Bishop Boniface of Poreč invests Heinzmann of Pazin with a mansus in Tar.
(SN) In Christi nomine.
Anno Eiusdem millesimo ducentesimo nonagesimo nono, indicione XII, die secundo intrante iulio, presentibus dominis presbiteris Dominico preposito de Pisino, Acursino preposito de Ruigno, Absalono plebano de Sancto Vincentio, Antonio scolastico de Duobus Castellis, Bartolomeo canonico de Sancto Vincentio et aliis pluribus testibus rogatis ad hoc specialiter et vocatis.
Ibique venerabilis pater dominus Bonifacius episcopus Parentinus, attendens nobilitatem et bonitatem atque patrocinia domini Ançmanni de Pisino et quod multum potest ei valere et prodesse in ecclesie negociis Parentine, que ecclesia a multis opprimitur et spoliatur in iuribus et rebus suis, investivit iure recti et legalis feudi dictum dominum Ançmannum de uno manso in villa Turris Nove Parentine diocesis, in qua iam pridem sibi investiverat aliud mansum, sub eo pacto et condicione:
Quod deberet unum hominem cultorem terre ibidem faceret habitare, qui sibi decimas et servicia exihiberet, quem hominem faceret de novo venire ad habitandum, et nullum acceperit de illis hominibus, qui ante dictam investituram habitaret in villa predicta.
Sub quibus condicionibus et pacto nunc investit et investivit predictum dominum Ançmannum cum anulo quem dictus dominus episcopus tenebat in manu.
Et incontinenti facta presenti investitura, dictus dominus Ançmannus iuravit fidelitatem predicto domino episcopo sicut [vassallus domi]noa suo in forma infrascripta:
“Ego Ançmannus * iuro * super sancta Dei evangelia, quod ab hac hora in antea usque ad ultimum * vite meeb ero fidelis tibi domino Bonifacio episcopo Parentino domino meo contra * hominemc, excepto imperatore seu rege Romanorum. Et quod numquam scienter ero in conscilio vel * facto quod tu amitas vitam vel membrum aliquod, vel quod tu percipias aliquam lesionem vel inuriam vel contumeliam in persona. Nec ero in co[n]sciliod vel facto seu consensu quod tu amittas aliquem tuum honorem vel aliquod tuum ius, vel rem aliquam quam modo possideas vel possidere debeas de iure vel de cetero possidebis in futurum. Nec aliquod impedimentum faciam in rebus vel in iuribus tuis, nec procurabo impedimentum vel dampnum fieri per alium in rebus vel iuribus tuis. Et si scivero vel audivero de aliquo qui faciat vel vellet facere aliquod istorum contra te, pro posse meo prestabo impedimentum, ut non faciat. Et si impedire non potero, quam citius potero tibi per me vel alium denunciabo et manifestabo et contra eum, prout potero, bona fide auxilium tibi dabo. Et si contigerit te rem aliquam quam modo habes vel habere debeas vel habebis in futurum iniuste vel fortuitu casu amittere, eam te recuperare iuvabo et recuperatam omni tempore retinere. Et si scivero te contra aliquem iuste velle facere, et inde specialiter vel generaliter fuero requisitus, meum tibi, sicut potero, prestabo et dabo auxilium et conscilium. Et si aliquid michi in secreto manifestaveris, sine tua licencia nemini manifestabo, nec procurabo quod manifestetur. Et si co[n]sciliumd a me super aliquo facto postulaveris, illud conscilium, quod magis iustum et utile mihi videbitur, tibi dabo. Ad curiam tuam vocatus veniam, nisi de licencia tua remaneam, et in tua curia requisitus secundum meam conscienciam dabo iustam sentenciam, et datam sentenciam per curiam servabo et servari faciam pro posse meo. Et cetera faciam que fidelis vassallus debet facere domino suo.”
Actum est hoc Ursarie super turrim domini episcopi dicti.
Ego Prevedellus sacri palacii notarius interfui et rogatus scripsi et roboravi.
a) vassalus domino] laesio membranae A; em. Banić. b) usque ad ultimum vite mee] usque ad ultimam diem vite mee doc. 1292_BP. c) contra hominem] sic A; contra omnem hominem doc. 1292_BP. d) sic coscilio A.
The charter records Bishop Boniface’s strategic investment of Heinzmann (Ançmannus) of Pazin with a second mansus in the village of Tar, building upon an earlier feudal grant to the same vassal.
The bishop’s motivation is explicitly stated and reveals the precarious position of the church of Poreč: he acknowledges Heinzmann’s “nobility and integrity” but particularly emphasizes his practical value in defending ecclesiastical interests, noting that “the church is oppressed and despoiled by many in its rights and properties.” This language reveals that the see was under considerable external pressure – from Venice, from the patriarchs of Aquileia, from the counts of Gorizia –, making reliable military support essential.
The grant comes with a significant agricultural condition: Heinzmann must settle a new cultivator on the land who will provide tithes and services to him, the bishop’s vassal. Crucially, this settler must be brought from outside the village, not recruited from existing residents. This stipulation aimed to increase the total agricultural workforce and tax base rather than simply redistributing existing obligations.
The oath of fealty that follows represents a comprehensive contract, covering military service (with the notable exception of obligations to the Holy Roman Emperor), legal duties at the episcopal court, and personal loyalty. The formula appears to follow a standardized model also used in other contemporary documents from the region, indicating a systematic approach to relations between the bishop and his retainers.
The ceremony took place symbolically “super turrim domini episcopi” (upon the lord bishop’s tower) in Vrsar. The presence of multiple ecclesiastical witnesses—including provosts, parish priests, and canons from various Istrian communities—demonstrates the importance of this relation between the ministerials of Pazin and the bishops of Poreč within the broader ecclesiastical network of the region.
The document exemplifies how medieval bishops balanced spiritual and temporal concerns, using feudal institutions to secure both agricultural productivity and military protection for their dioceses in a period of apparent external threats.