Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.21857/moxpjhg0jm
Godparents and Marriage Witnesses in Istria from the Fifteenth to the Seventeenth Century
Danijela Doblanović
; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta Jurja Dobrile u Puli, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Marija Mogorović Crljenko
; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta Jurja Dobrile u Puli, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
On the basis of baptismal parish registers of Bale, Labin, Rovinj, Savičenta and Umag, the authors examine the issue of godparenthood, i.e. marriage witnessing in Istria from the late fifteenth to early seventeenth century, a period which saw of a number of changes regarding godparenthood practice as result of the Tridentine Council. Apart from the reduced number of godparents in the post-Tridentine period, the authors shed particular light on the selection of godparents and the fact that some members of the community frequently acted in this role. Considering that baptism entries contain other interesting information, such as who brought the child to baptism, the authors have drawn a parallel between the baptismal practice in several Istrian parishes. The important role of midwives around the childbirth has been highlighted, because besides assisting the delivery, they were authorised to perform emergency baptisms. In some parishes, midwives were also registered among godmothers, or even explicitly recorded as “great godmother” (comare mazor). Lastly, the analysis of the entries pertaining to witnesses in the marriage registers shows that they were mainly male. Apparently, clerics commonly acted as witnesses, or rather persons connected to the church in one way or another (sacristans, bell ringers, etc).
Keywords
baptism parish registers; marriage parish registers; godparents; witnesses; Istria; late Middle Ages; early modern era
Hrčak ID:
199727
URI
Publication date:
2.5.2018.
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