Avogaria di comun
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
State Archives of Venice
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Campo dei Frari, San Polo 3002, 30125 Venice
Contact information: phone number
0039 0415222281
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
as-ve@archivi.beniculturali.it
Reference number
Avogaria di comun
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Public prosecutors
Title (official language of the state)
Avogaria di comun
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Avogaria di comun
Date(s)
1309/1797
Language(s)
ita
lat
Extent
4,651 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
This fonds comprises documentation related to the activity of the Avogaria di comun, mostly related to judicial cases. It also contains records concerning the correspondence and cooperation with other institutions of the Republic of Venice.
Some of these judicial records are related to members of the Jewish community. One of them was Samuel Usque, who was found guilty of wearing a black hat instead of the mandatory yellow one and was sentenced by the Avogadori di Comun to a 30-day term and to a fine of 50 golden ducats on June 20, 1548 (Raspe, reg. 3675/35). Another example is the inquisitorial process moved against Duarte Gomes and Agostinho Henriques in 1555, in which the Avogaria di comun also took part, directly communicating with the Senate (Raspe, reg. 3674/33; published in Zorattini (1980), II, 247).
Some of these judicial records are related to members of the Jewish community. One of them was Samuel Usque, who was found guilty of wearing a black hat instead of the mandatory yellow one and was sentenced by the Avogadori di Comun to a 30-day term and to a fine of 50 golden ducats on June 20, 1548 (Raspe, reg. 3675/35). Another example is the inquisitorial process moved against Duarte Gomes and Agostinho Henriques in 1555, in which the Avogaria di comun also took part, directly communicating with the Senate (Raspe, reg. 3674/33; published in Zorattini (1980), II, 247).
Archival history
Initially, the documentation of the Avogaria di comun, as well as the archives of all other major institutions of governance, was part of the Cancelleria Ducale (ducal chancellery), located in the palace of the Doge of Venice. In the late 16th century, part of the Avogaria archives began to be indexed and catalogued. That resulted in several old indexes of specific document series or single units that can be consulted in the State Archives.
After the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797, document collections faced many challenges as they were separated into different areas of the city, while others were transported to other cities, such as Paris, Vienna, and Milan. In 1807, the fonds were divided into three main buildings: the Scuola di S. Teodoro for political documentation, the Convent of S. Giovanni Laterano for judicial documentation and the S. Provolo for State for financial matters. On December 13, 1815, Francesco I determined the reassemblage of the archival collections, and, in 1822, the Convent of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari was chosen to become the main building of the archive. In the last decades of the 19th century, some additional structures were added. At the same time, a successful negotiation process allowed for the return of almost all archival collections that had been sent to other cities in the first decades of the 19th century. The Convent of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari remains the location of the Archivio do Stato today.
After the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797, document collections faced many challenges as they were separated into different areas of the city, while others were transported to other cities, such as Paris, Vienna, and Milan. In 1807, the fonds were divided into three main buildings: the Scuola di S. Teodoro for political documentation, the Convent of S. Giovanni Laterano for judicial documentation and the S. Provolo for State for financial matters. On December 13, 1815, Francesco I determined the reassemblage of the archival collections, and, in 1822, the Convent of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari was chosen to become the main building of the archive. In the last decades of the 19th century, some additional structures were added. At the same time, a successful negotiation process allowed for the return of almost all archival collections that had been sent to other cities in the first decades of the 19th century. The Convent of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari remains the location of the Archivio do Stato today.
Sources:
Administrative / Biographical history
The origins of the Avogadori di comun (literally, public prosecutors) date back to the second half of the 12th century. They were created to represent and defend common rights and interests in administrative, judicial, fiscal, and criminal matters. They protected the integrity of the Maggior Consiglio, the sovereign body of the republic, and consequently the patrician class.
They had the power to claim public goods, and order and execute confiscations, among other juridical tools. They could also request the support of the Doge or the Signoria for the execution of other mandates. The Avogadori were also responsible for supervising the application of new laws, including by the Council officials and members. Their presence was even necessary so that the sessions of the councils were considered to be "in order".
Therefore, the Avogaria di comun exercised political, administrative, and financial supervision and had some control over central and peripheral institutional bodies. On some occasions, they also acted in accordance with other magistrates, mainly the magistrate al cattaver.
The Avogaria di comun were also an investigative and public prosecution body in serious criminal trials that were not subject to the Consiglio di Dieci (Council of Ten). Furthermore, they functioned as a court of appeal of first instance for criminal and civil cases for all of the Republic. Later, this prerogative was limited to criminal cases.
Even after the establishment of the Auditori and the Avogadori civili (magistrates with competencies over civil matters) in 1343, the Avogaria di comun were still entrusted with certain civil matters.
Initially, the number of Avogadori was uncertain but, in the 14th century, it was limited to three prosecutors, apart from the extraordinary ones who were elected on special occasions, especially to review accounts of those who had handled public money during the wars. The duration of their office, initially one year, was increased to 16 months in 1314.
They had the power to claim public goods, and order and execute confiscations, among other juridical tools. They could also request the support of the Doge or the Signoria for the execution of other mandates. The Avogadori were also responsible for supervising the application of new laws, including by the Council officials and members. Their presence was even necessary so that the sessions of the councils were considered to be "in order".
Therefore, the Avogaria di comun exercised political, administrative, and financial supervision and had some control over central and peripheral institutional bodies. On some occasions, they also acted in accordance with other magistrates, mainly the magistrate al cattaver.
The Avogaria di comun were also an investigative and public prosecution body in serious criminal trials that were not subject to the Consiglio di Dieci (Council of Ten). Furthermore, they functioned as a court of appeal of first instance for criminal and civil cases for all of the Republic. Later, this prerogative was limited to criminal cases.
Even after the establishment of the Auditori and the Avogadori civili (magistrates with competencies over civil matters) in 1343, the Avogaria di comun were still entrusted with certain civil matters.
Initially, the number of Avogadori was uncertain but, in the 14th century, it was limited to three prosecutors, apart from the extraordinary ones who were elected on special occasions, especially to review accounts of those who had handled public money during the wars. The duration of their office, initially one year, was increased to 16 months in 1314.
Sources:
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is divided into series, according to types of documents.
Access, restrictions
Some series are available online:
Finding aids
Unpublished finding aids available in the archive:
Published finding aids:
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
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