Carteggi di oratori, agenti e corrispondenti presso le corti detti anche Carteggio ambasciatori
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
State Archives of Modena
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Corso Cavour 21, 41121 Modena
Contact information: phone number
0039 059230549
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
as-mo@beniculturali.it
Reference number
Carteggio ambasciatori
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Correspondence of speakers, agents and correspondents in the courts, also known as Correspondence of ambassadors
Title (official language of the state)
Carteggi di oratori, agenti e corrispondenti presso le corti detti anche Carteggio ambasciatori
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Cancelleria estense
Date(s)
1376/1796
Language(s)
ita
lat
Extent
1,699 folders
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Satisfactory
Scope and content
The Carteggi di oratori, agenti e corrispondenti presso le corti, better known as Carteggio ambasciatori, is part of the Cancelleria, Sezione Estero of the Archivio segreto estense. It is composed of original letters addressed to the Este family by diplomatic agents in other Italian states and abroad. The fonds is divided into various series corresponding to the different embassies or missions, organised into two groups: Italian territories and abroad. Each series is divided into dispatches, instructions and minutes of chancellery records and received correspondence.
This fonds preserves documentation related to Sephardic Jews and Iberian New Christians in the duchy and abroad, especially regarding the Inquisition's interference in ducal territories, the movement of Iberian exiles to Ferrara and other cities, and the award of privileges and safe-conducts to them. Leoni (2011) collected references related to Portuguese New Christians and Jews with connections to Ferrara or who planned to move to this city in the correspondence received from ambassadors in Venice, Rome and other Italian cities.
Some examples of documents related to Iberian Jews and New Christians are the following:
Roma, busta 108: this folder contains records relating to the imprisonment of João Lopes, alias Samuel Abundenti, and other Portuguese New Christians by the Inquisition in 1581, including Cardinal Savelli's orders to his arrest (doc. 387-XCV/22), the information given by the ducal chancellery to the ambassador in Rome on these imprisonments (doc. 387-XCVII/9) and the extradition of the prisoners to Rome (doc. 387-XCVIII/38, p. 3). Regarding the same case, busta 92 contains a dispatch by the Este embassy in Rome informing about the abjuration of the Portuguese defendants in February 1583 (doc. 387-XXVII/12) and a short relation written by the ambassador on the abjuration ceremony (doc. 387-XXVII/15). These and other documents related to this case were published by Leoni (1991).
Roma, busta 59, doc. 283-XLVIII/2: letter by Ercole ll to his ambassador in Rome giving privileges to Isaac and Jacob Abravanel's agent in Rome, Salamone Zarfati. January 22, 1551 (published in Leoni, 1997).
Germania, busta 3: this folder contains Girolamo Maretta's letters from Antwerp, including one on February 26, 1538, in which he prematurely communicated that he had obtained a general safe conduct from the King of France to Portuguese New Christians (Leoni, 2011), and another on May 24, 1539, mentioning the safe conducts given to Dr Dionísio and Beatriz de Luna (Leoni, 1994).
Milano, busta 30: Ercole II orders his ambassador in Milan to request the release of Duarte Pinto. August 1539 (Leoni, 2011).
This fonds preserves documentation related to Sephardic Jews and Iberian New Christians in the duchy and abroad, especially regarding the Inquisition's interference in ducal territories, the movement of Iberian exiles to Ferrara and other cities, and the award of privileges and safe-conducts to them. Leoni (2011) collected references related to Portuguese New Christians and Jews with connections to Ferrara or who planned to move to this city in the correspondence received from ambassadors in Venice, Rome and other Italian cities.
Some examples of documents related to Iberian Jews and New Christians are the following:
Roma, busta 108: this folder contains records relating to the imprisonment of João Lopes, alias Samuel Abundenti, and other Portuguese New Christians by the Inquisition in 1581, including Cardinal Savelli's orders to his arrest (doc. 387-XCV/22), the information given by the ducal chancellery to the ambassador in Rome on these imprisonments (doc. 387-XCVII/9) and the extradition of the prisoners to Rome (doc. 387-XCVIII/38, p. 3). Regarding the same case, busta 92 contains a dispatch by the Este embassy in Rome informing about the abjuration of the Portuguese defendants in February 1583 (doc. 387-XXVII/12) and a short relation written by the ambassador on the abjuration ceremony (doc. 387-XXVII/15). These and other documents related to this case were published by Leoni (1991).
Roma, busta 59, doc. 283-XLVIII/2: letter by Ercole ll to his ambassador in Rome giving privileges to Isaac and Jacob Abravanel's agent in Rome, Salamone Zarfati. January 22, 1551 (published in Leoni, 1997).
Germania, busta 3: this folder contains Girolamo Maretta's letters from Antwerp, including one on February 26, 1538, in which he prematurely communicated that he had obtained a general safe conduct from the King of France to Portuguese New Christians (Leoni, 2011), and another on May 24, 1539, mentioning the safe conducts given to Dr Dionísio and Beatriz de Luna (Leoni, 1994).
Milano, busta 30: Ercole II orders his ambassador in Milan to request the release of Duarte Pinto. August 1539 (Leoni, 2011).
Archival history
The first notice on the Archivio estense dates back to 1317: a deed by which the Marquis Aldrovandino d'Este entrusted a large ark to the monastery of Santa Maria della Cella in Venice, containing papal and imperial privileges and many other documents relating to the cities and districts of Ferrara, Rivigo and Padua. In 1462, the documents of the house of Ferrara were kept in the so-called "archivio della Torre". During the 16th century, the archive was damaged by fires and lost several precious documents.
At the beginning of 1598, as a consequence of the loss of Ferrara, Duke Cesare moved the archive to Modena. However, several documents concerning the city and Duchy of Ferrara were retained by papal commissioners, and others were dispersed. In 1603, a fire in the ducal castle of Modena caused further damage and significant losses to the Este archives. In 1622, the Duke commissioned the poet Fulvio Testi to record the archive's documents. Other conservators compiled inventories of the archive in the 17th century, such as Nicolò Susaru and Ludovico Tagliavini. However, it was in the 18th century that the archive's organisation received a more significant improvement with the appointment of L. A. Muratori as the ducal archivist (1700-1749). Yet the political instability and wars that affected the Duchy in the same century had a negative impact on the archive's arrangement.
Following the French occupation, the Archivio segreto estense was declared "Nazionale" and subsequently "Governativo". The incorporation of the records of the extinct ducal offices and religious corporations increased enormously. In 1814, for a brief period, it became yet again the private archive of the reigning house. Finally, in July 1862, the Archivio segreto was transferred to the Archivio generale di deposito in Corso Cavour, which became the seat of the government archives, thus renamed Archivio governativo. This transfer marked the birth of the current Archivio di Stato di Modena, which was only so named after 1874.
At the beginning of 1598, as a consequence of the loss of Ferrara, Duke Cesare moved the archive to Modena. However, several documents concerning the city and Duchy of Ferrara were retained by papal commissioners, and others were dispersed. In 1603, a fire in the ducal castle of Modena caused further damage and significant losses to the Este archives. In 1622, the Duke commissioned the poet Fulvio Testi to record the archive's documents. Other conservators compiled inventories of the archive in the 17th century, such as Nicolò Susaru and Ludovico Tagliavini. However, it was in the 18th century that the archive's organisation received a more significant improvement with the appointment of L. A. Muratori as the ducal archivist (1700-1749). Yet the political instability and wars that affected the Duchy in the same century had a negative impact on the archive's arrangement.
Following the French occupation, the Archivio segreto estense was declared "Nazionale" and subsequently "Governativo". The incorporation of the records of the extinct ducal offices and religious corporations increased enormously. In 1814, for a brief period, it became yet again the private archive of the reigning house. Finally, in July 1862, the Archivio segreto was transferred to the Archivio generale di deposito in Corso Cavour, which became the seat of the government archives, thus renamed Archivio governativo. This transfer marked the birth of the current Archivio di Stato di Modena, which was only so named after 1874.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Cancelleria, Sezione Estero is part of the Archivio segreto estense, the ducal secret archive, one of the two archival deposits of the Este house (the other was the Archivio camerale).
The Este family took its name from Este, their fiefdom between 1056 and 1239. From 1208 to 1598, the Este family ruled Ferrara, a city united by bonds of vassalage to the Papal State, and extended its jurisdiction to Modena (1288), Reggio Emilia (1288), Fanano (1352), Garfagnana (1429-1451), Carpi (1527), Correggio (1636), Mirandola (1711), Novellara (1737), Massa and Carrara (1790).
The oldest documentary evidence regarding the Este family dates back to Oberto II, Marquis of Sicily and prince of the Holy Roman Empire, who died in 975. Alberto Azzo II (1009-1097) may be considered the historical progenitor of the family and the initiator of the marquisate of Este, an important political and commercial entrepot at the time. One of his sons, Guelph IV, who died in 1101, was adopted by his maternal uncle, Guelfo III of Carinthia, and succeeded him as Duke of Carinthia, thus changing the surname to perpetuate the name of the Guelphs. The houses of Hanover and Brunswick derive directly from this lineage.
The Italian branch of the Este continued with another son of Alberto Azzo II, Folco I (1070-1128). Among his successors, there is Obizzo I (1110-1193), who fought Emperor Frederick I. His nephew, Azzo VI (1170-1212), was the first lord of Ferrara. Aldobrandino (1190-1215) faced the attack of Ferrara by the Padovani in 1213 and lost the city. Azzo Novello VII (1205-1264) reconquered Ferrara in 1242, and Obizzo II (1247-1293) was proclaimed lord of the city in 1264, as well of Modena in 1288 and Reggio in 1289. As Ferrara was a papal fief, the Este were vicars of the pope since 1332.
Under Nicolò III (1384-1441), Ferrara became a great Renaissance cultural centre, whose splendour was increased by his successors, among them, Leonello d'Este (1407-1450). In 1393, the Este family obtained the title of marquis. Borso (1413-1471), an illegitimate son of Nicolò III and Marquis of Ferrara, received the title of Duke of Modena and Reggio in 1452. In 1471, Pope Paul II awarded him the title of Duke of Ferrara.
Another son of Nicholas III was Ercole I (1431-1505), husband of Eleonora d'Aragona, who lost most of the family's domains in the Venetian Polesine in favour of the Venetians between 1481 and 1482.
Ercole I was succeeded by his son Alfonso I (1476-1534), who became Lucretia Borgia's third husband after first marrying Anna Maria Sforza. He joined the League of Cambrai against Venice, remaining ally of Louis XII of France, even after the peace between the Venetians and Pope Julius II. For this reason, the pope excommunicated Alfonso and declared the feud of Ferrara vacant in 1510. In 1526-27, Alfonso I participated in the expedition of Charles V, emperor and king of Spain, against Pope Clement VII. He recovered his confirmation as Duke of Ferrara in 1530.
Ercole II (1508-1559) succeeded his father Alfonso I. In 1556, alongside the pope and the king of France, he fought against Spain and obtained a separate peace two years later. The direct lineage of the family ended with Ercole's son, Alfonso II (1533-1597).
Emperor Rudolf II recognised Alfonso's cousin, Cesare (1533-1628), as Duke of Modena and Reggio, but Pope Clement VIII refused to accept him as Duke of Ferrara. Therefore, in 1598, the city returned to the direct jurisdiction of the Papal State, and Modena became the capital of the duchy.
The loss of Ferrara marked the end of the golden era of the Este family. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Este could not recover Ferrara nor their former prestige and political influence. The last Duke of Modena and Reggio, Ercole Rinaldo III (1727-1803), was deposed in 1796 by the French. After the Restoration, Ercole's grandson, Francesco IV of Habsburg-Este (1779-1846), reigned as Duke of Modena, Reggio, Massa and Carrara. He was succeeded by his son Francesco V of Habsburg-Este (1819-1875), which was deposed in 1859. In the following year, the duchy was annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia.
The Este family took its name from Este, their fiefdom between 1056 and 1239. From 1208 to 1598, the Este family ruled Ferrara, a city united by bonds of vassalage to the Papal State, and extended its jurisdiction to Modena (1288), Reggio Emilia (1288), Fanano (1352), Garfagnana (1429-1451), Carpi (1527), Correggio (1636), Mirandola (1711), Novellara (1737), Massa and Carrara (1790).
The oldest documentary evidence regarding the Este family dates back to Oberto II, Marquis of Sicily and prince of the Holy Roman Empire, who died in 975. Alberto Azzo II (1009-1097) may be considered the historical progenitor of the family and the initiator of the marquisate of Este, an important political and commercial entrepot at the time. One of his sons, Guelph IV, who died in 1101, was adopted by his maternal uncle, Guelfo III of Carinthia, and succeeded him as Duke of Carinthia, thus changing the surname to perpetuate the name of the Guelphs. The houses of Hanover and Brunswick derive directly from this lineage.
The Italian branch of the Este continued with another son of Alberto Azzo II, Folco I (1070-1128). Among his successors, there is Obizzo I (1110-1193), who fought Emperor Frederick I. His nephew, Azzo VI (1170-1212), was the first lord of Ferrara. Aldobrandino (1190-1215) faced the attack of Ferrara by the Padovani in 1213 and lost the city. Azzo Novello VII (1205-1264) reconquered Ferrara in 1242, and Obizzo II (1247-1293) was proclaimed lord of the city in 1264, as well of Modena in 1288 and Reggio in 1289. As Ferrara was a papal fief, the Este were vicars of the pope since 1332.
Under Nicolò III (1384-1441), Ferrara became a great Renaissance cultural centre, whose splendour was increased by his successors, among them, Leonello d'Este (1407-1450). In 1393, the Este family obtained the title of marquis. Borso (1413-1471), an illegitimate son of Nicolò III and Marquis of Ferrara, received the title of Duke of Modena and Reggio in 1452. In 1471, Pope Paul II awarded him the title of Duke of Ferrara.
Another son of Nicholas III was Ercole I (1431-1505), husband of Eleonora d'Aragona, who lost most of the family's domains in the Venetian Polesine in favour of the Venetians between 1481 and 1482.
Ercole I was succeeded by his son Alfonso I (1476-1534), who became Lucretia Borgia's third husband after first marrying Anna Maria Sforza. He joined the League of Cambrai against Venice, remaining ally of Louis XII of France, even after the peace between the Venetians and Pope Julius II. For this reason, the pope excommunicated Alfonso and declared the feud of Ferrara vacant in 1510. In 1526-27, Alfonso I participated in the expedition of Charles V, emperor and king of Spain, against Pope Clement VII. He recovered his confirmation as Duke of Ferrara in 1530.
Ercole II (1508-1559) succeeded his father Alfonso I. In 1556, alongside the pope and the king of France, he fought against Spain and obtained a separate peace two years later. The direct lineage of the family ended with Ercole's son, Alfonso II (1533-1597).
Emperor Rudolf II recognised Alfonso's cousin, Cesare (1533-1628), as Duke of Modena and Reggio, but Pope Clement VIII refused to accept him as Duke of Ferrara. Therefore, in 1598, the city returned to the direct jurisdiction of the Papal State, and Modena became the capital of the duchy.
The loss of Ferrara marked the end of the golden era of the Este family. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Este could not recover Ferrara nor their former prestige and political influence. The last Duke of Modena and Reggio, Ercole Rinaldo III (1727-1803), was deposed in 1796 by the French. After the Restoration, Ercole's grandson, Francesco IV of Habsburg-Este (1779-1846), reigned as Duke of Modena, Reggio, Massa and Carrara. He was succeeded by his son Francesco V of Habsburg-Este (1819-1875), which was deposed in 1859. In the following year, the duchy was annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
Each series is numbering apart. Records are tendentially arranged in chronological order.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2021
Published primary sources
Linked resources
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