The city of Koper renews its pact of fealty to the doge and the city of Venice, promising the security of all Venetians in their city, the remission of duties of transport and commerce, the payment of the customary tribute of one hundred amphorae of wine every year, judicial autonomy, perpetual peace and alliance even in case of war against other Istrian communities.
In nomine domini nostri Iesu Christia.
Imperante domino nostrob Ottonec serenissimo imperatore anno quartod, die duodecimoe mense octubriof, indictione quintag.
Actum in civitate Iustinopolih.
Denique dumi nos omnes Sigardusj comesk unacum cunctisl habitantibus in civitate Iustinopolimm, tam maioribus quam mediocribus et minoribusn, convenientibus una vobiscumo Petro Ursyolop gloriossisimo domino Veneciarum duceq, quamque et cum cuncto vestro populo postr decessums antecessorist Petri Candianiu ducisv, cum cuncte essentw cartulex ab igne crematey, tam vestras quam similiter et nostrasz, iterum ob reformandamaa pacem et convenientiam et pro amore dilectionis et caritatisab, cuncta a nobis purgata preterita discordiaac, per hanc presentem convenientiamad et constitutionem plenissime affirmamusae:
[1] Ut omnibus profuturis temporibus amodo in antea omnesaf vestri fidelesag ad nostraah locaai civitatis Iustinopolisaj ire et redire vel negotiareak securiter absque alicuius ex nobis contrarietate debeant.
[2] Et nullumal veroam theloneuman ab eis nihilao sumereap debeamusaq, sed pacifice remeariar ad suaas propria debeantat, quia vos a vestra digna mercede itaau nostris de prefataav nostraaw civitateax ostendere dignati estis.
[3] Unde nosay vestris predecessoribus soliti facere fuimus servitium de centum amphoris viniaz, et iterum simili modo dare et adimplere quolibetba anno debeamus, tam vobis quam etbb successoribus vestrisbc, usquebd in perpetuum et in nostra civitate habuerit hominembe.
[4] Ceterum autembf, si aliquisbg ex vestris Veneticisbh ad nostra loca morando legem inquirere voluerit, secundum consuetudinem nostram et vestram facere debeamus.
[5] Sibi autem, quod absit, omnes habitantesbj Ystriebk vobiscum aliquambl turbantiam vel molestiambm habuerint, nos vero absque eobn predictasbo centum amphoras de vino, quod rectum est, quemadmodumbp pristinis temporibus factum fuitbq, vobis persolvere debeamus absque ulla occasionebr preponendabs.
[6] Et si omnes civitates Ystrie, ut diximus, inter vos et illos rixa et contentio vel obiurgatiobt aliqua orta fuerit velbu acciderit adbv invicem, nostra civitas cumbw cuncto populo in ea commorantebx/by vobiscum in unabz debeamus persistereca pacem et verissimam caritatemcb/cc. Et si velcd unus ex nostre civitatisce de foris consistentibus in aliquo insurgere contracf vestroscg presumpserit, nos autem unoch corde etci animo omnes adiutorescj et defensores esse debeamus.ck
[7] Itemque statuimus ut ipsi hominescl de predicta nostra civitatecm nullum alium hominemcn de aliquo lococo vel civitate incp vestra[m] secum adducere debea[n]tcq potestatemcr vel aliquo ordine introducere ad emendum aliquacs.
[8] Legem inter utrasque partes invicemct adimplerecu debeamus, ut semper solitum extitit a nostris predecessoribus.
Hec cuncta, ut supra continet, omnibus profuturis temporibus observare et adimplere promittimus absque iussio[ne]cv imperatoris.
Quod si non observaverimus cuncta, ut supra cernitur et fuerit clarefactum, componere promittimus omnes nos unacum nostris heredibuscw vobis domino Petro ducicx et vestriscy successoribus auricz libras quinqueda, et hec cartadb nostre confirmationisdc omnibus profuturis temporibus Deidd et Christi adiutorio in sua maneatde plenissima firmitatedf.
Actumdg in civitate Iustinopolidh, die et imperatoredi vel indictione secundadj.
Feliciter.
(SC)dk Signum manus domini Sycardi inclyti comitisdl, manu sua scribere rogavit.
(SC) Signum manusdm Petri locopositidn testisdo subscripsi.
(SC) Ego Petrus manu mea subscripsidp.
(SC) Signum manus Albini, generidq Iohannisdr de Rustaneds, testis.
(SC) Signum manus Olmani scavinidt testis.
(SC) Signum manus Benedictidu, nepusdv qui fuit Andreadidw scavinodx, testis.
(SC) Signum manus Waltramidy, fratris eiusdz, testis subscripsiea.
(SC) Signum manuseb Iohannis, filii Marie de Iohanneec, testis subscripsied.
(SC) Signum manus Arbunchiee, filii Maderiief, testis.
(SC) Signum manus Iohannis, qui fuit Andreandi Concorrieg, testis.
(SC) Signum manus Mauricenieh, filii Dominici de Helnaei, testis.
(SC) Signum manus Argauso testis.
(SC) Signum manus Iulianiej testis.
(SC) Signum manus Dominiciek de D(e)d(is)el testis.
(SC) Signum manus Dominiciem de Iohannacien testis.eo
(SC) Signum manus Martiniep de Theodorieq testis.
(SC) Signum manus Seraiciser testis subscripsies.
(SC) Signum manus Augusti testis.et
(SC) Signum manus Iohannis de Paula testiseu.
(SC) Signum manus Marcelliev, fratris eius, testis.
(SC) Signum manus Iohannisew, filii Felicitati de Melinda, testis.ex
(SC) Signum manus Marcelliey testis.ez
(SC) Signum manus Vitalisfa, fratris eius, testis.
(SC) Signum manus Iohannisfb, generifc eius, testis.fd
(SC) Signum manus Iohannisfe, fratris eius, testis subscripsiff.
(SC) Signum manus Felicisfg, filiifh eius, testis subscripsifi.
(SC) Signum manus Iohannisfj, filiastrifk qui fuit Iohannis Zamponagofl, testis.
(SC) Signum manus Vitalisfm, filii Sambatinifn, testis.
(SC) Signum manus Vitalianifo testis.
(SC) Signum manus de Anastasio testis.
(SC) Signum manus Pauli de Dignanofp testis.
(SC) Signum manus Iohannisfq, filii Berti cingatorisfr, testis.
(SC) Signum manus Marinifs, filii Petri Crusiadonnoft, testis subscripsifu.
Ego Rotepertusfv dyaconusfw et notarius huius civitatis Iustinopolisfx manu mea propria scripsi atque firmavi.
a) nostri Iesu Christi] LZD; om. et cetera posuit T. b) om. D. c) Otone L. d) IIIIo Z; 4o D. e) L; XIIo ZT; 12 D. f) octobris D. g) Va Z; 5a D. h) Iustinopolim LZ; Iustinopolis D. i) LZD; cum T. j) Sigus L; Sygus T; Sicardus Z; Sicundus ex siquis corr. D; Sigardus ed. Cessi. k) comes cum sign. abbr. L. l) cunctos L. m) in civitate Iustinopolim] in civitate Iustinopolim L; civitate Iustinopolim Z; civitatem Iustinopolim DT; civitate Iustinopoli ed. Cessi. n) maioribus quam mediocribus et minoribus] Z; maiores quam et minores vel mediocres L; maiores quam mediocres vel minores D; maiores quam mediocres quam minores T; maioribus quam et minoribus vel mediocribus ed. Cessi. o) vobiscumque cum D. p) sic DT; Ursoyolo LZ. q) ducem L. r) cum propter Z. s) disessitivi L; dicessum D; decessum tui ed. Cessi. t) antecessori L; antecessoris tui Z. u) Candiano Z. v) duci LZ. w) esse LZD. x) essent cartule] cartulas esse Z. y) cuncte—cartule—cremate] cunctas—cartulas—crematas LZD. z) vestras—nostras] sic LZDT: pro vestre—nostre. aa) informandam D. ab) charitatis D. ac) preterita discordia] inv. LD. ad) continentiam Z. ae) adfirmamus LZ. af) om. L; omnibus D. ag) vestri fideles] vestris fidelibus LD. ah) ex omstra corr. al. man. L. ai) seq. supradicta add. LD. aj) civitatis Iustinopolis] civitate Iustinopolim L; civitate Iustinopolis D. ak) LZD; negotiari T. al) Et nullum] nam LZD. am) LZD; om. T. an) ZD; toloneum L; teloneum T. ao) nichil LZ. ap) summere ZD. aq) debemus L. ar) remeare LZD. as) LD; om. ZT. at) propria debeant] inv. LD. au) seq. a add. LD. av) LD; dicta ZT. aw) LD; om. ZT. ax) civitas LZ. ay) seq. ad add. LD. az) de centum amphoris vini] anforas de vino centum L; amphoras de vino centum D. ba) per omnique LD. bb) Z; et a L; om. DT. bc) successoribus vestris] inv. LD. bd) LZD; om. T. be) et in nostra civitate habuerit hominem] om. Z; subsignavit T. bf) LD; om. ZT. bg) vel unum L; vel vinum D. bh) LZD; Venetis T. bi) sin LD. bj) habitantibus LD. bk) Ystrie et undique sic LZ; Hystrie et undique sic D; Istrie sed postmodum Ystrie T. bl) vobiscum aliquam] LZD; om. T. bm) aliquam turbantiam vel molestiam] aliqua turbantia vel molestia LD. bn) eos LD; eis Z. bo) predictis Z. bp) seq. ad add. L; seq. in add. D. bq) LZD; fuerit T. br) LZ; occasio D; ocasione T. bs) proponenda L. bt) vel obiurgatio] om. L. bu) orta fuerit vel] L; om. ZDT. bv) om. LD. bw) om. LD. bx) commemorante L. by) nostra civitas—ea commorante] nos Z. bz) in una] LD; observare ZT. ca) LD; om. ZT. cb) charitatem D. cc) pacem—verissimam caritatem] sic codd.: pro pace—verissima caritate (in una persistere) secundum LD; pacem—verissimam caritatem (observare debeamus) secundum ZT. cd) LD; om. ZT. ce) nostre civitatis] nostra civitatum L. cf) in contra LD. cg) vos D. ch) in L. ci) om. D. cj) adiuctores Z. ck) seq. si igitur et cetera add. et sic des. Z. cl) hominibus LD. cm) civitas D. cn) alium hominem] om. L. co) aliquo loco] aliqua loca D. cp) LD; om. Z. cq) om. D; debeat LT; debeant (ipsi homines) em. Banić. cr) vestram—potestatem] vestra—potestatem codd. ; em. Banić. cs) aliquam D. ct) canc. D. cu) om. D. cv) iussio LDT; iussione ed. Tafel–Thomas et Cessi. cw) LD; hominibus T. cx) duce LD. cy) et vestris] D; tercius L; et T. cz) auro LD. da) 5o D. db) hec carta] hec carent L; hanc cartam D. dc) nostre confirmationis] nostra confirmatione L; nostre confirmatione D. dd) D; duci LT. de) manente L. df) plenissima firmitate] inv. D. dg) acto LD. dh) Iustinopolim L; Iustinopolis D. di) inperatore D. dj) 2a D; sic LT: pro suprascripta/suprascriptis. dk) omnia signa crucis om. LT. dl) domini Sycardi inclyti comitis] sic T; domino Sicardo inclito comite L; domino Sicundo inclito comite D. dm) manu et saepe sic D. dn) Petri locopositi] Petro locoposito LD. do) om. et omnia seq. testis om. et undique ss cum sign. abbr. (pro subscripsi) posuit D. dp) manu mea subscripsi] inmesus L; manu subscripsi D. dq) genero LD. dr) Ioannis et undique Ioanne loco Iohannis T; Iohanni LD. ds) Iustane L; Listane D. dt) Olmani scavini] Olmanno scavino LD. du) Benedicto L. dv) nepos D. dw) Andree de D. dx) scauro D; sic LT: pro scavini. dy) Waltram L; Valrani D. dz) fratris eius] frater eius L; fratres D. ea) LD; om. T. eb) seq. Ia filii Marie de tihor testis canc. T. ec) LD; Nohe T. ed) LD; om. T. ee) Arbunco LD. ef) Maderico L; Madenaco D. eg) Andreandi Concorri] Andreati de Concorna L; Andree de Concordia D. eh) Mauroceni L. ei) Dominici de Helna] Dominico de Helna L; Dominico de Elia D. ej) Iuliano LD. ek) de Dominico LD. el) dd cum sign. abbr. LDT; Dedis ed. Cessi. em) Dominico LD. en) Iohanaci L. eo) (SC)—testis] om. D. ep) Martino LD. eq) D; Utederi T; Teuden L. er) Serzicis L; Serzias D. es) LD; om. T. et) Signum—testis] om. et post de Paula testis add. LD. eu) consensi D. ev) Marcello LD. ew) Iohanni L. ex) (SC)—testis] om. D. ey) Marcello L. ez) (SC)—testis] om. D. fa) Vitali L. fb) Iohanne LD. fc) genero L. fd) (SC)—testis] om. D. fe) Iohanni D. ff) LD; om. T. fg) Felix L; Felici D. fh) filius L. fi) LD; om. T. fj) Iohanni LD. fk) filiastro LD. fl) Iohannis Zamponago] Iohanni Ciampognato L; Iohanni Camponago D. fm) Vitale L; Vitali D. fn) Sambatino L; Sabilino D. fo) Vitaliano LD. fp) Pauli de Dignano] Pavilo de Dignane L; Paulo de Digamo D. fq) Iohanni LD. fr) Berti cingatoris] Bertoci iugatori L; Bertoce iugami D. fs) Martino LD. ft) Petri Crusiadonno] Petro Cursiadomno L; Petro Crisiadono D. fu) LD; om. T. fv) Rothepertus D. fw) L; diaco. D; chac T. fx) civitatis Iustinopolis] civitatis Iustinopolim L; civitate Iustinopolitane D.
“Secundo ducis anno inter Venetos et Sicardum comitem ac populum Iustinopolitane urbis, iam nata discordia, nunc novo et subiectivo firmato federe pacificata est, cuius tenor talis est: [seq. doc. 977_PI]. Hoc quippe tributum a Iustinopolitanis debitum Gradensis ecclesie patriarche ducali nomine receperunt usque ad hoc dies vigore concessionis quam eis fecit Dominicus Silvus dux Venecie.” – Andrea Dandolo, Chronica per extensum descripta, ed. Ester Pastorello, RIS, ser. 2, 12/1 (Bologna 1958), pp. 180–181.
“Huius ducis anno IIo inter Venetos et universitatem Iustinopolitane urbis iam nata discordia nunc novo et subiectivo firmato federe pacificata est, cuius tenor sententialiter talis est: ‘In nomine domini nostri’ et cetera, ‘imperante domino nostro Ottone serenissimo imperatore’ et cetera. Qui comes et populus Iustinopolis dicto ducis amphoras C vini et alia de tributo, ut supra patet, per privilegium affirmavit, quoniam ei clare constabat cunctas cartulas factas excelentisimo domino Petro Candiano duci esse ab igne crematas, et cetera. Hoc nempe tributum a Iustinopolitanis debitum patriarche Gradensis ecclesie ducali nomine receperunt usque ad hos dies vigore concessionis quam eis fecit Dominicus Silvus dux Veneciarum.” – Venetiarum historia vulgo Petro Iustiniano Iustiniani filio adiudicata, ed. Roberto Cessi and Fanny Bennato (Venice 1964), p. 58.
“Nel secondo anno dil ducato di questo doxe [Piero Ursiol] vene discordia tra Vinitiani et Sicardo conte et il populo e comun di Cao-d’Istria, e a la fine quelle fonno pacifichade.” – Marin Sanudo, Le vite dei dogi, ed. Giovanni Monticolo, RIS, ser. 2, 22/4 (Città di Castello 1900), p. 134.
The last of the series of 10th-century pacts between Venice and Istrian communities, the treaty essentially renews the pact signed between Koper and Doge Pietro II Candiano in 932 (doc. 932_PI) but adds several new articles and introduces some important modifications.
First, the pact was signed following a period of hostilities between Venice and Koper, as revealed by the document’s narratio (“ob reformandam pacem et convenientiam et pro amore dilectionis et caritatis, cuncta a nobis purgata preterita Discordia”). It is reasonable to assume that the doge appeared in Koper with a formidable fleet that “persuaded” the Istrian community to remain faithful to Venice in return for protection.
Regarding the date of the pact, there is considerable discrepancy in historiography. Traditionally, the document was dated to 977 (all previous editions cited above with the sole exception of Romanin). Even Andrea Dandolo (cited above under Medieval Recollections) dates the pact to the second year of Pietro Orseolo’s reign, that is, 977. However, upon a closer examination of the dating elements, this dating is not beyond doubt. Namely, there are three dating elements: the fourth year of Otto’s reign, the fifth indiction, and the 12th day of October. The fact that the pact is signed with Doge Pietro Orseolo is added to the dating element, a doge whose reign lasted from 976 (presumably elected on August 12) to 978. Thus, “dominus noster Otto” can only refer to Otto II who began ruling independently following his father’s death on May 7, 973. The fourth year of Otto II’s reign, calculated from the beginning of his independent emperorship, would fall between May 7, 976 and May 6, 977. Since the pact was signed on October 12, the fourth year of Otto II’s reign would give the year 976. The fifth indiction corresponds to year 977, but the Byzantine indiction, used widely during the period (including in Venice and in Istria as well), begins on September 1 and ends on August 31. Thus, the fifth indiction for October 12 would give 976 and not 977. Taking all the dating elements into consideration, one arrives at the conclusion that the pact was signed on October 12, 976, shortly after the new doge had been elected following the murder of Pietro IV Candiano. This date – October 12, 976 – was first adduced by Romanin and subsequently taken over by Gerhard Rösch (cited above) and by Gherardo Ortalli (1990 and 1992, cited above). Interestingly, Ortalli referred to the upcoming edition of Pactorum Liber I by Marco Pozza who, claims Ortalli, “finally confirmed” that the correct date is 976 (1990, p 43, fn. 74). However, the same Marco Pozza in his dictionary entry on Pietro Orseolo, published in 2015 (cited above), dates the pact to 977. This traditional dating to 977 is not impossible – but one has to presuppose the use of Roman indiction (beginning on December 25), and the calculation of the regnal year beginning on December 25 as well. Thus, the second year of Otto II’s independent reign would begin on December 25, 974, making the fourth regnal year spanning the period between December 25, 976, and December 24, 977. With these two presuppositions, the dating elements would concord with each other and point to the year 977. This is far from impossible or even improbable as similar cases of the employment of Roman indiction together with the shifting of the beginning of the regnal year from the day of anointment to December 25 have been observed during the age of Otto II (cf. Harry Bresslau, Manuale di diplomatica per la Germania e l’Italia (Rome 1998), pp. 1031–32, 1041–42). Since we only have three surviving documents issued by Capodistrian notaries in the 10th century (docs. 932_PI, 933_PW, and this one), it is impossible to infer which style of indiction and which era of regnal years was customarily used. Therefore, both years 976 and 977 remain a possible dating option. The document is hereby edited under year 977, the traditional dating of the charter, but the readers should be aware that the alternative dating is just as probable.
The gift of a hundred amphorae of wine that Koper had originally promised to Doge Pietro II Candiano in 932 (doc. 932_PI) was transformed into a yearly tribute (servitium) that Koper now owed in perpetuity to each and every doge of Venice.
Moreover, Koper had to guarantee the safety of all the Venetians within their city, who have to be free to enter, leave, and do business in Koper. The Venetians are also to be free from all the duties on commerce and transportation (teloneum), as are the Capodistrians doing business in Venice.
More importantly, Venetians are guaranteed a certain degree of judicial autonomy because justice administered to Venetians in Koper must be based on both the Capodistrian and Venetian customs (article 4); thus, one would assume, the Venetians are to be tried in mixed tribunals, presided over by both Capodistrian and Venetian magistrates. By extension, that would mean that Venice had their own official who resided in Koper, a predecessor to a Venetian consul or vicedominus, as claimed by Benussi (cited above).
Most importantly, however, Koper had to remain faithful to Venice and continue with the annual payment of tribute even in case of war between Venice and other Istrian communities or in case of hostility between Venice and one of Capodistrian citizens (articles 5 and 6). The fact that the treaty which included this article was approved by an imperial count is telling of Venetian dominance in the region.
Count Sigehard mentioned in the document, the first signee of the pact, remains a mysterious figure. Benussi, cited above, interprets the count as comes civitatis, that is, count of Koper and not count of Istria. Conversely, Mayer (cited above) interprets him as count of Istria. De Vergottini (1974, cited above) leaves both options open but prefers to see in this Sigehard “a municipal official” and not a count of the entire province (esp. 1937, cited above). Since the subsequent signee is a locopositus, that is, a count’s appointed representative (see Jenko Kovačič for the correct interpretation of locopositus), it makes sense that Count Sigehard is indeed a provincial official, that is, count of Istria. Moreover, an imperial charter promulgated in 1012 mentions two former counts of Istria, a Popo and a Sizo (doc. 1012_HA). Since the charter survives only in a much older, 15th-century copy (most probably of a copy and not of the 11th-century original), it is quite probable that this Sizo is a contaminated form of Sigardus, thus referring to this particular count.
Benussi (p. 615) read only Kandler’s edition and concluded that none of the witnesses could write; however, at least locopositus Peter was literate as he signed his name manu propria.
The sentence “Itemque statuimus ut ipsi homines de predicta nostra civitate nullum alium hominem de aliquo loco vel civitate in vestra[m] secum adducere debea[n]t potestatem vel aliquo ordine introducere ad emendum aliqua” is originally agrammatical and requires some editorial emendations to make sense of. Benussi interpreted it as “che [i Capodistriani] non introdurranno mai a Venezia degli stranieri, facendoli passare per cittadini di Capodistria, allo scopo che possano mercanteggiare” (p. 624, cited above). This seems to be the most logical reading of the sentence which could be translated in contemporary English as: “And likewise we decree that the very people from our aforesaid city should neither bring with them nor introduce in any way anyone else from another place or city into your possessions to buy anything.” Essentially, the trading privileges that Venice had accorded to the Capodistrians must be exercised solely by the legitimate citizens of Koper and nobody else.
Finally, the phrase “absque iussio[ne] imperatoris” engendered some debate as well. According to Benussi (p. 624 cited above) the word absque should here be understood as praeterquam, that is, “except, besides”. In this way, the phrase would mean that the Capodistrians must honor this pact to the letter, with the sole exception of the emperor ordering otherwise. Lenel (cited above) follows this conclusion and interprets the passage as a Salvationsklausel. This remains the dominant opinion to this day, accepted by both De Vergottini and Krahwinkler (both cited above).
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