Trieste (Trst)

The last will and testament of a woman from Trieste calling herself "Maru, the handmaiden of God" (Maru ancilla Dei).

Faced with the might of the Venetian navy and the crusading army on their way to Constantinople, the people of Trieste ask forgiveness from Doge Enrico Dandolo for their past transgressions, and promise fealty to the doge and the Commune of Venice, guaranteeing the safety and duty-free trading for the Venetians throughout their jurisdictions, aid in combating piracy in the zone from Rovinj northward, a tribute of fifty urns of wine paid yearly on St. Martin’s feast day and transported to the ducal palace in Venice, and generally to perform all the duties promised by other Istrian communities.

The representatives of the Commune of Trieste pledge fealty to Venice, promising to observe the pacts agreed by the two polities regarding the rights, status, and mercantile freedoms of the Venetians in Trieste (the edition includes the appended and originally undated pact between Venice and Trieste mediated by the prior of Santa Maria dei Crociferi and Pietro Zeno, and the oaths of consuls of Trieste and Venetian advocates serving in Trieste).

The Commune of Trieste appoints Facina de Canciano and Francesco de Bonomis as its legal representatives, authorizing them to negotiate and conclude peace agreements and settlements on its behalf with Venetian Doge Andrea Contarini and the Commune of Venice.

The Commune of Trieste appoints Bartolomeo Stoiano and Francesco de Bonomo as its legal representatives, authorizing them to negotiate and conclude peace agreements and settlements on its behalf with Venetian Doge Andrea Contarini and the Commune of Venice.