Vjersko i društveno ozračje Žminjštine u prvoj polovici 18. stoljeća
Religious and Social Climate in Žminjština during the First Half of the 18th Century

Summary/Abstract: Visitation records as the basis of our knowledge on the religious practice and social reality are only a part of the documented memory, often accentuating and thus privileging its unpleasant aspects: conflicts, difficulties, and disorderly circumstances that had to be appeased, solved, and corrected, which was the aim of all visitations. For this reason, the positive aspects of such religious activities often remain hidden and must be disclosed by carefully reading through the lines of these records. The parish of Žminj, as one reads in historiography, was under the jurisdiction of the Poreč (Parenzo) bishopric during the 18th century, and thus officially part of the Holy Roman Empire. At that time, Žminjština was a predominantly Croatian area, judging from the family names, and the rest of its population was Italian. This situation is reflected in the family names of confraternity gastalds, analyzed in this article, as well as those of administrators of churches and altars. This ethnic composition is also evident in most family names of Žminj’s clergy and the parish priest (despite the inadequacy), which is why the analyzed document also notes the traditional folk costume that he wore. The cohabitation of these two cultural circles was unchallenged and peaceful, in our opinion, and the recorded conflicts among individuals simply reflect personal incompatibilities.

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