Auditore poi Segretario delle Riformagioni
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
State Archives of Florence
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Viale Giovine Italia 6, 50122 Florence
Contact information: phone number
0039 055263201
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
asfi@archiviodistato.firenze.it
Reference number
Auditore poi Segretario delle Riformagioni
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Auditor (later Secretary) of the Riformagioni
Title (official language of the state)
Auditore poi Segretario delle Riformagioni
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Auditore delle Riformagioni
Segretario delle Riformagioni
Date(s)
1531/1807
Language(s)
ita
lat
Extent
316 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Auditore poi Segretario delle Riformagioni fonds comprises edicts, charters, privileges, law and other documents issued by this officer, according to its competencies (see below Administrative/Biographical history). Therefore, this fonds includes licenses and privileges given to social and religious minorities settled in the territories under the jurisdiction of the Grand Duke, including the Jewish minority. Thus, documents of this fonds have been broadly used by scholars who dedicated their research to the Jewish communities of Tuscany. For instance, folder 18 (fol. 661) includes a request made by a Jewish merchant, Magino di Gabriele, that contains attached a charter of privileges given by Grand Duke Ferdinando di Medici to merchants of all nations ("Levantini, Ponentini, Spagnoli, Portughesi..., Hebrei...") who settled in Pisa and Livorno in 1591. This document was transcribed in Cooperman (1976). Another example is a group of documents regarding a dispute in 1630 between the Comuna (comune) of Livorno and the Jewish community settled in this port on the exemption of municipal taxes. These documents were also published in Toaff (1985-87; and 1990).
In this fonds, it is also possible to find evidence of privileges granted to certain Sephardic and converso individuals, particularly merchants and bankers. It is the case of the powerful converso family Ximenes, whose privileges granted by Grand Duke Ferdinando di Medici are recorded in this collection, folders 18 (fols. 635-36, 840 ss.), 19 (case 133) and 198 (case 1).
In this fonds, it is also possible to find evidence of privileges granted to certain Sephardic and converso individuals, particularly merchants and bankers. It is the case of the powerful converso family Ximenes, whose privileges granted by Grand Duke Ferdinando di Medici are recorded in this collection, folders 18 (fols. 635-36, 840 ss.), 19 (case 133) and 198 (case 1).
Archival history
After the extinction of the Segretario delle Riformagioni office in 1784, the Archivio della Riformagioni suffered some changes, following the incorporation of other collections. Then, Gian Francesco Pagnini was the director of the archive, who had undertaken a reorganisation of its collections since his appointment to this office in 1769. In 1785, Filippo Brunetti replaced him and received instructions to reorganise the archive's collection, which, in the meanwhile, had increased with new incorporations. Brunetti proceeded to a classification by subject.
Between the end of the 18th century and the early 19th century, including the French domination period, the Archivio delle Riformagioni did not suffer any important change. Indeed, Luigi Lustrini, who had been entrusted with the direction of the Conservation générale des archives de Toscane, did not subject the archives to new organisation or classification, even against the instructions given by the French government.
After the establishment of the Archivio Centrale di Stato in 1852, the Archivio delle Riformagioni was rearranged following the historical criterion adopted by the director, Francesco Bonaini. Therefore, the records were divided into three sections: Diplomatico, Repubblica and Principato.
In the early 1920s, the Auditore poi Segretario delle Riformagioni fonds was reorganised, and archivist Gaetano Pappaianni compiled its inventory. This organisation continues to be used to the present day, and researchers follow Pappaianni's catalogue (available online on the archive's website) to request and consult the fonds' documents.
Between the end of the 18th century and the early 19th century, including the French domination period, the Archivio delle Riformagioni did not suffer any important change. Indeed, Luigi Lustrini, who had been entrusted with the direction of the Conservation générale des archives de Toscane, did not subject the archives to new organisation or classification, even against the instructions given by the French government.
After the establishment of the Archivio Centrale di Stato in 1852, the Archivio delle Riformagioni was rearranged following the historical criterion adopted by the director, Francesco Bonaini. Therefore, the records were divided into three sections: Diplomatico, Repubblica and Principato.
In the early 1920s, the Auditore poi Segretario delle Riformagioni fonds was reorganised, and archivist Gaetano Pappaianni compiled its inventory. This organisation continues to be used to the present day, and researchers follow Pappaianni's catalogue (available online on the archive's website) to request and consult the fonds' documents.
Administrative / Biographical history
In the Republican period, the notary of the Riformagioni (edicts) was already a prestigious position, mostly with bureaucratic-administrative functions. Its main tasks were elaborating the texts of laws, dictating official letters, verifying the resolutions' regularity and keeping all the legislative documentation produced by the Florentine magistratures and councils, as well as privileges, treaties, statutes and charters.
However, it was during the Medici era that this officer became one of the cornerstones of the prince's power. The Ordinazioni of April 27, 1532, assigned to the notary of the Riformagioni the task of secretary of the Consiglio dei Dugento and the Senato dei Quarantotto. Cosimo I made use of this officer to accomplish his power centralisation plans by giving him political responsibilities. From 1537 or 1543, the notary took the designation of Auditore delle Riformagioni and acquired the task of supervising and guiding the councils and the Magistrato supremo on behalf of the prince. Thus, he became a specialised officer who required high legal and political skills. He was exclusively appointed on the will of the sovereign. Iacopo Polverini, one of Cosimo's closest collaborators, thus became the first Auditore delle Riformaggioni. At least from 1547, he also exercised the function of the secretary of the Pratica segreta.
In 1743, the office changed its name to Segretario delle Riformaggioni. Between 1737 and 1746, it was associated with the office of Segretario delle Tratte (Secretary of Trade).
During the Reggenza period (regency), and even more at the time of Pietro Leopoldo, the Segretario delle Riformagioni lost political weight, and his powers were progressively assigned to other secretariats and magistracies.
In 1782, when the Camera delle comunità was abolished, the papers of this magistracy were entrusted to the Segretario delle Riformagioni and included in his archive. However, only two years later, the office of Segretario delle Riformagioni was also extinct, and his then limited competencies were attributed to the Avvocato regio (Royal attorney).
However, it was during the Medici era that this officer became one of the cornerstones of the prince's power. The Ordinazioni of April 27, 1532, assigned to the notary of the Riformagioni the task of secretary of the Consiglio dei Dugento and the Senato dei Quarantotto. Cosimo I made use of this officer to accomplish his power centralisation plans by giving him political responsibilities. From 1537 or 1543, the notary took the designation of Auditore delle Riformagioni and acquired the task of supervising and guiding the councils and the Magistrato supremo on behalf of the prince. Thus, he became a specialised officer who required high legal and political skills. He was exclusively appointed on the will of the sovereign. Iacopo Polverini, one of Cosimo's closest collaborators, thus became the first Auditore delle Riformaggioni. At least from 1547, he also exercised the function of the secretary of the Pratica segreta.
In 1743, the office changed its name to Segretario delle Riformaggioni. Between 1737 and 1746, it was associated with the office of Segretario delle Tratte (Secretary of Trade).
During the Reggenza period (regency), and even more at the time of Pietro Leopoldo, the Segretario delle Riformagioni lost political weight, and his powers were progressively assigned to other secretariats and magistracies.
In 1782, when the Camera delle comunità was abolished, the papers of this magistracy were entrusted to the Segretario delle Riformagioni and included in his archive. However, only two years later, the office of Segretario delle Riformagioni was also extinct, and his then limited competencies were attributed to the Avvocato regio (Royal attorney).
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
This fonds is organised into two series: Negozi e relazioni and Negozi giurisdizionali e feudali. Records are arranged chronologically.
Links to finding aids
Existence and location of copies
Copy of file 18, fols. 661: The First Charter to Magino di Gabriele (1591): Archivio di Stato di Firenze, Pratica Segreta 189, fols. 115v-119v.
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2021.
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
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