Arxiu de la Cúria Fumada
Item
Country
ES
Name of institution (English)
Episcopal Archive and Library of Vic
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
cat
Contact information: postal address
Carrer Santa Maria 1, 08500 Vic
Contact information: phone number
0034 938894432
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
abev@abev.net
Reference number
ABEVACF 9.1
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
"Smoked" Curia Archive
Title (official language of the state)
Arxiu de la Cúria Fumada
Language of title
cat
Creator / accumulator
Ecclesiastical notary of Vic
Date(s)
1231/1391
Language(s)
lat
Extent
42.2 linear metres
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The collection is made up of the notarial resources section of the Episcopal Archive of Vic. Concerning Jews, there is information about the Jewish community of Vic in general books, Libri Judeorum, and civil proceedings.
General books (ABEV 9.1.1.1; 1231/1391; 39.5 linear metres): The 13th century saw the development of Catalan Notaries, and the ABEV preserved notarial records from that early period. The generic name of Manual refers to common notarial copies of the originals that were given to the interested parties. These are general books, with a great diversity in type of document, and contained the basic details of the legal act they set out. To find the origin of Jews in the town, it is necessary to consult the general notary manuals. The first manual of the series contains the first reference to the presence of a Jew in Vic in the year 1231 (ABEV, ACF-1, f. 49v). The community, with changes, persisted until 1391. Then, the last remaining Jews in the city were converted, putting an end to a story that had begun nearly two hundred years before (ABEV, ACF-505, f. 199v).
Libri Judeorum (ABEV 9.1.1.12.4.1 Judeorum; 1264/1354; 0.7 linear metres): With the evolution of the institution of notary, manuals became more specialized and grouped by type. The specialization of the general manuals appears for the first time in the notary office of Vic: matrimonial agreements (1238) and wills (1238). Among these special series, we find the Libri Judeorum, a unique type. This series has the same formal characteristics as the rest of the notarial manuals from the same period, with the difference that the granting and receiving parts belong to the Jewish community. Within AEV, this series is important for both its size (28 books) and its continuity, covering the period 1264 to 1354 almost continuously. This documentation provides abundant information on economic activities, especially loans, but information on the organization and functioning of the Jewish community is scarce; documents do shine light on the development of the Jewish quarter or call. The series includes the acceptance of the royal statute on Jews (1315-1342, ACF-4597). It consists of the commitment, partially transcribed, made in 1315 by the Jewish community of Vic to implement the stipulation of the statutes dictated by the king concerning the usury of the Jews of Barcelona and the subsequent renewals until 1342. It is worth noting that most volumes from the fourteenth century (1310-1354) contain drawings of Jewish males: 21 drawings distributed in nine volumes.
Civil proceedings (ABEV, ACF-Civil proceedings; 13th-14th centuries; 2 linear meters approximately): From the 14th century, the Cathedral Chapter maintained the judicial curia (medieval courts) of the diocese by assignment of the bishop, and the two Episcopal and seigniorial curias shared space and personnel for a long time, and the fonds ended up grouped together, adding different series of records of the Smoked Curia as well as other materials. The fonds contains files of civil proceedings of medieval and modern times. Although there are few that refer to the Jewish community of Vic, there is one notable record. On August 8, 1391, the regent of the bailiff of Montcada made an inventory of the assets of three Jews’ houses (ABEV, ACF-Civil proceedings 1300.02). The reason stated was to give protection for these assets, because of persecution and attacks in various places in Catalonia and Aragon. Three days later, Vic's last six Jews were converted.
General books (ABEV 9.1.1.1; 1231/1391; 39.5 linear metres): The 13th century saw the development of Catalan Notaries, and the ABEV preserved notarial records from that early period. The generic name of Manual refers to common notarial copies of the originals that were given to the interested parties. These are general books, with a great diversity in type of document, and contained the basic details of the legal act they set out. To find the origin of Jews in the town, it is necessary to consult the general notary manuals. The first manual of the series contains the first reference to the presence of a Jew in Vic in the year 1231 (ABEV, ACF-1, f. 49v). The community, with changes, persisted until 1391. Then, the last remaining Jews in the city were converted, putting an end to a story that had begun nearly two hundred years before (ABEV, ACF-505, f. 199v).
Libri Judeorum (ABEV 9.1.1.12.4.1 Judeorum; 1264/1354; 0.7 linear metres): With the evolution of the institution of notary, manuals became more specialized and grouped by type. The specialization of the general manuals appears for the first time in the notary office of Vic: matrimonial agreements (1238) and wills (1238). Among these special series, we find the Libri Judeorum, a unique type. This series has the same formal characteristics as the rest of the notarial manuals from the same period, with the difference that the granting and receiving parts belong to the Jewish community. Within AEV, this series is important for both its size (28 books) and its continuity, covering the period 1264 to 1354 almost continuously. This documentation provides abundant information on economic activities, especially loans, but information on the organization and functioning of the Jewish community is scarce; documents do shine light on the development of the Jewish quarter or call. The series includes the acceptance of the royal statute on Jews (1315-1342, ACF-4597). It consists of the commitment, partially transcribed, made in 1315 by the Jewish community of Vic to implement the stipulation of the statutes dictated by the king concerning the usury of the Jews of Barcelona and the subsequent renewals until 1342. It is worth noting that most volumes from the fourteenth century (1310-1354) contain drawings of Jewish males: 21 drawings distributed in nine volumes.
Civil proceedings (ABEV, ACF-Civil proceedings; 13th-14th centuries; 2 linear meters approximately): From the 14th century, the Cathedral Chapter maintained the judicial curia (medieval courts) of the diocese by assignment of the bishop, and the two Episcopal and seigniorial curias shared space and personnel for a long time, and the fonds ended up grouped together, adding different series of records of the Smoked Curia as well as other materials. The fonds contains files of civil proceedings of medieval and modern times. Although there are few that refer to the Jewish community of Vic, there is one notable record. On August 8, 1391, the regent of the bailiff of Montcada made an inventory of the assets of three Jews’ houses (ABEV, ACF-Civil proceedings 1300.02). The reason stated was to give protection for these assets, because of persecution and attacks in various places in Catalonia and Aragon. Three days later, Vic's last six Jews were converted.
Archival history
During the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) the archives of the ecclesiastical notary of Vic, called "Smoked" Curia Archive (Arxiu de la Cúria Fumada), were transferred in 1937 by Josep M. Font i Rius as part of the safeguarding of the heritage of the Episcopal Archive of Vic.
Administrative / Biographical history
The ABEV is an institution that groups a diverse set of archival and bibliographic collections around the ecclesiastical archives of the diocese and gathered over a thousand years of history. The Episcopal Archive was created at the time of the ecclesiastical reorganization and restoration of the bishopric of Vic at the end of the ninth century. Initially, the bishop and cathedral documentary fonds were united as central entities of the diocese, but at the end of the twelfth century an archival organization was established that separated the fonds; they were reunited in the twentieth century. The third major documentary fund of the institution is the Smoked Curia Archive (Arxiu de la Cúria Fumada).
The core of this fonds is the ecclesiastical notary's office in the city of Vic. This archive contains the documentation from the notary who served the Bishop of Vic within the city limits and the parish of Vic. Although the bishop was the owner of the notary, starting in the 14th century the ownership and management of the notary passed to the Chapter, which also owned the books of the deceased public notaries. Other fonds of different origins are included in the archive: the judicial curia of the bishopric, the baronial curiae, brotherhood collections, etc.
The exact initial location of the archive is unknown, but the secular headquarters were located in the building next to the cathedral bell. In the 14th century, a fire burned the bindings of some notarial volumes, and it was renamed Smoked Curia, a name assumed for the Common Curia.
The archive had different locations and interventions for binding and retaining documentation. In 1937 and for the rest of the Civil War, Josep M. Font i Rius moved the intact collection to its currently location.
The core of this fonds is the ecclesiastical notary's office in the city of Vic. This archive contains the documentation from the notary who served the Bishop of Vic within the city limits and the parish of Vic. Although the bishop was the owner of the notary, starting in the 14th century the ownership and management of the notary passed to the Chapter, which also owned the books of the deceased public notaries. Other fonds of different origins are included in the archive: the judicial curia of the bishopric, the baronial curiae, brotherhood collections, etc.
The exact initial location of the archive is unknown, but the secular headquarters were located in the building next to the cathedral bell. In the 14th century, a fire burned the bindings of some notarial volumes, and it was renamed Smoked Curia, a name assumed for the Common Curia.
The archive had different locations and interventions for binding and retaining documentation. In 1937 and for the rest of the Civil War, Josep M. Font i Rius moved the intact collection to its currently location.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
According to the historical organization of the collection, the type of series has been kept, and within each series, the chronological ordering of notaries has been maintained.
Access, restrictions
Unrestricted access depends on the current legal environment on access to Spanish historical archives, but permission from the archive is required to consult documents in bad condition, undergoing restoration, or in the process of being organized (law 16/1985 of Spanish Historical Patrimony). Researchers can access private documents that are part of the documentary heritage, respecting the general limits to the right of access established by law (Catalan law 10/2001 of archives and documents).
Finding aids
Data on the collection are available at the website of the Episcopal Archive of Vic (http://abev.net). There are two search options: by hierarchical query through classification scheme or by words or combination of words. Civil proceedings are in the process of description and digitalization.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Arxiu i Biblioteca Episcopal de Vic | Collections (official language of the state) |