Consulta poi Regia consulta
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
Consulta poi Regia consulta
Title (English)
Counsel, later Royal Counsel
Title (official language of the state)
Consulta poi Regia consulta
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Consulta (1600/1808)
Regia consulta (1814/1848)
Date(s)
1537/1841
Language(s)
ita
lat
Extent
3,417 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This fonds comprises documentation produced by the Consulta, later the Regia Consulta. Most of the records are of legal nature, such as petitions, orders, laws and judicial affairs. The fonds also includes documents prior to the creation of the Consulta, including a series of petitions registers sent to the Grand Duke dating back to the mid-1530s. The fonds is currently divided into two main sections: "Prima parte" and "Seconda parte". The "Prima parte" is subdivided into other sections: "Consulta di Firenze", "Consulta di Siena", "Consulta di Sua Maestà Imperiale (periodo lorenese)", "Regio Consultore legale (1789-1793)", "Imperial Regia Consulta (1793-1808)" and "Consulta (1814-1838)", as well as series corresponding to the different types of records comprised into the fonds, such as "Leggi e bandi" (laws and orders), "Ex libris motivorum trium judicum/unius judicis" (copies of the justifications of sentences issued by the Ruota civile's judges), "Testi giuridici" (legal texts), "Suppliche di grazia" (petitions of favours), "Negozi" (affairs), etc.
The nature of this fonds makes it an important source of information regarding the legal status of the Jewish communities in Tuscany, as well as privileges, demands and prohibitions directed against Jews. Some examples from the "Prima parte" are the following:
1, bando 2: Edict reiterating the obligation of Jews to wear the yellow hat and live in the ghetto. The Jewish community of Florence also had to pay 30 scudi (currency) per annum for the ghetto gatekeeper's salary, and each Jewish male over 15 years old had to pay two scudi per annum. July 31, 1571.
1, bando 4: Law imposing the badge on Jewish travellers who stayed in Tuscany for more than two years. September 18, 1571.
4, no. 22: Decree allowing the Jews in Tuscany to live only within the confines of a ghetto. September 26, 1570.
102: Order by the Grand Duke for the attacks against the Jews and their synagogue in Pisa to be punished. 1592.
The nature of this fonds makes it an important source of information regarding the legal status of the Jewish communities in Tuscany, as well as privileges, demands and prohibitions directed against Jews. Some examples from the "Prima parte" are the following:
1, bando 2: Edict reiterating the obligation of Jews to wear the yellow hat and live in the ghetto. The Jewish community of Florence also had to pay 30 scudi (currency) per annum for the ghetto gatekeeper's salary, and each Jewish male over 15 years old had to pay two scudi per annum. July 31, 1571.
1, bando 4: Law imposing the badge on Jewish travellers who stayed in Tuscany for more than two years. September 18, 1571.
4, no. 22: Decree allowing the Jews in Tuscany to live only within the confines of a ghetto. September 26, 1570.
102: Order by the Grand Duke for the attacks against the Jews and their synagogue in Pisa to be punished. 1592.
Archival history
The Consulta, poi Regia Consulta fonds is divided into two sections, which were incorporated into the State Archives of Florence at different times. The "Prima parte" (first section), comprising documents prior to 1838, was transferred from the offices of the Ministero di Grazia e Giustizia, to the Archivio Centrale di Stato in 1860. The Ministero di Grazia e Giustizia had replaced the Regia Consulta after its suppression in 1848 and also inherited its archives. At the moment of this replacement, a list of the transferred records was composed, divided according to the governments during which they were produced (Repubblicano, Mediceo, Imperiale, Leopoldino, Borbonico and Granducale).
On February 6, 1865, the archives of the extinct ministries of Affari Ecclesiastici and Grazia e Giustizia were transferred to the Archivio Centrale di Stato. It was at this occasion that the "Seconda parte" (second section) of the fonds was deposited in the archive, together with part of the archive of the Ministero di Grazia e Giustizia. The fonds was then located at division VII, section III, dedicated to the "Uffizi Governativi dopo la Restaurazione del 1814" (Government Offices after the Restoration of 1814). After this last intervention, the fonds no longer underwent any changes in either composition or location.
On February 6, 1865, the archives of the extinct ministries of Affari Ecclesiastici and Grazia e Giustizia were transferred to the Archivio Centrale di Stato. It was at this occasion that the "Seconda parte" (second section) of the fonds was deposited in the archive, together with part of the archive of the Ministero di Grazia e Giustizia. The fonds was then located at division VII, section III, dedicated to the "Uffizi Governativi dopo la Restaurazione del 1814" (Government Offices after the Restoration of 1814). After this last intervention, the fonds no longer underwent any changes in either composition or location.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Consulta was a collegial magistracy established by Grand Duke Ferdinando I in 1600, following an effort to reorganise the system for examining and solving the so-called "suppliche" (petitions). At the time, the number of petitions had increased in an unmanageable way, which justified the formation of a specialised body to deal with these questions.
In its early time, the Consulta should have met only occasionally, but soon it became a permanent body, although its composition had remained variable and dependent on the sovereign's will. The principal and most competent auditors and lawyers who surrounded the Grand Duke integrated the Consulta. Although the Consulta did not have its own defined jurisdiction, it played a fundamental role in appealing directly to the Grand Duke in judicial matters and intervening to change or suspend sentences issued by ordinary courts. Over time, the functions and competencies of the Consulta became more and more defined.
The apex of the Consulta's power occurred during the government of Cosimo II, in particular from 1615 to 1621, and the period of the Regency due to the minor age of Ferdinando II (1621-1628). During this latter period, the Consulta enjoyed the regents' support, who strengthened its prerogatives to the extent that it competed with the Consiglio di Reggenza for the place of the highest body of political administration. Even during Ferdinando II's government, the Consulta kept its role as a strategic centre of power, so much so that it used to convene five times a week, two of which in the presence of the Grand Duke.
Later, the Consulta lost much of its political weight and returned to its original competencies. In the late 17th century, the affairs of the city of Livorno and part of the city of Pisa, Portoferraio and Giglio, were separated and formed a particular college, the Congregazione (or Consulta) di Livorno, incorporated into the Segreteria di Guerra. However, this was a short-lived body, which ended up being abolished around the mid-18th century.
During the Lorenese dynasty, the Consulta initially maintained its competencies without noticeable changes. However, a first definition of the college's power took place in 1739, when it was established that the affairs examined by the Consulta should be subject to the examination of one of the three Consigli (Reggenza, Finanze or Guerra), depending on the respective subject. The Consulta also lost its power to appeal directly to the sovereign or solve the affairs on his behalf. In addition, the most delicate affairs were subtracted to the Consulta and directed to the Consiglio di Reggenza in the first instance.
In 1772, the Council was involved in the judicial reform, earning the task of appointing the judges of the communities. It was also subjected to closer control by the Segreteria di Stato. In the 1770s and 1780s, the Consulta received attributions previously exercised by other bodies. For instance, in 1784, after the extinction of the Pratica Segreta, part of its competencies were transferred to the Consulta.
On September 23, 1788, the Consulta was temporarily suppressed. Its powers were initially transferred to the Magistrato Supremo, the Presidenza del Buongoverno and the Auditori di Ruota. In the following year, the competencies formerly assigned to the Consulta were entrusted to a new body, the Consultore legale regio, which was extinct a few years later, in 1793. Then, Ferdinando III restored the Consulta with a new composition (three judges chaired by the former Consultore legale) and duties. For instance, the Grand Duke conferred again on the Consulta the role of supreme court, entrusting it the task of examinating the appeals submitted to the sovereign and the legislative and administrative acts.
In 1808, at the time of the annexation of Tuscany to the French Empire, the Consulta was abolished again. After the Napoleonic domination, it was restored for the last time on July 9, 1814, under the name of Regia Consulta. The college generically kept its traditional attributions, although with continuous redefinitions and adjustments until its definitive suppression in 1848. Then, the Regia Consulta's functions were assigned to the new Ministero di Giustizia e Grazia.
In its early time, the Consulta should have met only occasionally, but soon it became a permanent body, although its composition had remained variable and dependent on the sovereign's will. The principal and most competent auditors and lawyers who surrounded the Grand Duke integrated the Consulta. Although the Consulta did not have its own defined jurisdiction, it played a fundamental role in appealing directly to the Grand Duke in judicial matters and intervening to change or suspend sentences issued by ordinary courts. Over time, the functions and competencies of the Consulta became more and more defined.
The apex of the Consulta's power occurred during the government of Cosimo II, in particular from 1615 to 1621, and the period of the Regency due to the minor age of Ferdinando II (1621-1628). During this latter period, the Consulta enjoyed the regents' support, who strengthened its prerogatives to the extent that it competed with the Consiglio di Reggenza for the place of the highest body of political administration. Even during Ferdinando II's government, the Consulta kept its role as a strategic centre of power, so much so that it used to convene five times a week, two of which in the presence of the Grand Duke.
Later, the Consulta lost much of its political weight and returned to its original competencies. In the late 17th century, the affairs of the city of Livorno and part of the city of Pisa, Portoferraio and Giglio, were separated and formed a particular college, the Congregazione (or Consulta) di Livorno, incorporated into the Segreteria di Guerra. However, this was a short-lived body, which ended up being abolished around the mid-18th century.
During the Lorenese dynasty, the Consulta initially maintained its competencies without noticeable changes. However, a first definition of the college's power took place in 1739, when it was established that the affairs examined by the Consulta should be subject to the examination of one of the three Consigli (Reggenza, Finanze or Guerra), depending on the respective subject. The Consulta also lost its power to appeal directly to the sovereign or solve the affairs on his behalf. In addition, the most delicate affairs were subtracted to the Consulta and directed to the Consiglio di Reggenza in the first instance.
In 1772, the Council was involved in the judicial reform, earning the task of appointing the judges of the communities. It was also subjected to closer control by the Segreteria di Stato. In the 1770s and 1780s, the Consulta received attributions previously exercised by other bodies. For instance, in 1784, after the extinction of the Pratica Segreta, part of its competencies were transferred to the Consulta.
On September 23, 1788, the Consulta was temporarily suppressed. Its powers were initially transferred to the Magistrato Supremo, the Presidenza del Buongoverno and the Auditori di Ruota. In the following year, the competencies formerly assigned to the Consulta were entrusted to a new body, the Consultore legale regio, which was extinct a few years later, in 1793. Then, Ferdinando III restored the Consulta with a new composition (three judges chaired by the former Consultore legale) and duties. For instance, the Grand Duke conferred again on the Consulta the role of supreme court, entrusting it the task of examinating the appeals submitted to the sovereign and the legislative and administrative acts.
In 1808, at the time of the annexation of Tuscany to the French Empire, the Consulta was abolished again. After the Napoleonic domination, it was restored for the last time on July 9, 1814, under the name of Regia Consulta. The college generically kept its traditional attributions, although with continuous redefinitions and adjustments until its definitive suppression in 1848. Then, the Regia Consulta's functions were assigned to the new Ministero di Giustizia e Grazia.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is divided into two sections: the first section ("prima parte") with records before 1838, and the second section ("seconda parte"), comprising documents from 1838 to 1847. Records are numbered sequentially in each section (first section: 1-2797; second section: 1-620).
Access, restrictions
The following records are missing: Prima parte, 26, 43, 54, 256/II, 881, 2743, 2778, 2781, 2787; Seconda parte, 511, 568, 575, 582-583, 585.
Finding aids
Unpublished finding aids available in the archive:
"Inventario dell'archivio della Regia Consulta". 19th century (N/168)
"Indice cronologico della legislazione a stampa". 1982 (N/270)
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2021
Published primary sources
Linked resources
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