The essay addresses the problem of the relationship between large aristocratic families and “noble parishes” in Genoa, by considering the case of the Doria and the church of San Matteo, founded in 1125 and whose reconstruction was planned... more
The essay addresses the problem of the relationship between large aristocratic families and “noble parishes” in Genoa, by considering the case of the Doria and the church of San Matteo, founded in 1125 and whose reconstruction was planned in 1278. On the one hand, three qualifying aspects of the Doria kinship are examined in order to understand the role of the small church in enhancing the coordination of the group: i.e., positions of leadership and command in the maritime city and in its government; dispersion and presence outside Genoa; numerical strength, residence and leadership. On the other hand, the article considers the insertion of San Matteo in the monastic network (not only in Liguria) headed by the abbey of San Fruttuoso, and how its reconstruction allowed for the diversification of the large family internal and external relevance. The conclusion, thanks to the comparison with the experiences of other important urban families, shows the uniqueness of this case study and how broader and more systematic comparisons should be made, even outside the Genoese context.
The first part of the essay addresses the problem of the origins of the Genoese notary Ingo Contardi by considering two, perhaps interconnected, hypotheses which raise the problem of social mobility: was his father a butcher or did he... more
The first part of the essay addresses the problem of the origins of the Genoese notary Ingo Contardi by considering two, perhaps interconnected, hypotheses which raise the problem of social mobility: was his father a butcher or did he belong to a family of the lesser aristocracy? A brief discussion on his professional raining ensues. Here it is noted that only a single document written by him for the commune survives, as compares to several fragments of registers containing private contracts covering the years 1234-1262, that have been preserved. Overall, the article traces how this notary attracted clients and the different ways by which he managed to secure the loyalty of two specific segments of his clientele: on the one hand a group of drapers and the artisans connected to them, and on the other a group of noble families, some of which joined into an albergum at the end of the thirteenth century. For what concerns the artisans, Ingo Contardi chose to be easily available to them by establishing his workplace in front of the store run by his brother Bonaventura, a draper. In order to secure the fealty of the aristocratic families he gauged his professional behaviour carefully, bringing out their internal bonds, perhaps acting also as a bridge to some fringes of the Popolo.
