Historico catedralicio
Item
Country
ES
Name of institution (English)
Cathedral Archive of Palencia
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
spa
Contact information: postal address
Plaza de la Inmaculada, 34001 Palencia
Contact information: phone number
0034 979750294
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
archivocatedraldepalencia@gmail.com
Reference number
ES.34120.AC/1
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Cathedral Historical Collection
Title (official language of the state)
Historico catedralicio
Language of title
spa
Creator / accumulator
Cathedral chapter of Palencia
Date(s)
1032/1825
Language(s)
spa
Extent
149 files, 63 volumes
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The historical collection of the Cathedral Archive of Palencia contains the oldest documentation produced and received by the Cathedral Chapter of Palencia. The documentation has been preserved since the restoration of the Diocese of Palencia by Sancho III el Mayor at the beginning of the 11th century.
The collection gathers historical documentation in 14 cabinets, which are catalogued in the following series:
1. Fabrica (1045-1825). Six manuscript volumes and five files.
2. Dignidad episcopal (1052-1768). Seven files.
3. Privilegios reales y bulas (1032-1798). 16 files. It contains royal privileges and bulls confirming the royalties and honours of the cathedral chapter of Palencia and the rights it has in terms of loans, abbeys, hospitals, and San Jose and Bolonia Colleges.
4. Estatutos y sinodos (1151-1795). Five volumes and nine files. It contains the Statutes of Palencia’s Church, the Diocesan Synods, the grounds for punishment alongside the criminal lawsuits, and visitation rights.
5. Concordatos (1180-1795). Two files. It contains clergy privileges, concordats, and royal orders.
6. Posesiones, apeos y censos (1217-1797). Three volumes and seven files.
7. Fundaciones (1251-1795). 15 files. It contains deeds of pious foundations belonging to the Mayorazgo de Herrera and deeds of the rights that the cathedral chapter had in Palencia and in the towns of Villaverde, Valdeolmillos, Villamediana, Valdesalce and Villerias.
8. Concordias (1133-1797). Three volumes and 22 files. It contains judgments, concordats, and transactions made on tithes and other taxes.
9. Bulas sobre prebendas resumidas (1457-1795). Four files.
10. Causas y procesos con las parroquias (1213-1798). Three volumes and 13 files.
11. Causas y procesos con los Capellanes del numero 40 (1349-1795). Three files.
12. Sobre el monte de Palencia (1421-1796). Six files. It contains information on butchers, wine, and “sisa” taxes, among others.
13. Subsidio y excusado (1457-1796). 38 books and 12 files.
14. Cartas de reyes, cardenales, etc. (1500-1798). Five volumes and 10 files.
There are about 2,000 parchments in the Cathedral Archive of Palencia; most of them are contained in this historical collection. The oldest is from the time of the restoration of the Diocese (1035).
Concerning Jews, in the second series there is a privilege by Juan II to the Bishop of Palencia (1415) compensating the loss of tributes from the converted Jews. The “Libro de las posesiones de casas que los reverendos señores dean y cabildo de la santa iglesia de San Antolin han tienen en esta cibdat de Palencia,” contains records about the Jewish quarter (1513).
The third series includes some royal privileges related to Jews, such as the granting by Alfonso VIII to the Bishop of Palencia forty Jews and their families in exchange for the town of Amusco (1175); the order by Alfonso VIII that the Jews of Palencia should only pay to the Bishop (and successive confirmations, 1177, 1185, 1256, and 1351); royal sentences of lawsuits between the cathedral chapter and the city council of Palencia in relation to the taxes that the Jews must pay (1287, 1296, 1300); the grant by Fernando IV to the Bishop of Palencia of half of the poll-tax that the Jews had to pay (and successive confirmations, 1305, 1311, and 1367).
The fourth series includes the sentence by the Inquisitorial judge concerning the assets confiscated from individuals declared and condemned by heresy. These properties were given to the cathedral chapter and also sold (1493, 1494).
The sixth series contains the “Libro de las posesiones de las casas o de los encenses que los señores dean y cabildo han dentro de la ciudad de Palencia,” with references to some of the properties that the Jews had in Palencia; in particular, they lived in the area of the “Pescaderia,” in the Puerta de Burgos, and in “Mazuqueros” street (1471).
The collection gathers historical documentation in 14 cabinets, which are catalogued in the following series:
1. Fabrica (1045-1825). Six manuscript volumes and five files.
2. Dignidad episcopal (1052-1768). Seven files.
3. Privilegios reales y bulas (1032-1798). 16 files. It contains royal privileges and bulls confirming the royalties and honours of the cathedral chapter of Palencia and the rights it has in terms of loans, abbeys, hospitals, and San Jose and Bolonia Colleges.
4. Estatutos y sinodos (1151-1795). Five volumes and nine files. It contains the Statutes of Palencia’s Church, the Diocesan Synods, the grounds for punishment alongside the criminal lawsuits, and visitation rights.
5. Concordatos (1180-1795). Two files. It contains clergy privileges, concordats, and royal orders.
6. Posesiones, apeos y censos (1217-1797). Three volumes and seven files.
7. Fundaciones (1251-1795). 15 files. It contains deeds of pious foundations belonging to the Mayorazgo de Herrera and deeds of the rights that the cathedral chapter had in Palencia and in the towns of Villaverde, Valdeolmillos, Villamediana, Valdesalce and Villerias.
8. Concordias (1133-1797). Three volumes and 22 files. It contains judgments, concordats, and transactions made on tithes and other taxes.
9. Bulas sobre prebendas resumidas (1457-1795). Four files.
10. Causas y procesos con las parroquias (1213-1798). Three volumes and 13 files.
11. Causas y procesos con los Capellanes del numero 40 (1349-1795). Three files.
12. Sobre el monte de Palencia (1421-1796). Six files. It contains information on butchers, wine, and “sisa” taxes, among others.
13. Subsidio y excusado (1457-1796). 38 books and 12 files.
14. Cartas de reyes, cardenales, etc. (1500-1798). Five volumes and 10 files.
There are about 2,000 parchments in the Cathedral Archive of Palencia; most of them are contained in this historical collection. The oldest is from the time of the restoration of the Diocese (1035).
Concerning Jews, in the second series there is a privilege by Juan II to the Bishop of Palencia (1415) compensating the loss of tributes from the converted Jews. The “Libro de las posesiones de casas que los reverendos señores dean y cabildo de la santa iglesia de San Antolin han tienen en esta cibdat de Palencia,” contains records about the Jewish quarter (1513).
The third series includes some royal privileges related to Jews, such as the granting by Alfonso VIII to the Bishop of Palencia forty Jews and their families in exchange for the town of Amusco (1175); the order by Alfonso VIII that the Jews of Palencia should only pay to the Bishop (and successive confirmations, 1177, 1185, 1256, and 1351); royal sentences of lawsuits between the cathedral chapter and the city council of Palencia in relation to the taxes that the Jews must pay (1287, 1296, 1300); the grant by Fernando IV to the Bishop of Palencia of half of the poll-tax that the Jews had to pay (and successive confirmations, 1305, 1311, and 1367).
The fourth series includes the sentence by the Inquisitorial judge concerning the assets confiscated from individuals declared and condemned by heresy. These properties were given to the cathedral chapter and also sold (1493, 1494).
The sixth series contains the “Libro de las posesiones de las casas o de los encenses que los señores dean y cabildo han dentro de la ciudad de Palencia,” with references to some of the properties that the Jews had in Palencia; in particular, they lived in the area of the “Pescaderia,” in the Puerta de Burgos, and in “Mazuqueros” street (1471).
Archival history
In 1579, the cathedral chapter gave a commission to the canons De la Rua, Salina and Ortega to arrange the Cathedral archive. In 1580, three keys of the archive were distributed among the Dean, the Treasurer, and the oldest canon. It is documented that in 1581, the archive’s cabinet was located in the Sala Capitular, and it had a threefold structure (Cabildo, Dignidad Episcopal and Hospital), indicated with blue letters. In 1583, Canon Juan Alonso de Cordova reported to the cathedral chapter that he had already collected all the documents from the archive and had arranged them. Alonso de Cordova broadened the classification into six series (Dignidad Episcopal, Mesa Capitular, Fabrica, Hospital, Patrimoniales, Clero and Particulares); the documents were distributed within each series in drawers, with wrappers and numbers. his organization and cataloguing comprised the first index of the archive (1583). Alonso de Cordova also included in the prologue of this catalogue the norms and guidelines to find the documents. In addition, he proposed the appointment of an archivist, although this idea would be carried out sometime later. In 1584, the cathedral chapter decided that the custodians of the keys would be responsible for ensuring the arrangement and care of the documents. However, in 1590, part of the documentation was still stored in the upper corridor and in the sacristy. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the volume of the archive's documentation grew exponentially and generated the need to undertake a new arrangement and classification, which is still in place today.
Administrative / Biographical history
The cathedral chapter of Palencia has its origin in 1035 with the restoration of the Diocese by Sancho el Mayor. In the Cathedral Archive, three privileges that confirm the restoration of the Bishopric after the repopulation of the area are preserved (1035 and 1059). Several bulls approve and specify the previous royal privileges and donations (1125). The Bishop and the cathedral chapter lived together and jointly administered their assets but soon separated. The cathedral chapter had to be made up of 60 canons and 12 “racioneros”. Despite the agreement between the Bishop and the cathedral chapter not to exceed that number, Pope Honorius III authorized them to raise the number to 80 (1223 and 1225). It is important to note the charitable activities carried out by the cathedral chapter from the twelfth century in the San Antolin Hospital, and Alfonso VIII and Bishop Tello established the first Spanish university in Palencia in 1212.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
This collection is classified in: Fabrica (1045-1825); Dignidad episcopal (1052-1768); Privilegios reales y bulas (1032-1798); Estatutos y sinodos (1151-1795); Concordatos (1180-1795); Posesiones, apeos y censos (1217-1797); Fundaciones (1251-1795); Concordias (1133-1797); Bulas sobre prebendas resumidas (1457-1795); Causas y procesos con las parroquias (1213-1798); Causas y procesos con los Capellanes del numero 40 (1349-1795); Sobre el monte de Palencia (1421-1796); Subsidio y excusado (1457-1796), Cartas de reyes, cardenales, etc. (1500-1798).
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
Two catalogues and four inventories are available at the archive. Data on the collection are also available at the website of the Spanish National Archives (PARES).
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivo Catedralicio de Palencia | Collections (official language of the state) |