Office fiscal du Conseil de Brabant / Officie-Fiscaal van de raad van Brabant
Item
Country
BE
Name of institution (English)
State Archives in Brussels (State Archives of Belgium)
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
deu
dut
fra
Contact information: postal address
Avenue du Pont de Luttre, 74, 1190 Forest
Contact information: phone number
0032 025246115
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
archives.generales@arch.be
Reference number
BE-A0541_005627_004272_FRE
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Tax office of the Council of Brabant
Title (official language of the state)
Office fiscal du Conseil de Brabant / Officie-Fiscaal van de raad van Brabant
Language of title
fra
Creator / accumulator
Conseil de Brabant / Raad van Brabant
Date(s)
1427/1795
Language(s)
fra
por
spa
Extent
1,330 documents
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Office-fiscal du Conseil de Brabant fonds comprises documentation concerning the activity of the Conseil de Brabant, which became the highest court in the Duchy of Brabant. The fonds is extensive, in view of the importance of this institution. It is possible to find not only judicial processes and related documentation, but also deeds, letters, and other kinds of records.
For the study of the Western Sephardic Diaspora, this fonds contains information concerning the collection of taxes, judicial disputes, and commercial activities developed by Sephardim and conversos. It also includes materials with references to the circulation of people, goods, and information between Antwerp and Italian cities, such as Ferrara. In particular, units 160/1233/2 and 160/1233/3 contain valuable pieces of evidence on the persecution and denunciations against Portuguese New Christians settled in Antwerp and records on the migratory routes from there to Ferrara. Some examples are the following:
OFB 160/1233/2:
- Interrogations of Portuguese prisoners held in Pavia from September to December 1540, drawn up by notary G. B. Codazzi. It includes a file with a denunciation by Iohannes Vuysting in Pavia against Diogo Mendes and other Portuguese in Antwerp, London and Milan, on September 21, 1540 (Leoni, 2011); as well as a deposition of a professor of Hebrew at the University of Louvain against Diogo Mendes, on October 5, 1540, accusing him of possessing two Hebrew books in his library (Salomon and Leoni, 1998);
- Denunciation of Maria of Habsburg to the attorney general of Brabant, regarding the execution of the order to arrest Gabriel de Negro. Letter from March 12, 1541 (Leoni, 2001);
- A letter of an anonymous Portuguese, reporting the difficulties that he found on his travel from Basel to Lucerne and to Ferrara and giving advice on how to travel without being robbed or cheated. Letter from September 15, 1543 (Leoni, 2011);
- "Regimento para o caminho que aveys de llevar com aiuda de Dio desta villa de Anvers para Ferrara" (Instructions for those who set out, with God's help, on the journey from Antwerp to Ferrara), a guide that offers travelling instructions for a safe trip from Antwerp to Ferrara, mentioning Cologne, Mainz, Altdorf, Pavia, the German Alps, Ancona and Ferrara. Undated, probably from c. 1544 (Leoni, 2011);
- "Interrogatoires pour interroger les apprehendez en la ville danvers qui se baptisent nouveaux christiens venuz du Royaulme de Portugal d'apres six sepmaines en ça" (Questionnaire to be used for the interrogation of those who were detained in the city of Antwerpen and that were baptized as New Christians originally from the Portuguese Kingdom), with a total of 50 questions to be asked to New Christians that migrated from Portugal to Antwerp. Document from 1544 (Leoni, 2011);
- A list of Portuguese immigrants arrested in Antwerp in 1544, indicating their names and the affiliations and households that they belonged to (Leoni, 2011).
OFB 160/1233/3:
- Depositions of Portuguese immigrants formerly imprisoned in Pavia, registered between January and February 1541 by notary Nicola Lavazzoli in Ferrara. It includes testimonies given by prisoners in Pavia regarding a group of New Christians in Antwerp who were accused of keeping Jewish practices (Leoni, 2011).
This fonds includes other documentation transcribed in Leoni (2005 and 2011), such as several other denunciations, judicial documents, letters from royal and inquisitorial authorities, among other relevant documentation to the history of the Jews community in Antwerp.
Edgar R. Samuel (1953-55) published a list of documents relating to Portuguese New Christians during the first quarter of the 17th century, including some transcriptions.
For the study of the Western Sephardic Diaspora, this fonds contains information concerning the collection of taxes, judicial disputes, and commercial activities developed by Sephardim and conversos. It also includes materials with references to the circulation of people, goods, and information between Antwerp and Italian cities, such as Ferrara. In particular, units 160/1233/2 and 160/1233/3 contain valuable pieces of evidence on the persecution and denunciations against Portuguese New Christians settled in Antwerp and records on the migratory routes from there to Ferrara. Some examples are the following:
OFB 160/1233/2:
- Interrogations of Portuguese prisoners held in Pavia from September to December 1540, drawn up by notary G. B. Codazzi. It includes a file with a denunciation by Iohannes Vuysting in Pavia against Diogo Mendes and other Portuguese in Antwerp, London and Milan, on September 21, 1540 (Leoni, 2011); as well as a deposition of a professor of Hebrew at the University of Louvain against Diogo Mendes, on October 5, 1540, accusing him of possessing two Hebrew books in his library (Salomon and Leoni, 1998);
- Denunciation of Maria of Habsburg to the attorney general of Brabant, regarding the execution of the order to arrest Gabriel de Negro. Letter from March 12, 1541 (Leoni, 2001);
- A letter of an anonymous Portuguese, reporting the difficulties that he found on his travel from Basel to Lucerne and to Ferrara and giving advice on how to travel without being robbed or cheated. Letter from September 15, 1543 (Leoni, 2011);
- "Regimento para o caminho que aveys de llevar com aiuda de Dio desta villa de Anvers para Ferrara" (Instructions for those who set out, with God's help, on the journey from Antwerp to Ferrara), a guide that offers travelling instructions for a safe trip from Antwerp to Ferrara, mentioning Cologne, Mainz, Altdorf, Pavia, the German Alps, Ancona and Ferrara. Undated, probably from c. 1544 (Leoni, 2011);
- "Interrogatoires pour interroger les apprehendez en la ville danvers qui se baptisent nouveaux christiens venuz du Royaulme de Portugal d'apres six sepmaines en ça" (Questionnaire to be used for the interrogation of those who were detained in the city of Antwerpen and that were baptized as New Christians originally from the Portuguese Kingdom), with a total of 50 questions to be asked to New Christians that migrated from Portugal to Antwerp. Document from 1544 (Leoni, 2011);
- A list of Portuguese immigrants arrested in Antwerp in 1544, indicating their names and the affiliations and households that they belonged to (Leoni, 2011).
OFB 160/1233/3:
- Depositions of Portuguese immigrants formerly imprisoned in Pavia, registered between January and February 1541 by notary Nicola Lavazzoli in Ferrara. It includes testimonies given by prisoners in Pavia regarding a group of New Christians in Antwerp who were accused of keeping Jewish practices (Leoni, 2011).
This fonds includes other documentation transcribed in Leoni (2005 and 2011), such as several other denunciations, judicial documents, letters from royal and inquisitorial authorities, among other relevant documentation to the history of the Jews community in Antwerp.
Edgar R. Samuel (1953-55) published a list of documents relating to Portuguese New Christians during the first quarter of the 17th century, including some transcriptions.
Archival history
The Office fiscal du Conseil de Brabant fonds is not yet completely known and organised. Some collections remain unavailable.
In recent years, some projects have shed new light on the archival composition of this fonds, creating partial descriptions that facilitate research on different topics. It was the case of the project "Les conflits de loyauté. La litigiosité ecclésiastique devant le Conseil de Brabant au XVIIIe siècle" (Conflicts of loyalty. Ecclesiastical litigation before the Council of Brabant in the 18th century), which inventoried the trials of clergy dating from 1700 to 1749; the project "Conseil de Brabant : inventoriage des procès de la noblesse" (Council of Brabant: inventory of the trials of the nobility), which aimed to study and describe the trials of noble people from 1511 to 1795; and the project "ACCESS to court files and access to justice. The Council of Brabant during the early modern era", which continued the idea of exploring judicial processes, including some that remained unknown for researchers. The latter is still undergoing, and the documentation covers the whole Early Modern period.
In recent years, some projects have shed new light on the archival composition of this fonds, creating partial descriptions that facilitate research on different topics. It was the case of the project "Les conflits de loyauté. La litigiosité ecclésiastique devant le Conseil de Brabant au XVIIIe siècle" (Conflicts of loyalty. Ecclesiastical litigation before the Council of Brabant in the 18th century), which inventoried the trials of clergy dating from 1700 to 1749; the project "Conseil de Brabant : inventoriage des procès de la noblesse" (Council of Brabant: inventory of the trials of the nobility), which aimed to study and describe the trials of noble people from 1511 to 1795; and the project "ACCESS to court files and access to justice. The Council of Brabant during the early modern era", which continued the idea of exploring judicial processes, including some that remained unknown for researchers. The latter is still undergoing, and the documentation covers the whole Early Modern period.
Sources:
Administrative / Biographical history
The Conseil de Brabant (Council of Brabant) has its history connected to a court founded by the Dukes of Brabant to uphold their authority, particularly during their absence from the territory. Its foundation is related to the institutional and justice reforms led by Antoine de Bourgogne (regent, 1404-1406; later Duke of Brabant, 1406-1415), following closely the initiatives taken by his father, Philippe le Hardi, in Flandres, and other kings and royal families in the region.
The foundation of the Conseil de Brabant was preceded by the creation of the Chambre des Comptes in Brussels in 1404, and of the Chambre du Conseil in 1406. Upon their creation, both institutions were met with great resistance from competing powers and were eventually made ineffective.
It was only with Jean IV, the successor of Antoine the Bourgogne, that new significant attempts were made to create a new governing institution to support the Dukes' authority. Definitive changes were achieved after his wedding to Jacqueline of Bavaria, on March 10, 1418. With this union, Jean IV saw his jurisdiction being extended to new territories, namely Hainaut, Holland and Zeeland. After that, his absence from the Duchy of Brabant territories became more common, leading to the frequent appointment of officials to uphold his jurisdiction. This new institutional presence became stabler when, on April 27, 1420, the Chambre du Conseil (Council Chamber) was recognised. The Chambre was composed of eight advisors, who were entrusted with very extensive and clearly defined powers. However, on September 30, 1420, Jean IV secretly left Brussels, resulting eventually in the extinction of the Chambre du Conseil. After two years of turmoil, the institution was then restored, with gradually reinforced powers. In 1430, a new institution was created — the Souverain Conseil de Brabant — following the model of the Chambre du Conseil but mostly focusing on judicial matters. New difficulties arose when the rebellion against the Habsburgs began in 1576. From that moment on, the territory was divided into areas of influence by different powers, meaning that the capacity of some inhabitants to appeal to the Souverain Conseil de Brabant was made impossible. As a consequence, a new court located in The Hague was eventually created on 26 September 1591, with similar authority to the one that existed in Brussels. At this time, the States-General determined that the court would consist of seven councillors.
Particularly concerning the Office fiscal (tax office), the instructions of the Archdukes Albertus and Isabella of 1604 determined that it was expected to defend the ducal interests and rights. The Office fiscal had two most important officials: the "advocaat-fiscaal" (attorney-at-law) and the "procureur-generaal" (attorney-general). The "advocaat-fiscaal" was the legal adviser to the regional government. He also supervised the civil officers who had the power to prosecute criminal cases. The "procureur-generaal" was the legal representative of the government. He was in charge of the formal work, which included presenting the documents drawn up by the "advocaat-fiscaal" to the Conseil, prosecuting criminals, and supervising their trial, among other tasks. The Conseil was abolished on September 9, 1795, following broader reforms of the judicial system.
The foundation of the Conseil de Brabant was preceded by the creation of the Chambre des Comptes in Brussels in 1404, and of the Chambre du Conseil in 1406. Upon their creation, both institutions were met with great resistance from competing powers and were eventually made ineffective.
It was only with Jean IV, the successor of Antoine the Bourgogne, that new significant attempts were made to create a new governing institution to support the Dukes' authority. Definitive changes were achieved after his wedding to Jacqueline of Bavaria, on March 10, 1418. With this union, Jean IV saw his jurisdiction being extended to new territories, namely Hainaut, Holland and Zeeland. After that, his absence from the Duchy of Brabant territories became more common, leading to the frequent appointment of officials to uphold his jurisdiction. This new institutional presence became stabler when, on April 27, 1420, the Chambre du Conseil (Council Chamber) was recognised. The Chambre was composed of eight advisors, who were entrusted with very extensive and clearly defined powers. However, on September 30, 1420, Jean IV secretly left Brussels, resulting eventually in the extinction of the Chambre du Conseil. After two years of turmoil, the institution was then restored, with gradually reinforced powers. In 1430, a new institution was created — the Souverain Conseil de Brabant — following the model of the Chambre du Conseil but mostly focusing on judicial matters. New difficulties arose when the rebellion against the Habsburgs began in 1576. From that moment on, the territory was divided into areas of influence by different powers, meaning that the capacity of some inhabitants to appeal to the Souverain Conseil de Brabant was made impossible. As a consequence, a new court located in The Hague was eventually created on 26 September 1591, with similar authority to the one that existed in Brussels. At this time, the States-General determined that the court would consist of seven councillors.
Particularly concerning the Office fiscal (tax office), the instructions of the Archdukes Albertus and Isabella of 1604 determined that it was expected to defend the ducal interests and rights. The Office fiscal had two most important officials: the "advocaat-fiscaal" (attorney-at-law) and the "procureur-generaal" (attorney-general). The "advocaat-fiscaal" was the legal adviser to the regional government. He also supervised the civil officers who had the power to prosecute criminal cases. The "procureur-generaal" was the legal representative of the government. He was in charge of the formal work, which included presenting the documents drawn up by the "advocaat-fiscaal" to the Conseil, prosecuting criminals, and supervising their trial, among other tasks. The Conseil was abolished on September 9, 1795, following broader reforms of the judicial system.
Sources:
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The process of arrangement and organisation is undergoing. At the moment, the existence of description materials and guides is mostly dependent on the completion of previous research projects.
Access, restrictions
Digital copies of some series are available online:
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
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