Autore: Cerutti, Simona
Titolo: «For the Love of the Poor». Jurisdiction and Debt-Credit Relationships (Savoyard State, 18th century)
Periodico: Quaderni storici
Anno: 2024 - Volume: 176 - Fascicolo: 2 - Pagina iniziale: 407 - Pagina finale: 436

This study explores the various forms taken by the jurisdiction over the «poor and miserable» in the Savoyard state, where multiple institutions and social groups – such as the King, the Senate, the Conseil d’État, bishops, parish priests, confraternities, and individual actors – claimed authority over these vulnerable populations. Using petitions addressed to the monarch, the article analyzes thousands of requests concerning debt and credit issues in the early 18th century. These petitions reveal the extent to which the «protection of the poor» functioned as an essential instrument of governance; it involved the ability to designate the «weaker» party in a contract, act as a protector, and guarantee the «just» conduct of exchanges. Simultaneously, the ability to declare and be recognized as poor could alter the social rules of the game, particularly within the marketplace. Through the relationships established in these petitions, both parties played a central role in constructing social hierarchies. All contributed to shaping the identity of the «poor», who became a crucial component of the social fabric.




SICI: 0301-6307(2024)176:2<407:«TLOTP>2.0.ZU;2-K
Testo completo: https://www.rivisteweb.it/download/article/10.1408/116985
Testo completo alternativo: https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.1408/116985

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