Svetvinčenat: a brief history

Abstract

Following short introductory remarks on the site of Svetvincenat, the inhabitants and settlements, the A. presents a brief summary of its history, stressing particularly the succession of feudal masters. The chronology starts with the feudal domain of St. Appolinare, after that Svetvincenat became property of the Porec bishop, and then of the Sergi - Castropola from Pula. From the 14th century they share their possession of Svetvincenat with the Morosini family, who got the right over the whole fief in the 15th century. When in the mid-16th century the Morosini family had no male descendants, the fief got into the hands of the Grimani family by means of weddings of the female members of the Morosinis. It was to remain so until the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797. The changes in sovereignty of Svetvincenat, described only summarily, were the same as for the whole Istria (French rule, First Austrian rule, Second Austrian rule, etc.). In the second part of the paper the A. returns to the period described above, but with details regarding the economic and social aspects of life in Svetvincenat. He stresses the degree of autonomy that the rural community benefited from. It stemmed mainly from the fact that the population was not directly subjected to the Venetian central authority, but to a feudal lord. The main instrument of the local autonomy was the Council, which elected its representatives who contacted the feudal masters with petitions and criticism; it also nominated officials for various offices and made decisions in many other important questions. At the end he presents a brief description and history of the Castle, as well as some brief remarks on ecclesiastical questions, mainly on the relations between the Grimani family and the Church.