Siromasi kasnosrednjovjekovnoga Zagreba
The poor of late-medieval Zagreb

Summary/Abstract: In this article the author focuses on the urban poor in late medieval Zagreb. First, the introduction examines factors that influenced the definition of poverty and briefly overviews primary and secondary sources. The wide spectrum of people perceived as poor in the primary sources complies with the model proposed by Michel Mollat through the analysis of terminology of European sources and practices. The central part examines integration and marginalization of the poor. The problem can be perceived at several levels. First, the poor were mentioned in the Zlatna bula (‘Golden Bull’) of King Bela IV in the part that explains regulations concerning ius testmentaria. Second, the poor are observed through the functioning of charitable donations in testaments but also through charitable donations given by town council. Certain Zagreb paupers were mentioned by their given names. This shows that, while some among the poor were integrated into urban community at the same time they were professional beggars belonging to the marginal part of that community. The fourth level is poverty of the entire community, which was declared in various correspondences between the king and the council of Zagreb. There were several hospitals in the area of Zagre (both civil and bishop’s parts) of which three were general ones and one a leper house outside of the town. In conclusion, poverty in Zagreb reflects relativity of the notion of ‘being poor’ and ‘being perceived as poor’ by others.

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