Consoli del Mare di Pisa
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
State Archives of Pisa
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Lungarno Mediceo 17, 56100 Pisa
Contact information: phone number
0039 050542698
0039 050542784
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
as-pi@beniculturali.it
Reference number
Consoli del Mare di Pisa
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Pisa Sea Consuls
Title (official language of the state)
Consoli del Mare di Pisa
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Consoli del Mare di Pisa
Date(s)
1523/1808
Language(s)
ita
Extent
1,327 files
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Consoli del Mare fonds comprises documentation related to the functioning of this Pisan court. The organisation of the records into eight series expresses the daily work of this magistrature: "Deliberazioni" (deliberations), "Lettere" (letters), "Fedi di esenzioni" (exemptions); "Decreti consolari" (consular decrees), "Atti civili, atti civili spezzati, referti e suppliche" (civil acts, special civil acts, reports and petitions), "Processi, cause civili e criminali, grascie e affari diversi" (trials, civil and criminal cases, graces and various affairs), "Decreti e sentenze" (decrees and sentences), and "Appelli" (appeals).
Since the Consoli del Mare had jurisdiction over maritime and commercial cases, it is possible to find some information regarding Sephardic and converso merchants spread throughout the records of the documentary fonds. Some examples are the following:
978, fols. 99, 203, 355-56; 979, fols. 14-58, 76: records regarding a case involving Jewish merchants from Livorno who, because of the lack of labour and space in the city, had overcome the limits imposed by the Corporazioni delle Arti and went to work in Pisa and other areas to obtain raw materials, without paying the city taxes over exportations. This case is analysed in Frattarelli Fischer (2002).
1022: Volume containing "ballottazione" (elections of deputies), patents and licenses, with mentions to several Iberian conversos and Jews.
Since the Consoli del Mare had jurisdiction over maritime and commercial cases, it is possible to find some information regarding Sephardic and converso merchants spread throughout the records of the documentary fonds. Some examples are the following:
978, fols. 99, 203, 355-56; 979, fols. 14-58, 76: records regarding a case involving Jewish merchants from Livorno who, because of the lack of labour and space in the city, had overcome the limits imposed by the Corporazioni delle Arti and went to work in Pisa and other areas to obtain raw materials, without paying the city taxes over exportations. This case is analysed in Frattarelli Fischer (2002).
1022: Volume containing "ballottazione" (elections of deputies), patents and licenses, with mentions to several Iberian conversos and Jews.
Archival history
On October 12, 1782, the chancelleries of the Auditore del Commissariato and the Tribunale dei Consoli del Mare were joined.
After the foundation of the Archivio di Stato di Pisa on June 4, 1865, the Consoli del Mare records were incorporated into the collection of the new archive, together with the archives of the Comune di Pisa, the Ufficio Fiumi e Fossi, the Commissario di Pisa, the Auditore di Governo di Pisa, the Opera della Primaziale, the Spedali Riuniti di S. Chiara, the Gabella dei Contratti, the Ordine dei Cavalieri di S. Stefano, the Università di Pisa, the Pia Casa di Misericordia and other minor fonds. The Archivio was originally located above the Loggia dei Banchi, where remains at present one of the archive's branch offices. In the early 20th century, the Archivio was transferred to the Palazzo Toscanelli.
After the foundation of the Archivio di Stato di Pisa on June 4, 1865, the Consoli del Mare records were incorporated into the collection of the new archive, together with the archives of the Comune di Pisa, the Ufficio Fiumi e Fossi, the Commissario di Pisa, the Auditore di Governo di Pisa, the Opera della Primaziale, the Spedali Riuniti di S. Chiara, the Gabella dei Contratti, the Ordine dei Cavalieri di S. Stefano, the Università di Pisa, the Pia Casa di Misericordia and other minor fonds. The Archivio was originally located above the Loggia dei Banchi, where remains at present one of the archive's branch offices. In the early 20th century, the Archivio was transferred to the Palazzo Toscanelli.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Consoli del Mare (sea consuls) were established in 1421, after the Republic of Florence had bought Livorno. As early as 1423, it was decided to send two consuls to Pisa. Three years later, it was established that each Florentine consul would spend six months of the year in Pisa to guarantee that three consuls would constantly be there. After the loss of Pisa in 1494, this magistrature was suppressed.
Following the definitive subjection of Pisa to the Florentine state, the Consoli del Mare de Pisa were restored in the sequence of a provision issued on June 4, 1557.
The Consoli del Mare were assigned to deal with the defence of Pisa and its port, the building and equipment of fortresses, and the recruitment and payment of militias. They administered the Dogana (customs office), managed the construction and provision of ships, controlled tax collections, and judged maritime cases and disputes involving merchants and ship owners. Later, their jurisdiction was also extended to all foreigners, including Iberian Jews and conversos. After the establishment of a Zecca (mint) in Pisa in 1595, the Consoli also became responsible for the supervision of its activity and the circulation of new coins in Pisa and Livorno.
In 1814, the Tribunale dei Consoli del Mare de Pisa was extinct after the creation of the Magistrato civile e consolare (civil and consular Magistrate), which assumed the competencies previously exercised by the Consoli.
Following the definitive subjection of Pisa to the Florentine state, the Consoli del Mare de Pisa were restored in the sequence of a provision issued on June 4, 1557.
The Consoli del Mare were assigned to deal with the defence of Pisa and its port, the building and equipment of fortresses, and the recruitment and payment of militias. They administered the Dogana (customs office), managed the construction and provision of ships, controlled tax collections, and judged maritime cases and disputes involving merchants and ship owners. Later, their jurisdiction was also extended to all foreigners, including Iberian Jews and conversos. After the establishment of a Zecca (mint) in Pisa in 1595, the Consoli also became responsible for the supervision of its activity and the circulation of new coins in Pisa and Livorno.
In 1814, the Tribunale dei Consoli del Mare de Pisa was extinct after the creation of the Magistrato civile e consolare (civil and consular Magistrate), which assumed the competencies previously exercised by the Consoli.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is divided into 8 series. Records tend to be arranged chronologically.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2021
Bibliography
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivio di Stato di Pisa | Collections (official language of the state) |