Fondo capitular
Item
Country
ES
Name of institution (English)
Cathedral Archive of Seville
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
spa
Contact information: postal address
Calle Alemanes, 41004 Seville
Contact information: phone number
0034 954562721
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
archivos@icolombina.es
ncp@icolombina.es
nprados@icolombina.es
Reference number
ES.41091.ACS/1
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Cathedral Chapter Collection
Title (official language of the state)
Fondo capitular
Language of title
spa
Creator / accumulator
Cathedral chapter of Seville
Date(s)
1251/1998
Language(s)
spa
Extent
1,500 linear metres
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The Cathedral Archive of Seville keeps the Fondo capitular (Cathedral Chapter Collection) that gathers the documentation produced and received by the cathedral chapter from its creation in 1248 up until today. The functions of the cathedral chapter and its influence and importance in Seville are widely documented throughout the Cathedral Chapter Collection.
The collection is classified in the following documentary sections:
0. Medios de informacion (Media). This section contains indexes, inventories, and catalogues of the fonds (1453-1998).
I. Secretaria (Secretary). In this section, the Statutes and Constitutions (1261-2001), the cathedral chapter minutes (1478-1938), and the purity of blood (“limpieza de sangre”) files (1562-1851) stand out.
II. Mesa capitular. This section gathers information on the cathedral chapter patrimony and its financial management.
III. Liturgia (Liturgy). This section gathers all books related to worship, altar and choir service, and sacred rites.
IV. Fabrica (Treasury). In this section, the documentation related to the cathedral economic manager (1363-1839), the works of the cathedral building, the cathedral chapter income, and the payment to officials stand out.
V. Patronatos (Patronage). Information on foundations, chapels, and endowments is preserved.
VI. Contaduria (Accounts). This section gathers information on the expenses of the cathedral chapter.
VII. Justicia (Justice). This section contains a series of lawsuits concerning the cathedral chapter authorities (1323-1786).
VIII. Varios (Varia).
IX. Fondo historico general (General Historical Documentary Fonds). This section gathers most of the Archive's medieval documentation with royal, pontifical, and private parchments of both ecclesiastical and secular origin.
X. Archivo Musical (Musical Archive).
Concerning Jews, the Fondo historico general contains royal provisions, such as that by Alfonso XI ordering the Jews, who did not pay the tithe, to contribute to the parishes where they lived (1336). Information on the Jewish quarter is preserved beginning at the end of the thirteenth century: for instance, a grant by Alfonso X to the cathedral chapter of an orchard within the Jewish quarter (1274) and the location of mosques in the Jewish quarter (1327). There is also information on synagogues: in 1252, there were three, and in 1391, one of them was converted into the Santa Cruz Church. Documentation related to debts and Jews is contained in the documentation, such as the confiscation of some houses in Carmona to pay a debt contracted with Don Jacob Albali (1376). There is information on tax-collection by Jews, such as Tobias, from Seville, who was in charge of collecting the Seville clergy income for the Archdiocese of Toledo (1355). There are documents of sales, such as the sale of a house in the compound of Santa Cruz made by Abrahan Hachuela, merchant, and his wife (1474). A copy of the Purity of Blood Statute of the Holy Cathedral Church of Toledo against the Jews and their descendants (1547-80) is preserved.
The collection is classified in the following documentary sections:
0. Medios de informacion (Media). This section contains indexes, inventories, and catalogues of the fonds (1453-1998).
I. Secretaria (Secretary). In this section, the Statutes and Constitutions (1261-2001), the cathedral chapter minutes (1478-1938), and the purity of blood (“limpieza de sangre”) files (1562-1851) stand out.
II. Mesa capitular. This section gathers information on the cathedral chapter patrimony and its financial management.
III. Liturgia (Liturgy). This section gathers all books related to worship, altar and choir service, and sacred rites.
IV. Fabrica (Treasury). In this section, the documentation related to the cathedral economic manager (1363-1839), the works of the cathedral building, the cathedral chapter income, and the payment to officials stand out.
V. Patronatos (Patronage). Information on foundations, chapels, and endowments is preserved.
VI. Contaduria (Accounts). This section gathers information on the expenses of the cathedral chapter.
VII. Justicia (Justice). This section contains a series of lawsuits concerning the cathedral chapter authorities (1323-1786).
VIII. Varios (Varia).
IX. Fondo historico general (General Historical Documentary Fonds). This section gathers most of the Archive's medieval documentation with royal, pontifical, and private parchments of both ecclesiastical and secular origin.
X. Archivo Musical (Musical Archive).
Concerning Jews, the Fondo historico general contains royal provisions, such as that by Alfonso XI ordering the Jews, who did not pay the tithe, to contribute to the parishes where they lived (1336). Information on the Jewish quarter is preserved beginning at the end of the thirteenth century: for instance, a grant by Alfonso X to the cathedral chapter of an orchard within the Jewish quarter (1274) and the location of mosques in the Jewish quarter (1327). There is also information on synagogues: in 1252, there were three, and in 1391, one of them was converted into the Santa Cruz Church. Documentation related to debts and Jews is contained in the documentation, such as the confiscation of some houses in Carmona to pay a debt contracted with Don Jacob Albali (1376). There is information on tax-collection by Jews, such as Tobias, from Seville, who was in charge of collecting the Seville clergy income for the Archdiocese of Toledo (1355). There are documents of sales, such as the sale of a house in the compound of Santa Cruz made by Abrahan Hachuela, merchant, and his wife (1474). A copy of the Purity of Blood Statute of the Holy Cathedral Church of Toledo against the Jews and their descendants (1547-80) is preserved.
Archival history
Since its origins, the Cathedral Chapter Collection has been kept in different places within the Cathedral of Seville, which is known through different sources. During the medieval period, it was kept in the Arcas del Sagrario. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, it was guarded in the Corral de los Olmos area. Beginning in the eighteenth century, it was kept in the Patio de los Naranjos surroundings and, from the late nineteenth century to the twentieth century, in the area of the Ecclesiastical Court, at the southwest corner of the cathedral. In 1992, the collection was transferred to the north end of the Patio de los Naranjos, and from 2006 until today, it has been preserved in the second courtyard of the Archbishop's Palace in Seville.
Administrative / Biographical history
The restoration of the Castilian supremacy in Seville took place in 1248, after King Fernando III took the city. In 1252, the dedication of the cathedral was made, and Fernando III endowed the cathedral chapter for the first time.
The cathedral chapter was a collegial corporation of the Church, responsible for worship and celebrating liturgical functions in the cathedral. It was also responsible for fulfilling those offices that the law or the Bishop entrusted to it.
Since its origins, the Castilian monarchs directly supervised the cathedral chapter in Seville. Along with the documentation of royal endowments, the pontifical, episcopal, notarial, and administrative documents were incorporated into the Capitular archive. Over the centuries, there were also many private endowments of both rural and urban properties linked to the cathedral. Finally, the archive has kept all the documentation involved in the construction and conservation of the cathedral.
The cathedral chapter was a collegial corporation of the Church, responsible for worship and celebrating liturgical functions in the cathedral. It was also responsible for fulfilling those offices that the law or the Bishop entrusted to it.
Since its origins, the Castilian monarchs directly supervised the cathedral chapter in Seville. Along with the documentation of royal endowments, the pontifical, episcopal, notarial, and administrative documents were incorporated into the Capitular archive. Over the centuries, there were also many private endowments of both rural and urban properties linked to the cathedral. Finally, the archive has kept all the documentation involved in the construction and conservation of the cathedral.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
This collection is divided into the following sections: Fondo Capitular: 0. Medios de informacion; I. Secretaria; II. Mesa capitular; III. Liturgia; IV. Fabrica; V. Patronatos; VI. Contaduria; VII. Justicia; VIII. Varios; IX. Fondo historico general; X. Archivo musical.
Access, restrictions
The access to the archive is free upon presentation of an identification document. The consultation of the documents will be subject to the legal regulations in force regarding access and may be restricted depending on the documents’ state of preservation.
Finding aids
Data on the collection are also available at the website of the Spanish National Archives (PARES).
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivo Catedralicio de Sevilla | Collections (official language of the state) |