Tribunale dell’Inquisizione di Modena
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
State Archives of Modena
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Corso Cavour 21, 41121 Modena
Contact information: phone number
0039 059230549
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
as-mo@beniculturali.it
Reference number
Inquisizione
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Tribunal of the Inquisition of Modena
Title (official language of the state)
Tribunale dell’Inquisizione di Modena
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Tribunale dell’inquisizione di Modena
Date(s)
1275/1789
Language(s)
lat
ita
Extent
303 folders
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Satisfactory
Scope and content
This fonds comprises documentation produced by or directed to the Inquisition of Modena since the 13th century. Its records are organised into series that reflect the court's activity: Processi (trials from 1489 to 1784, 242 folders); Causae hebreorum (cases involving Hebrews, from 1599-1670, 7 folders); Carteggio con la congregazione dei Sant'Uffizio di Roma (correspondence with the Holy Office Congregation of Rome, from 1568 to 1784, 9 folders); Carteggi diversi (diverse letters, from 1329 to 1766, 6 folders); Editti e decreti di diverse autorità (edicts and decrees from various authorities, from 1550 to 1780, 4 folders); Libri di spese (books of expenses, 4 folders); Atti diversi (diverse acts, containing patents, letters and inquisitorial deeds, files with diverse types of cases, privileges and other documents in parchment, etc., from 1275 to 1789, 7 folders); Miscellanea (miscellany, from 1326-1786, 7 folders); and Appendice (appendix, 3 folders). The fonds also comprises one series composed of 14 folders of correspondence from the Inquisition of Reggio Emilia to the Holy Office Congregation of Rome and other addressees from 1646 to 1785 ("Carteggio del tribunale dell’inquisizione di Reggio Emilia con la congregazione del Sant’Uffizio e con altri destinatari").
Some of these series offer rich information on the relation between the Inquisition and the Jewish community of Modena, as well as the tension with civil authorities regarding the inquisitorial activity against Jews living in the city. The Processi and Causae hebreorum series are particularly fruitful in pieces of evidence on the Jewish community of Modena, including its Sephardic elements.
Some of these series offer rich information on the relation between the Inquisition and the Jewish community of Modena, as well as the tension with civil authorities regarding the inquisitorial activity against Jews living in the city. The Processi and Causae hebreorum series are particularly fruitful in pieces of evidence on the Jewish community of Modena, including its Sephardic elements.
Archival history
After the suppression of the Inquisition of Modena in 1785, its archive was transferred to the custody of the government and joined the Archivio segreto estense. In contrast to other Italian inquisitorial archives, the Inquisition of Modena fonds was integrally preserved. At present, it also includes some trials from the Tribunal of the Inquisition of Reggio Emilia, suppressed in 1780.
Administrative / Biographical history
The origins of the Inquisition of Modena date back to 1292. At the time, it was already located inside or near the Convent of the Dominicans of Modena, which was ever its headquarter until the suppression in 1785.
The ducal power constantly attempted to interfere in the tribunal’s activity, especially after Modena became the head of the Este State in 1598, and the Inquisition of Modena became the main inquisitorial tribunal of the Duchy. During the first decades of the 17th century until 1638, when a Jewish ghetto was established in the city, the Inquisition intensified its action against the Jewish community. The construction of illegal synagogues became one of the Inquisition's main targets and also a matter of tension with the ducal power. Trials against some illustrious Jewish families, such as the Modena or the Sanguinetti, accused of dissuasion from baptism or possession of non-expurgated Jewish books, for instance, also contributed to increasing the tribunal's economic resources in the early 17th century. At the time, the jurisdiction of the Inquisition of Modena had also extended geographically, controlling Carpi, Nonantola and Garfagnana. The territory under its control was divided into 40 congregations in 1622, each one managed by at least a vicar of the Holy Office, a notary and an agent or nuncio. The central court of Modena was composed of twelve "consultori" (consultors) — four theologians, four canonists and four lawyers —, as well as eight "ministri" (ministers), who had the executive power, and twelve "familiari" (inquisitorial agents). This structure was preserved with only minimal variations until the extinction of the tribunal, decreed on September 7, 1785.
The ducal power constantly attempted to interfere in the tribunal’s activity, especially after Modena became the head of the Este State in 1598, and the Inquisition of Modena became the main inquisitorial tribunal of the Duchy. During the first decades of the 17th century until 1638, when a Jewish ghetto was established in the city, the Inquisition intensified its action against the Jewish community. The construction of illegal synagogues became one of the Inquisition's main targets and also a matter of tension with the ducal power. Trials against some illustrious Jewish families, such as the Modena or the Sanguinetti, accused of dissuasion from baptism or possession of non-expurgated Jewish books, for instance, also contributed to increasing the tribunal's economic resources in the early 17th century. At the time, the jurisdiction of the Inquisition of Modena had also extended geographically, controlling Carpi, Nonantola and Garfagnana. The territory under its control was divided into 40 congregations in 1622, each one managed by at least a vicar of the Holy Office, a notary and an agent or nuncio. The central court of Modena was composed of twelve "consultori" (consultors) — four theologians, four canonists and four lawyers —, as well as eight "ministri" (ministers), who had the executive power, and twelve "familiari" (inquisitorial agents). This structure was preserved with only minimal variations until the extinction of the tribunal, decreed on September 7, 1785.
Access points: locations
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
In each series, records are tendentially arranged in chronological order.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2022
Bibliography
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivio di Stato di Modena | Collections (official language of the state) |