Camera Apostolica. Diversa Cameralia / Armadi XXIX-XXX
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
Vatican Apostolic Archives
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Cortile del Belvedere, 00120 Città del Vaticano
Contact information: phone number
0039 06 69883314
0039 06 69883211
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
archivio@aav.va
Reference number
Arm.
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Apostolic Chamber. Different Chambers (or Bookcases 29-30)
Title (official language of the state)
Camera Apostolica. Diversa Cameralia / Armadi XXIX-XXX
Language of title
lat
Creator / accumulator
Camera Apostolica
Date(s)
1389/1578
Language(s)
lat
ita
Extent
251 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The documentation produced by the Camera Apostolica (Apostolic Chamber) is divided into several series, among them, the Diversa Cameralia (Different Chambers) series, whose records are in the Armadi (Bookcases) XXIX and XXX. The Diversa Cameralia preserves records relating to the main activity carried out by the Camera Apostolica, in particular concerning administrative matters; internal communication between officers; the granting of safe-conducts; confiscation of assets; taxes to be paid to bishops, abbots, and other ecclesiastical members; numerous notarial records, etc. Each volume has an alphabetical index by name, office, and institution.
Among this wide range of documents, it is possible to find some records relating to Iberian Jews and New Christians living or passing through the Papal States and other Italian territories. For instance, Armadio XXX, regg. 179 and 180 contain the first references known so far concerning the change of the name of Beatriz Mendes to Beatriz de Luna.
Among this wide range of documents, it is possible to find some records relating to Iberian Jews and New Christians living or passing through the Papal States and other Italian territories. For instance, Armadio XXX, regg. 179 and 180 contain the first references known so far concerning the change of the name of Beatriz Mendes to Beatriz de Luna.
Archival history
The Camera Apostolica fonds is mainly composed of the registers that were incorporated into the Archivio Apostolico (Apostolic archive) fonds from the first years of its establishment by Pope Paul V (1611-14). Indeed, the new Archivio Apostolico Vaticano gathered the records of the Camera Apostolica that were no longer used in current practices, mainly documents from the late 14th century to the early 16th century. However, other incorporations occurred later and, at the time of the reform of Pope Benedict XIV (papacy 1740-58), the Vatican Archives already comprised documentation until the mid-17th century. The documentation produced after the mid-17th century was gathered in the "computisteria generale" (general accounting office) of the Camera Apostolica, located in the Palazzo Capranica. Therefore, before the end of the 18th century, the historical archive of the Camera Apostolica archive was divided into two locations: the Vatican Archives and the Palazzo Capranica.
During the French rule, the part of the archive preserved in the Vatican Archives was transferred to Paris, together with other pontifical fonds. When the documents returned, they were deposited in Castel S. Angelo and remained there for several years. Such events damaged the physical condition of the documents and made necessary their restoration and re-binding. This work ended up causing more disorder, gathering in the same volumes records from different fonds. A part of this documentation never returned to the Vatican Archives and is, at present, preserved with other records of the Camera Apostolica in three fonds of the Archivio di Stato di Roma (State Archives of Rome), named as Camerale I, Camerale II and Camerale III.
During the French rule, the part of the archive preserved in the Vatican Archives was transferred to Paris, together with other pontifical fonds. When the documents returned, they were deposited in Castel S. Angelo and remained there for several years. Such events damaged the physical condition of the documents and made necessary their restoration and re-binding. This work ended up causing more disorder, gathering in the same volumes records from different fonds. A part of this documentation never returned to the Vatican Archives and is, at present, preserved with other records of the Camera Apostolica in three fonds of the Archivio di Stato di Roma (State Archives of Rome), named as Camerale I, Camerale II and Camerale III.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Camera Apostolica (Apostolic Chamber) originated as a curial dicastery around the beginning of the 12th century, with the task of administering the Pope’s finances. In 1105, the "Camerarius" emerged. This figure would absorb all the functions previously managed by those officers who dealt with economic matters related to the Apostolic See since the 6th century, such as the “Arcarius” or the “Sacellarius”. After the new organisation undertaken by Cencio Savelli (later Pope Honorius III), the Camera was articulated through a group of important officials, officers, writers, notaries, and clerics, among others, thus assuming a fundamental role within the Roman Curia.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The series is divided into two Armadi (Bookcases). Each volume contains an alphabetical index by names, offices and institutions.
Finding aids
Indexes available for consultation in the archive: Indici 124, 133, 288, 1170.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Andrea Cicerchia and Carla Vieira, 2022
Published primary sources
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivio Apostolico Vaticano | Collections (official language of the state) |