Srednjovjekovni zadarski kapitulari
Zadar’s medieval capitularies

Summary/Abstract: The paper discusses the development, use and disappearance of Zadar’s medieval capitularies that regulated activities of town officials. Although capitularies are not preserved, it is clear they were an important component of urban life because they standardized and separated jurisdictions of different town authorities and were part of everyday judicial practice. Certain capitularies existed as early as the thirteenth century, while others date back to the fourteenth century. The paper also discusses the circumstances of changing and moving certain capitulary provisions to statutory novels after restoration of Venetian rule over Zadar in 1409. This development meant suppression of certain competences of the remaining judges for civil disputes. The abolition of capitularies in 1458 is associated with the fact that the last two municipal courts ceased to operate in that year. By comparing cases from Zadar judicial records with the fact that Venetian authorities changed and moved certain capitulary provisions to statutory novels after 1409, the content of those capitulary provisions is reconstructed.

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