part of the Cancellerie dello Stato di Milano, which comprises the state chancellery papers existing at the time of the Spanish-Austrian domination, namely the Governor's secretarial and the Grand Chancellor's chancellery.
The Governor's secretariat was itself divided into Secretariat of State and Secretariat of War. This Chancellery processed the Governor's acts as a direct representative of the sovereign in the areas of regulatory control and coordination of the Lombard magistrates, appointments of the members of the city and provincial organs, as well as notification to the public of the sovereign’s will, through dispatches and grids.
The Grand Chancellor’s chancellery was known as the Secret Chancellery. This Chancellery acted as a filter between the duke’s will and the central and peripheral administrations of the Sforza domain (Leverotti 1997). It had many functions: diplomatic relations, relations between central authorities and local courts, issues relating to the granting of ecclesiastical benefits, supervision of criminal cases, and the drafting of safe conducts, letters of grace and special exemptions. Control over all the ducal earnings and expenditures was ultimately up to the secret chancellery. To these were added documents from the plenipotentiary minister's chancellery and, to a lesser extent, material from the archives of the other chancelleries created as a result of the Theresian and Josephine reforms, namely, the Government Registry and the State Chancellery.
The merger of the documents probably took place at the Archivio governativo di San Fedele (San Fedele Government Archive), under the direction of Luca Peroni (1796-99). In fact, after 1818 the archives of the Visconti-Sforza and Spanish-Austrian ducal period were merged and the documentation was ordered chronologically in order to select, extract and order the documents by subject, according to the system known as "Peronian". From this activity of fusion of fonds of different origins derives the vast archival complex of the AS MI called Government Acts.
Under the direction of Luigi Osio (1851-1871) the bulk of the documentation underwent a new reorganisation, forming a partition of the so-called Historical-Diplomatic Section commissioned by Osio himself. The fond was named "Diplomatic correspondence of the various governments in the State of Milan after that of our dukes", or "Post-1535 diplomatic correspondence" and also included "documentation following to the duchy, until 1815: archives of the Vice-presidency Melzi, of the Italian Republic, of the Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Italy and of the Bellegarde Imperial Commission "(GG II 931). Subsequently, under the direction of Cesare Cantù (1873-1895), the chronological endpoints of the documents were brought back to the end of the duchy (1796) and, with the new name of "Carteggio generale" or "Diplomatic documents", formed a single series with the Visconti-Sforza correspondence. This remained unchanged until the early years of the management of Luigi Fumi (1908-1920), when the correspondence of the chancelleries, combined with the Visconti-Sforza letters, constituted the fonds "Diplomatic documents of the lords of Milan, of the Visconti, of the captains and defenders of the Ambrosian Republic, of the Sforza, of the foreign sovereigns who succeeded them in the government of Lombardy”.
The archives that were removed from the fonds in the following period were used to reconstitute the so-called National Archives (that is, the complex of fonds of the Napoleonic period); the acts of the Bellegarde Commission were in turn attached to the Government Presidency of the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom.
With Giovanni Vittani (1920-1938) the correspondence of the state chancelleries was arranged logically and chronologically and was followed by the registers (see the record of the archival complex Registers of the state chancelleries and of different courts, asmi1060).
Finally, in the guide to the fonds held in the Italian state archives of 1944, the correspondence (more precisely called Carteggi) constitutes, together with the registers, one of the two sections of the documentary complex Secretariat of the State of Milan (1536-1796). In the description of the material — which at that time consisted of 517 envelopes from 1536 to 1796 —, with the exception of the last seven containing documents from the Austrian period, it is pointed out that "most of the correspondence and acts that originally formed this series were distributed in the various entries of the Peronian system: those that remain are acts of various kinds: reports of ambassadors and commissioners in the various cities of the duchy and minutes of replies to them, minutes of decrees, petitions of parties, drafts of chancellery, arranged chronologically under the item Diplomatic documents "(State Archives 1944, p. 151 ff., in particular pp. 152-153).
As a result of the damage caused by bombardments in August 1943, documents are preserved only up to 1623/1624.
The Governor's secretariat was itself divided into Secretariat of State and Secretariat of War. This Chancellery processed the Governor's acts as a direct representative of the sovereign in the areas of regulatory control and coordination of the Lombard magistrates, appointments of the members of the city and provincial organs, as well as notification to the public of the sovereign’s will, through dispatches and grids.
The Grand Chancellor’s chancellery was known as the Secret Chancellery. This Chancellery acted as a filter between the duke’s will and the central and peripheral administrations of the Sforza domain (Leverotti 1997). It had many functions: diplomatic relations, relations between central authorities and local courts, issues relating to the granting of ecclesiastical benefits, supervision of criminal cases, and the drafting of safe conducts, letters of grace and special exemptions. Control over all the ducal earnings and expenditures was ultimately up to the secret chancellery. To these were added documents from the plenipotentiary minister's chancellery and, to a lesser extent, material from the archives of the other chancelleries created as a result of the Theresian and Josephine reforms, namely, the Government Registry and the State Chancellery.
The merger of the documents probably took place at the Archivio governativo di San Fedele (San Fedele Government Archive), under the direction of Luca Peroni (1796-99). In fact, after 1818 the archives of the Visconti-Sforza and Spanish-Austrian ducal period were merged and the documentation was ordered chronologically in order to select, extract and order the documents by subject, according to the system known as "Peronian". From this activity of fusion of fonds of different origins derives the vast archival complex of the AS MI called Government Acts.
Under the direction of Luigi Osio (1851-1871) the bulk of the documentation underwent a new reorganisation, forming a partition of the so-called Historical-Diplomatic Section commissioned by Osio himself. The fond was named "Diplomatic correspondence of the various governments in the State of Milan after that of our dukes", or "Post-1535 diplomatic correspondence" and also included "documentation following to the duchy, until 1815: archives of the Vice-presidency Melzi, of the Italian Republic, of the Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Italy and of the Bellegarde Imperial Commission "(GG II 931). Subsequently, under the direction of Cesare Cantù (1873-1895), the chronological endpoints of the documents were brought back to the end of the duchy (1796) and, with the new name of "Carteggio generale" or "Diplomatic documents", formed a single series with the Visconti-Sforza correspondence. This remained unchanged until the early years of the management of Luigi Fumi (1908-1920), when the correspondence of the chancelleries, combined with the Visconti-Sforza letters, constituted the fonds "Diplomatic documents of the lords of Milan, of the Visconti, of the captains and defenders of the Ambrosian Republic, of the Sforza, of the foreign sovereigns who succeeded them in the government of Lombardy”.
The archives that were removed from the fonds in the following period were used to reconstitute the so-called National Archives (that is, the complex of fonds of the Napoleonic period); the acts of the Bellegarde Commission were in turn attached to the Government Presidency of the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom.
With Giovanni Vittani (1920-1938) the correspondence of the state chancelleries was arranged logically and chronologically and was followed by the registers (see the record of the archival complex Registers of the state chancelleries and of different courts, asmi1060).
Finally, in the guide to the fonds held in the Italian state archives of 1944, the correspondence (more precisely called Carteggi) constitutes, together with the registers, one of the two sections of the documentary complex Secretariat of the State of Milan (1536-1796). In the description of the material — which at that time consisted of 517 envelopes from 1536 to 1796 —, with the exception of the last seven containing documents from the Austrian period, it is pointed out that "most of the correspondence and acts that originally formed this series were distributed in the various entries of the Peronian system: those that remain are acts of various kinds: reports of ambassadors and commissioners in the various cities of the duchy and minutes of replies to them, minutes of decrees, petitions of parties, drafts of chancellery, arranged chronologically under the item Diplomatic documents "(State Archives 1944, p. 151 ff., in particular pp. 152-153).
As a result of the damage caused by bombardments in August 1943, documents are preserved only up to 1623/1624.
Administrative / Biographical history
In 1535, after the death of Francesco II, who left no heirs, the Duchy of Milan should have been devolved to the Empire to be re-infeudate. However, Charles V decided to keep the State of Milan under his direct control, mainly to oppose the French expansionist ambitions. Then, he proceeded with the feuding in favour of his son Phillip. When Phillip II ascended to the throne of Spain in 1556, the State of Milan became under Spanish domain.
Even after the transition to the crown of Spain, the peripheral organisation of the State of Milan continued to rely on the city oligarchies. The city of Milan stood out as the capital and seat of state magistracies. Its oligarchies enjoyed a leading position and considerable privileges, especially in tax matters.
The highest representative of the Spanish crown in Milan became the governor. He was appointed by the king and endowed with broad jurisdiction on political and military matters. The governor was assisted in his functions by a Consiglio segreto consultivo (secret advisory council) with judicial duties on tax matters and the possibility of replacing the governor in his absence. The administration was headed by the Grancancelliere (Grand chancellor), who operated through the Cancelleria segreta (Secret chancellery). The governmental bodies were also assisted by a Collegio fiscale (Fiscal college).
The Senato (Senate), which had been created in 1499 during the first French occupation, had its powers increased significantly. On the one hand, as a judicial body with criminal and civil jurisdiction, the Senate was placed at the head of the intricate judicial system of the State of Milan. On the other hand, it enjoyed privileges and prerogatives on a political level that made it the main instrument of power of the Lombard aristocracy.
The Capitano di giustizia (Captain of Justice) was a magistracy of ducal origins with jurisdiction over criminal offences committed in Milan and its outskirts, as well as gravest offences committed in the State territories. The financial management of the State was under the control of two magistracies: the Magistrato ordinario, which handled the affairs relating to duties, tax revenues, state expenditure and monetary system; and the Magistrato straordinario, which managed the patrimony of the “principe” (prince). The Congregazione dello Stato defended the interests of the different communities of the State, especially in tax matters.
After the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), Milan passed under the control of the Habsburgs of Austria, except for the Savoy occupation of 1733-1736 and the brief Spanish interlude of 1745-1746.
Even after the transition to the crown of Spain, the peripheral organisation of the State of Milan continued to rely on the city oligarchies. The city of Milan stood out as the capital and seat of state magistracies. Its oligarchies enjoyed a leading position and considerable privileges, especially in tax matters.
The highest representative of the Spanish crown in Milan became the governor. He was appointed by the king and endowed with broad jurisdiction on political and military matters. The governor was assisted in his functions by a Consiglio segreto consultivo (secret advisory council) with judicial duties on tax matters and the possibility of replacing the governor in his absence. The administration was headed by the Grancancelliere (Grand chancellor), who operated through the Cancelleria segreta (Secret chancellery). The governmental bodies were also assisted by a Collegio fiscale (Fiscal college).
The Senato (Senate), which had been created in 1499 during the first French occupation, had its powers increased significantly. On the one hand, as a judicial body with criminal and civil jurisdiction, the Senate was placed at the head of the intricate judicial system of the State of Milan. On the other hand, it enjoyed privileges and prerogatives on a political level that made it the main instrument of power of the Lombard aristocracy.
The Capitano di giustizia (Captain of Justice) was a magistracy of ducal origins with jurisdiction over criminal offences committed in Milan and its outskirts, as well as gravest offences committed in the State territories. The financial management of the State was under the control of two magistracies: the Magistrato ordinario, which handled the affairs relating to duties, tax revenues, state expenditure and monetary system; and the Magistrato straordinario, which managed the patrimony of the “principe” (prince). The Congregazione dello Stato defended the interests of the different communities of the State, especially in tax matters.
After the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), Milan passed under the control of the Habsburgs of Austria, except for the Savoy occupation of 1733-1736 and the brief Spanish interlude of 1745-1746.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is divided into 45 series. Records of each series are tendentially arranged by chronological order.
Finding aids
Manganelli, Guido. "Registri delle cancellerie dello Stato e di magistrature diverse. Summarised inventory. Prior to 1935". Available for consultation in the archive (room SA 3).
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2022
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivio di Stato di Milano | Collections (official language of the state) |