Women in the Seigneury of Bled/Veldes in the Late 17th Century: Analysis of Bound Court Minutes

Abstract

The article examines the situation and role of unprivileged women in the seigneury of Bled/Veldes at the end of the 17th century, when the bishops of Brixen managed this estate through leaseholders. The analysis focuses on the bound court minutes from the fonds of the Bled seigneury, almost 1,500 pages of archival material from 1690 to 1700, as a result of the work of the lower and, only exceptionally, the higher court for the unprivileged. The results are presented in the context of literature, leading to new insights into the position of women in the village society and the family economy, into their legal and business capacity. Some typical and special cases of women who, during the examined period, appeared before the court in Bled as plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, debtors, creditors, guarantors, representatives and guardians of children are presented. The article deals with both civil law proceedings and related disputes, which are significantly predominant in the analysed court protocols under consideration, as well as with a smaller number of criminal law proceedings.