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Cathasthicum (Land Registry)

  • HR-DADU-33
  • Fonds
  • 13th century - 19th century

The fonds contains books on the distribution of land done among the nobility (and more prominent citizens) after the acquisition of new areas (Pelješac, Dubrovačko primorje and Konavle) in the 14th and the 15th centuries, as well as books containing documents on the collection of rental fees for state houses in the Republic. The system of renting real estate owned by the state was established at the end of the 13th century and was improved during the 14th century. The preserved volumes of the fonds enable researchers to obtain uninterrupted monitoring of data on renting state immovable property until the earthquake in 1667. The data shows that the reconstruction of the city after the earthquake in 1667 began precisely with the reconstruction of state-owned buildings. At the same time, the authorities tried to renew the system of rent collection. However, financial difficulties forced them to sell most of the renovated houses and thus raise funds for the renovation of the main buildings of the most important secular and ecclesiastical institutions in the Republic.


One of the volumes of the fonds is found to be relevant for determining exactly the places where the Jews in Dubrovnik lived and where their shops were located. This is volume 4, entitled Tute le chase del comun de Ragusa e tereni e fiti che apartinien al ditto comun 1481-1722. The volume contains data on shops, and, to a lesser extent, on residential premises, which the Jewish people of Dubrovnik held in property during the period from 1608 till 1716, on the main city street Placa, in Kovačka ulica (Street Kovačka), on the corner of Zeljarica (Street Zeljarica) and on the ground floor of the Archbishop's Palace. Residential and business premises in the ghetto are also referenced in the documents of this fonds. According to the data, most real estate properties were leased for a period of five years. The rental amount is stated next to each property.

State officials of the Dubrovnik Republic

Consulatus; Consolati (Consulates of the Dubrovnik Republic)

  • HR-DADU-53
  • Fonds
  • 16th century - 19th century

The books of this fonds are mainly from the second half of the 18th century. The fonds primarily contains books kept by the Office for Maritime Affairs and those kept by the Office for Consulates in the Ottoman Empire. The documents in the books contain lists of accepted and rejected expenses of consulates in Alexandria, Arta, Chania (Canea), Istanbul, Smyrna and Thessaloniki, a book of Senate decisions on consulates in the Ottoman Empire, a book with a list of Dubrovnik consulates and consuls and a book of letters written by the consuls to the authorities of the Republic. The collection also includes books that do not belong to this fonds, such as the expenditure lists of the ambassadors of the Republic in Istanbul and in Belgrade (17th century). The fonds also contains one expenditure list of a Ragusan ambassador in Vienna (1772), and one travelogue of an ambassador in Istanbul (1792), as well as a list of Ragusan trade intermediaries (sensali) (1572-1575).


Two volumes of the fonds are important for researching the cooperation of Jewish population with the Dubrovnik Republic. Volume 1, entitled Tasse per sansaria imposte à Sensali pubblici dell 'anno 1572-1575, shows that 72 official trade intermediaries operated in Dubrovnik during this period. Among them there were approximately twenty Jews, from Jewish families such Adaroch, Barochas, Berubi, Celebi, Chatinela, Cohen, Crispin, Flores, Gabai, Gratiano, Jachar, Mazza, Moscato, Nasin, Nahem, Oef, Pardo, Sabatai, Trincha and Zafarana. A particularly significant name referenced in the fonds is the name of Isaia Coen, a nephew of Didacus Pyrrhus (vol. 1, f. 32). The data also contain names of the merchants who used the services of trade intermediaries. Volume 2, entitled Consolati nationali 1752-1796, contains a list of Dubrovnik consulates and consuls at the time. Among them there are members of Jewish families Bussara and Busnaco, who served as administrators (amministratori) of the Dubrovnik consulate in Algeria (vol. 2, f. 77).

Office for Maritime Affairs

Criminalia (Criminal convictions)

  • HR-DADU-23
  • Fonds
  • 15th century - 19th century

The fonds consists of registers of criminal convictions of the Criminal Court (established in 1459) and the accompanying alphabetical indexes and covers the period from the 15th century to the beginning of the 19th century. Criminal convictions reached after 1667 have been fully preserved, and those of earlier times have been preserved partially. Usually, at the end of each conviction there is a reference code of the corresponding lawsuit and investigation procedure, which were entered in the registers of Lamenta Criminalia (HR-DADU-20) and Lamenta de criminali (HR-DADU-21). As a result, it is much easier to get information about complete court proceedings: from filing a lawsuit to reaching a judgement. It is a characteristic of the Dubrovnik Criminal Court that it rarely rendered judgements, most likely because most disputes ended in conciliation of the warring parties.


The fact that the Criminal Court rarely rendered judegements is also visible in cases involving Jewish people. An analysis of criminal cases in which Jews appear either in the role of prosecutors or defendants has provided the following outcome: the percentage of convictions in lawsuits where Jews would sue other Jews and the percentage in lawsuits where Jews would sue other non-Jewish citizens is almost identical (7.64% and 7.83%). The percentage of final verdicts in lawsuits of non-Jewish citizens against Jews is slightly higher (10.52%). As expected, the highest percentage of verdicts is in lawsuits rendered ex officio (27.90%). In most verdicts, the sentence was imprisonment or a fine and the convict often had the right to choose between two options. In addition to some prison sentences and fines, there is also a reference to one penal labour case, several cases of corporal punishments, or cases of public humiliation, which were reached in cases of theft and fornication (e.g., vol. 5, f. 119). In the history of the Dubrovnik Republic, there is only one record to death penalty pronounced to Jewish people. This is the case of a convert named Benvenisti Nasci (Isaac, the son of Abraham) from Ferrara, a cousin of the famous Joseph Nassi, who was sentenced to death in 1571 for murder of a convert Menachem Maraz (vol. 20, ff. 90, 90v). The fonds mostly references to some members of Dubrovnik Jewish families such as Ambonetti, Angeli, Ascoli, Asser, Baraffael, Bueno, Campos, Cohen, Costantini, Fermo, Forte, Janni, Levi, Levi Mandolfo, Luzzena, Maestro, Pardo, Penso, Russo, Terni, Tolentino, Valenzin, Vitali, Volterra.

Chancellery and the Judicial Office of the Dubrovnik Republic

Custodiae et armamentum; Guardie ed armamento (Guards and weaponry)

  • HR-DADU-47
  • Fonds
  • 16th century - 19th century

There are no references to Jewish people in the fonds.
The documents of the fonds consist of an inventory of weaponry and ammunition, a list of soldiers, a list of foreigners in the Dubrovnik military service (barabanti), some documents with cost estimates for purchase of weaponry, payment of military salaries, or maintenance of fortifications and warships. The registers cover the period from the 16th century to the beginning of the 19th century.

Guards Proveditori

Depositi (Deposits)

  • HR-DADU-46
  • Fonds
  • 1599-1806

The content of this fonds has not been fully researched so far. It contains three volumes, and the first volume is completely empty, and it does not contain any documents. The remaining two volumes cover the period from 1778 to 1815 and contain entries of cash deposits made at the Chancellery. These deposits represent payments of debts and settlements of various bills. The data also indicate that only persons whose names were written on the receipts as recipients, could collect the money at the Chancellery. According to the information available, the debtor would deposit the money at the Chancellery in situations when it was necessary for the other party to perform a certain action before receiving the money.


The fonds contains very little information about Jewish people, and the data found primarily refer to various aspects of their business at that time. References to certain members of various Ragusans Jewish families such as Costantini, Janni, Luzzena, Maestro, Pardo, Terni, Tolentino can also be found. For example: in 1804, Daniel Tolentino deposited 154 Ragusan ducats and 24 grossetti at the Chancellery to pay his debt to Sabato Terni, and Terni was also obliged to settle all accounts, or all his debts to Tolentino, before collecting the money deposited (vol. 2, f. 224v).

Chancellery of the Dubrovnik Republic

Dicta Domini Rectoris; Detta (Expenditures of the Rector's Palace)

  • HR-DADU-29
  • Fonds
  • 1543-1549, 1575-1580, 1583-1589, 1618-1640, 1653-1665, 1667, 1670-1682, 1684-1719, 1621-1626, 1628-1757, 1760-1761, 1763, 1765-1774, 1776-1777, 1779, 1782, 1804, 1808

The fonds covers the period from the middle 16th century to the beginning of the 19th century, and the data in the fonds are related to the expenditures of the Rector's Palace, i.e., the costs for which the Rector personally was accountable for. Since his term of office lasted only a month, the expenses listed were shown monthly. The expenses were checked by the so-called Deputati alla Detta, or elected members of the Minor Council. The list of ongoing permanent costs of the Palace changed over time and the expenses mostly concerned the related costs of Holy Masses held in the Chapel of the Rector's Palace, alms for various purposes, as well as the expenses for the organization of processions, Holy Masses, and celebrations of religious holidays. The data shows that the money was regularly allocated from the treasury of the Rector's Palace for the costs of lighting and various repairs. According to the data regarding prison expenses, the Rector's Palace would pay for the expenses of the arrest and escort of suspects, the treatment and maintenance of prisoners in need, the execution of sentences, and the burial of deceased prisoners. The soldiers of the Rector's Palace received salaries and compensation for clothes and straw mattresses from the treasury of the Palace. The expenditures of the state offices were also covered, such as the expenses for paper, parchment, bookbinding, ink, candles, and lighting oil. The expenses of the Republic stated in the last three decades show data on the financial support that was given to both Christianised Jewish and Orthodox believers. So-called Separate section of the volumes of this fonds lists the expenses of locksmiths, mostly related to the dungeons, and the extraordinary expenses, which mostly refer to the expenses of the stay of distinguished Ottoman guests in Dubrovnik. The treasury of the Rector's Palace also paid for the cleaning of the streets from various impurities and for the removal of dead animals, as well as for the costs of the postal service (couriers and shipping). Money was also allocated for the costs of anti-plague measures.


The fonds contains only a small amount of data on Jewish people. The references mainly relate to financial support provided for the maintenance of Christianised Jews and of those Jews who worked as state bookbinders. The information on the financial support that the state provided for Christianised Jewish women and men can be found in the documents from the last three decades of the 18th century. For example, according to the data, a certain Jewish woman Mande, the daughter of a Christianised Jew Antun Ambonetti (Samuel Ambonetti), also referred to in the documents as Mande Bonette, received through 1776/1777 the financial support of two grossetti per day (e.g., vol. 78, f. 41). There is also reference that a stretcher was paid once from the state treasury on which an unnamed Jewish woman was taken first to the archbishop and then to a convent (vol. 53, ff. 6v, 8). Moshe and Vital Fermi, and Baruch and Solomon Vitali are also referenced to as state bookbinders. The data shows that the Palace treasury also supplied offices at the Rector's Palace with paper and bound sheets of paper for writing as well as restored damaged books and documents between the late 17th century and the 80s of the 18th centuries. As for other data on Jewish people in this fonds, there are some minor references to Jewish craftsmen who, on several occasions, carried out various repairs in the Rector's Palace, (e.g., covering the table in the office of the Public Notary with leather and window repairing). The documents also show evidence that, while they were quarantined in Lazarettos and other quarantine areas, prominent Ottoman guests were treated by the Dubrovnik state and supplied with daily necessities. According to the data, the Jewish community of Dubrovnik were also involved in this custom, providing necessary pieces of furniture and other items for their stay. Several records showed that Jews received compensation for destroyed items from the treasury of the Rector's Palace. The money from the Palace treasury was also used to pay for the repairs of the keys and the entrance door to the ghetto.

Office of the Secretary of the Dubrovnik Republic

Diversa Cancellariae (Various documents registered at the Chancellery)

  • HR-DADU-15
  • Fonds
  • 1282-1286, 1295-1297, 1305-1306, 1312-1314, 1320-1323, 1325-1330, 1333-1337, 1341-1345, 1347-1352, 1354-1356, 1362-1377, 1381-1418, 1422-1452, 1454-1815

The fonds covers the period from the end of the 13th to the beginning of the 19th centuries and contains the data on public legal and judicial affairs and also on those private legal affairs for which the Public Notary was otherwise in charge. Thus, just like the fonds Diversa Notariae, this fonds is an excellent source of information on all aspects of political, economic, cultural, public and private life in the Republic of Dubrovnik.


The fonds is, therefore, very important for the research of the history of the Jewish people. It provides relevant data on business and private connections of Jews in Europe, mostly Southeast Europe, then in North Africa and the Middle East, in the period from the 14th to the beginning of the 19th centuries. The earliest reference found so far dates from 1368, when David from an Albanian city of Durrës, in the presence of witnesses Moshe, the son of Matthew, and Solomon, also from Durrës, registered a declaration of receipt of a financial deposit from a certain Venetian (vol. 21, ff. 71v, 72). A few more examples from earlier times illustrate well the diversity and relevance of this fonds. Astruch, the son of Jacob, called "Bonaventura", found his runaway son-in-law, Joseph Farrer from Padua, in Dubrovnik in the year 1400. They both signed an agreement at the Public Notary, in which it was stated that Joseph must return to his wife Astrucha within seven months. If he failed to do so, he would have to pay a fine of 20 perpers, and 10 perpers of this amount would be paid to Astruch (who found him). In the same document, Joseph also pledged to reimburse his father-in-law for the costs of the search. Witnesses to the agreement were Vives, the son of Astruch and Moshe, the son of Joseph (vol. 33, f. 183). In 1414, a medical examiner Samuel, signed a contract with a blind Ragusan Pripko Kaličević. The contract states that if the doctor managed to cure Pripko's eyes, he would be awarded 10 golden ducats, and if he failed, he would get nothing (vol. 40, f. 27v). The fonds also references other prominent and well-known people from that time such as: Abner Alfarin, Isac Ergas, Daniel Rodrigues, Nehemia Hia Haion, Solomon Oef, David Pass (Passo), Didacus Pyrrhus and some members of a highly respected Dubrovnik Jewish family, the Coens. Some members of Dubrovnik Jewish families Ambonetti, Campos, Fermo, Levi Mandolfo, Luzzena, Maestro, Pardo, Russo, Terni, Tolentino, Valenzin, Vitali were also referenced many timesare mentioned a lot. There are also many references to Jews who remained in Dubrovnik for a very short time, or to those who only passed through it or even never came directly but did business through the city with the help of intermediaries. One will was also registered in the books of this fonds. It is the will of Moshe Alfandrino, which was composed in 1584 in Venice. Two years later, Mira Alfandrino, Moshe's widow, also registered her will at the Public Notary in Dubrovnik (vol. 174, ff. 21v-22v a tergo).

Chancellery of the Dubrovnik Republic

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