Details

Subjects:

Charles VI, King of France, 1368-1422.
Genoa (Italy) -- Politics and government -- To 1339.
Genoa (Italy) -- Politics and government -- 1528-1789.
Genoa (Italy) -- History -- Early works to 1800.
Genoa (Italy) -- Foreign relations.
France -- Foreign relations -- Italy.
France.
International relations.
Italy.
Italy -- Foreign relations -- France.

Form/Genre:

Codices.
Histories.
Manuscripts, Italian.
Manuscripts, European.

Language:

Italian, with short passages in Latin.

Summary:

A history of Genoa from the pre-Roman era to the 16th century. The work, according to the anonymous author, is based and draws on the research of a German historian called Johannes Reinhard (referred to as Giovanni Giacomo Reinhard in the text). In the manuscript, the various phases of the history of Genoa are analyzed, with a strong emphasis on the fact that, in spite of having been under many rulers over the centuries, the city (a republic at the time of writing), had always retained its individual custims, values and a large degree of independence, largely due to its strategic position in the Mediterranean. The city, of very ancient origin, was already flourishing before the rise of the Roman Empire, and maintained its power even after its fall. Occupied by the Ostrogoths in the 4th century, then by the Lombards, under King Rothari, in the 5th century, Genoa was annexed to the Frank empire in the 8th century and was granted a special status. Although its merchant fleet was not strong enough to place it among the most powerful merchant cities in Europe, the Ligurian town had still retained a level of independence. In the later centuries, Genoa was one of the first cities in Italy to have some citizenship rights granted by local nobles. In the 12th century, Genoa emerged as an independent city-state with a very well organized fleet and strong sense of independence as a city and, along with Venice, Pisa, and Amalfi, it was one of the four Maritime republics (referred to as repubbliche marinare in the manuscript). Various merchant families, the most important being the Adorno and the Campofregoso fought for power in this republic, especially in the 12th century, but this did not undermine the city's stability and in the same years, Genoa took part in the Crusades and expanded its political influence over a large part of Northern Italy. More stability for the city was also granted when it went under the protection of the king of France, Charles VI, which helped strengthen the city's defenses against attacks from other Italian states. Together with the history of the most important events that involved Genoa, the manuscript also contains information concerning the local governors, consuls, podestá and other public officials and their work. Some information regarding the laws of the city over the years are also present, but none of the passage in which they appear are very detailed. At the end of the main work, there is a short extract from a treatise on the history of the mint and coinage in various parts of Italy, written by Gianrinato Rubbi. According to Rubbi, coinage in Genoa started very early (before 1100), and a short analysis of Genoese coinage concludes the extract.

Notes:

Ms. codex.
Title from title page (f. i recto).
Foliation: Paper, ii (paper) + 102 + iv (paper); [ii], 1-100, contemporary foliation in pencil, modern foliation in pencil, top center recto.
Layout: Written in 19-24 long lines. Marginalia and other miscellaneous notations are also present.
Script: Written in a cursive script.
Decoration: Decorative border in ink at beginning of each chapter and small ink drawings of the coat of arms of the city of Genoa (f. 100r).
Watermark: Unidentified watermark containing a decorated version of the coat of arms of the city of Genoa.
Binding: Contemporary half morocco (Zacour-Hirsch), with marbled boards and gilt on green leather spine.
Origin: Written in Genoa in 1799 (f. i recto).

Penn Provenance:

Formerly owned by Sir Thomas Phillips (Ms. no. 6385, written in pencil inside upper cover).
Purchased, 1968 (note laid inside manuscript).

Cited in:

Described in Zacour, Norman P. and Hirsch, Rudolf. Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Libraries of the University of Pennsylvania to 1800: Supplement A (2), The Library Catalogue 36, (1970), no. 1, p. 27 (Ms. Lea 438).

Cited as:

UPenn Ms. Codex 1473

Contributor:

Phillipps, Thomas, Sir, 1792-1872, former owner.

Contains:

Rubbi, Gianrinato.

OCLC:

318117310