Governo civile e militare di Livorno
Item
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Country
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IT
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Name of institution (English)
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State Archives of Livorno
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Language of name of institution
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ita
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Contact information: postal address
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Palazzo del Governo, Via Fiume 40, 57123 Livorno
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Contact information: phone number
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0039 0586897776
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Contact information: email
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as-li@beniculturali.it
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Reference number
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Governo civile e militare
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Type of reference number
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Archival reference number
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Title (English)
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Livorno Civil and Military Government
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Title (official language of the state)
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Governo civile e militare di Livorno
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Language of title
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ita
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Creator / accumulator
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Governo civile e militare di Livorno
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Date(s)
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1764/1808
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Language(s)
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ita
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lat
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Extent
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155 storage units
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Type of material
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Textual Material
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Scope and content
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The Governo civile e militare fonds comprises diverse documentation related to the activity of Livorno's governor since the second half of the 18th century. However, it also comprises some copies of documents before this time related to the respective subjects. Its records include bye-laws and statutes, correspondence on civil and military matters, repertories of letters and orders, papers pertaining to pleas, minutes of meetings, documents on ecclesiastical patrimony affairs, among others. File 961 comprises several documents regarding the Jewish community of Livorno, including a copy of 1593 Livornina (no. 1), a letter listing the streets designated for Jewish residence in 1765 (no. 32), and records reflecting the hostility between Italian Jews and Sephardim in Livorno (no. 33). File 974 also contains documents regarding a litigation among Samuel, David and Raphael Ergas on the estate of their late father, Jacob Ergas, who had died in 1719 (fol. 163).
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Archival history
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The current Governo civile e militare di Livorno fonds only partially reflects the whole documentation produced during the long chronological period of its activity. This fact derives from two reasons. On the one hand, the uncertain organisation and articulation between the government's secretariat and the judicial chancellery probably led to the arrangement of the former's records in a separate collection until the late 17th century. On the other hand, an initial archive formed roughly between the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century was lost. For these reasons, the organic series' records only date back to 1764. Some series include deals that ended after 1814.
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(source: Guida Generale degli Archivi di Stato Italiano)
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Administrative / Biographical history
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In 1577, at the time of the transformation of Livorno into a city, the Grand Duke decided to assign the management of the new military and trade base to a governor, who would be in direct contact with the secretary for war affairs. The law of June 10, 1593, imposed the centralisation of power in the governor's hands. Two years later, friar Antonio Martelli was appointed governor of Livorno. His office was confirmed yearly but, after 1609, it became definitive with the sovereign's consent.
The governor was the chief representative of the Grand Duke in Livorno and superior to all local military and judicial authorities. He was responsible for guaranteeing public order and compliance with laws to promote the free port's development, supervising the military forces, and ensuring the regularity of supplies and health and hygiene conditions. The governor was also mandated to protect the merchants and the various foreign nations operating in the port as well as their consuls.
Since 1618, the governor was assisted by a judge, later qualified as an auditor. The auditor was charged to ensure the correct administration of justice, always on behalf of the governor.
The evolution of the governor's civil and military power followed the development of Livorno as an axis in international trade networks. Thus, the military responsibilities were increasingly demanding, with the extension of the Livorno governor's jurisdiction to the entire East coast and, from 1767, also to the West. The governor also headed the deputazione di sanità (health deputation) until the creation of an autonomous magistrate. As the guardian of the laws of exemption and neutrality that ruled Livorno as a free port, the governor was allowed to suspend edicts if they were against these rules and could intervene in criminal trials for disturbing public order. He also headed a special college of traders' representatives, composed of five representatives of each nation, plus their respective consuls.
The increasing complexity and weight of the governor's responsibilities led to the creation of a new office in 1780: the auditore consultore (consultant auditor), with judicial competencies.
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(source: Guida Generale degli Archivi di Stato Italiano)
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Access points: persons, families
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Ergas
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Finding aids
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An inventory is available in the archive's reading room.
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Author of the description
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Carla Vieira, 2021
