Balìa
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
State Archives of Siena
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Banchi di Sotto 52, 53100 Siena
Contact information: phone number
0039 0577247145
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
as-si@beniculturali.it
Reference number
Balìa
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Balìa
Title (official language of the state)
Balìa
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Balìa
Date(s)
1455/1786
Language(s)
ita
Extent
1,124 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
Until the mid-15th century, the Balìa shared the chancellery with the Concistoro and, for this reason, all resolutions were reported in the registers of this magistracy. Thus, the Balìa fonds only comprises documentation produced by or related to this office from 1455 to 1786. The fonds is organised in several series according to the typology of the documents: resolutions, correspondence, copy letters, orders and notifications, records associated with the relation with other magistracies, balance sheets, financial documents, processes, etc.
After the late 15th century expulsions of the Jews from Spain and later Portugal, Siena was chosen as the destination of some Sephardic exiles. It was a small community, especially if compared to others in the Italian territory. Nonetheless, the traces of its existence and vitality can be found dispersed throughout the Balìa fonds. The following are some examples of Jewish-related documentary material preserved in this collection:
1069: "Capitula Hebreorum", including three copies of Cardinal Raffaele Petrucci confirming to several Jews of Siena the right to practice usury (June 17, 1521); other concession made by the Balìa on the same subject (1526); a licence given to a Jew named Guglielmo d'Attaro to exercise usury (July 27, 1477); various chapters and acts of the Balìa relating to Jewish lenders (1488-1505); some notices relating to the prohibition to the Jews practice the wool trade in Siena.
841: Appeal by Federigo di Montauto to the "depotati sopra gli ebrei" of the Balìa to close the ghetto with a door. April 2, 1573 (fols. 207-208). Information given by the Quattro di Balía on the difficult economic situation of some Jewish families who lived in the ghetto in 1573 and 1574 (fols. 209, 220). Requests for exemptions and privileges submitted by Jews of Siena in the 1570s. (fols. 220-24).
952, fol. 50v: list of Jewish residents of the ghetto di Siena in 1580. The list counts 30 heads of household (132 persons) who had come from several parts of the Papal States, the Kingdom of Naples and the Grand-Duchy of Tuscany.
200, fols. 203-205: records concerning an appeal presented by the Italian Jews in April 1658 against the Spanish Jews' request to open their own synagogue.
845: Affairs handled by the Collegio di Balìa regarding several matters, including the Jewish community of Siena. 1573-1729.
After the late 15th century expulsions of the Jews from Spain and later Portugal, Siena was chosen as the destination of some Sephardic exiles. It was a small community, especially if compared to others in the Italian territory. Nonetheless, the traces of its existence and vitality can be found dispersed throughout the Balìa fonds. The following are some examples of Jewish-related documentary material preserved in this collection:
1069: "Capitula Hebreorum", including three copies of Cardinal Raffaele Petrucci confirming to several Jews of Siena the right to practice usury (June 17, 1521); other concession made by the Balìa on the same subject (1526); a licence given to a Jew named Guglielmo d'Attaro to exercise usury (July 27, 1477); various chapters and acts of the Balìa relating to Jewish lenders (1488-1505); some notices relating to the prohibition to the Jews practice the wool trade in Siena.
841: Appeal by Federigo di Montauto to the "depotati sopra gli ebrei" of the Balìa to close the ghetto with a door. April 2, 1573 (fols. 207-208). Information given by the Quattro di Balía on the difficult economic situation of some Jewish families who lived in the ghetto in 1573 and 1574 (fols. 209, 220). Requests for exemptions and privileges submitted by Jews of Siena in the 1570s. (fols. 220-24).
952, fol. 50v: list of Jewish residents of the ghetto di Siena in 1580. The list counts 30 heads of household (132 persons) who had come from several parts of the Papal States, the Kingdom of Naples and the Grand-Duchy of Tuscany.
200, fols. 203-205: records concerning an appeal presented by the Italian Jews in April 1658 against the Spanish Jews' request to open their own synagogue.
845: Affairs handled by the Collegio di Balìa regarding several matters, including the Jewish community of Siena. 1573-1729.
Archival history
At the time of the establishment of the Archivio di Stato di Siena in 1858, a part of the Balía fonds, as well as the documentation of other central bodies of the city and the old State of Siena, was deposited in the Archivio delle Riformagioni. Another part of the records of the Balìa office was merged with the Archivio della Comunità civica at the moment of its establishment in 1786, and it was stored in the municipal library of Siena until 1860, when it entered into the Archivio di Stato.
The first organisation of this documentary material was carried out with the aim of reconstructing the old Balìa fonds. This objective led to the dismemberment of the series and even of individual records. This first effort for cataloguing and arranging the Balìa documents was undertaken by Filippo Polidori (under the guidance of Gaetano Milanesi), Luciano Banchi, Cesare Paoli and Alessandro Lisini. In a new intervention in the 1950s, Giulio Prunai and Sandro De' Colli tried to restore the unity of the fonds by reuniting the series that had been divided by their predecessors. However, it was not possible to reunite all documents to their original fonds and, for this reason, some records of the Balìa office remain in other fonds, namely the Diplomatico, the Capitoli and the Consiglio generale. Even so, they were reported in the catalogue published in 1957.
The Manoscritti fonds of the archive preserves lists of Balìa officers, noble families and law officers from 1365 to 1648 (A 130); a few remnants of records and resolutions of the Balìa compiled by Giovanni Antonio Pecci (C 15-17; C 26-29); a volume from the Archivio delle Riformagioni di Siena with resolutions and decrees of the Balìa from 1455 to 1548 (C 18); and a manuscript list of the officers of the Balìa from 1600 to 1718 (D 165).
The first organisation of this documentary material was carried out with the aim of reconstructing the old Balìa fonds. This objective led to the dismemberment of the series and even of individual records. This first effort for cataloguing and arranging the Balìa documents was undertaken by Filippo Polidori (under the guidance of Gaetano Milanesi), Luciano Banchi, Cesare Paoli and Alessandro Lisini. In a new intervention in the 1950s, Giulio Prunai and Sandro De' Colli tried to restore the unity of the fonds by reuniting the series that had been divided by their predecessors. However, it was not possible to reunite all documents to their original fonds and, for this reason, some records of the Balìa office remain in other fonds, namely the Diplomatico, the Capitoli and the Consiglio generale. Even so, they were reported in the catalogue published in 1957.
The Manoscritti fonds of the archive preserves lists of Balìa officers, noble families and law officers from 1365 to 1648 (A 130); a few remnants of records and resolutions of the Balìa compiled by Giovanni Antonio Pecci (C 15-17; C 26-29); a volume from the Archivio delle Riformagioni di Siena with resolutions and decrees of the Balìa from 1455 to 1548 (C 18); and a manuscript list of the officers of the Balìa from 1600 to 1718 (D 165).
Administrative / Biographical history
The origins of the Balìa date back to those special commissions, called Balìe, that handled special matters or to which the Concistoro exceptionally delegated authority when a rapid and classified decision for public affairs was needed. The Balìe were elected for a limited period, which was generally very brief, and for very restricted purposes. However, as they were not subject to any statutory provisions but only to the decree that created them, the Balìe exercised extensive power. They worked in accordance with the Concistoro, which convened them.
This system was often used after the mid-14th century. Government instability led to the circumstances of Balìe being convened every year and sometimes even more than once a year.
Finally, in 1455, a Balìa composed of 15 members was created to face the problems that endangered the Republic. Its duration was set at a few months, but before it expired other threats emerged, namely the invasion of the Sienese territory and a coup d'état. Then, a new Balìa was founded with the same authority as the Concistoro and gathered for its own decision without being called by other magistracies. From then on, the Balìa became an almost permanent magistracy, although formally, it was always convened by the Consigli (Councils) for a fixed time.
The number of the Balìa's members varied from 6 to 36. Initially, they were drawn from the three Terzieri della città, but later they were chosen from the Monti e Ordini, those political and social groups that had held the government from time to time.
The Balìa was assisted by a cancelliere (a registrar) and two coadjutors. The subordinate officers corresponded to those of the Concistoro.
After the Medici reform of 1560, the Balìa became an ordinary civic magistracy, consisting of 20 citizens chosen from the various Monti, who remained in office for one year. They were directly appointed by the Duke and could not be re-elected before a year. The consiglieri of the governor participated in the meetings. The Balìa's competence was limited to the appointment of people sent to the Grand Duke for honours or affairs of citizen interest, the election of commissioners for the state territories, the voting of ordinary expenses, the vigilance of religious institutions and the solemn participation in public ceremonies. Overall, many powers of the Balìa overlapped with those of the Concistoro, and both bodies were summoned together. La Balìa was suppressed in 1786 when the Comunità di Siena was established.
This system was often used after the mid-14th century. Government instability led to the circumstances of Balìe being convened every year and sometimes even more than once a year.
Finally, in 1455, a Balìa composed of 15 members was created to face the problems that endangered the Republic. Its duration was set at a few months, but before it expired other threats emerged, namely the invasion of the Sienese territory and a coup d'état. Then, a new Balìa was founded with the same authority as the Concistoro and gathered for its own decision without being called by other magistracies. From then on, the Balìa became an almost permanent magistracy, although formally, it was always convened by the Consigli (Councils) for a fixed time.
The number of the Balìa's members varied from 6 to 36. Initially, they were drawn from the three Terzieri della città, but later they were chosen from the Monti e Ordini, those political and social groups that had held the government from time to time.
The Balìa was assisted by a cancelliere (a registrar) and two coadjutors. The subordinate officers corresponded to those of the Concistoro.
After the Medici reform of 1560, the Balìa became an ordinary civic magistracy, consisting of 20 citizens chosen from the various Monti, who remained in office for one year. They were directly appointed by the Duke and could not be re-elected before a year. The consiglieri of the governor participated in the meetings. The Balìa's competence was limited to the appointment of people sent to the Grand Duke for honours or affairs of citizen interest, the election of commissioners for the state territories, the voting of ordinary expenses, the vigilance of religious institutions and the solemn participation in public ceremonies. Overall, many powers of the Balìa overlapped with those of the Concistoro, and both bodies were summoned together. La Balìa was suppressed in 1786 when the Comunità di Siena was established.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is divided into 24 series. Each series' records are tendentially arranged in chronological order. Sequential numbering of the whole fonds.
Finding aids
"Inventario dell'archivio dell'Illustrissimo collegio della Balìa di Siena compilato l'Anno del Signore MDCCLVI, dal marchese Orazio Nerli e Niccolò Tolomei". (Inventory of the archive of the Balía college, compiled in 1756 by Orazio Nerli and Niccolò Tolomei). 1756. Available for consultation in the archive (Manoscritti, D 135).
Archivio di Stato di Siena. 1957. Archivio di Balìa. Inventario. Rome: Ministero dell’Interno, Pubblicazioni degli Archivi di Stato.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2022
Bibliography
Linked resources
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