Provvedimenti per Caffa alla fine del secolo XIV
Measures for the administration of Caffa at the end of fourteenth century

Summary/Abstract: The defeat of Sigismund of Hungary at Nicopolis in 1396 showed to the western governors the concrete danger of Turkish advance. The consequences were not slow in making themselves felt. Thereafter Bajzid indeed did not stop to threaten the regions around Constatinople and the Black Sea. On the other side, facing the failure of western army King Charles VI of France worried for the fate of Christianity and of the Christians who lived there. Immediately the sovereign, promised emperor Manuel II his help, and taking advantage of the weakness of the Genoese doge Antoniotto Adorno subjugated Genoa (1396, November 27) which was an appropriate base for acquiring updated information and also organizing military projects. In August 1397 Borleo of Luxemburg was in charge, as locumtenens in Genoa, having by his side bishop Pierre du Fresnel. Under French government new rules were issued to reinforce the safety of the Genoese settlements in the Black Sea. The present work studies some chancery acts issued in 1398 from April, 10 to December, 28. Six acts are also published in the Appendix. These acts aimed in particular at reorganizing the administration, at reinforcing control over the Genoese officials appointed to the Republic dominions, at fighting corruption and financing the defense of the Black Sea. The first of these documents contains some measures which were requested by local people, especially the burgenses of Caffa, a category of inhabitants which included Genoese residing in Caffa and local individuals living there, as well. It contains effective legislative measures which are compared to the preceding rules, such as the Imposicio Officii Gazarie and to the following Statute of Caffa. In particular the paper shows that the burgenses of Caffa acquired a relevant role in this particular phase of Black Sea history.

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