House of Bajamonti
Encyclopedia
The Bajamonti family are considered one of the most prestigious families of the city of Split
in Croatia
. The family originated in Bergamo
, Lombardy
.
The Bajamonti family has been mentioned for the first time in Split Registry Books at the beginning of the 18th century (1704) as owners of a very rich library collection. The first data about the library had been recorded by Julije Bajamonti
(Giulio Bajamonti) (1744–1800), registering that the big fire of 1787 had seriously damaged the collection. Until recently, the public has only been acquainted with a few titles preserved by the Split Archeological Museum Library.
Recent research of the Rara Collection in the University Library of Split resulted in the discovery of thirty-two titles collected in fifty-one volumes and in fact bearing the exlibris signatures of Gian Domenico and Girolamo Bajamonti or in some cases signed just Bajamonti. The titles cover the topics ranging from grammar, philosophy, classical and Italian literature, theology, natural sciences, as well as a vast collection of legal books - primarily focusing on the Church and Civil Law. There are also numerous works by German and Italian authors from the field of natural law. The originals had been written in Italian and Latin, although the collection also includes translations from French and Latin into Italian. The books had been printed in Italy, Germany, Switzerland and France, and are dating from the 16th century (two titles), the 17th century (two titles), the 18th century (25 titles), and only one dating from the first half of the 19th century. Seven works from the Bajamonti collection had been a gift from the Split ecclesiaste Mate Bogetić, while five titles from the family collection had been passed down to the Gabinetto di lettura collection, to be returned later along with the other titles to the University Library of Split.
The most famous Bajamonti was Antonio Bajamonti
(Split, 19 February 1822 - Split, 13 January 1891), who became mayor of Split
in 1860 for the Autonomist Party
(pro-Italian) and - except for a brief interruption during the period 1864-65 - held the post for over two decades until 1880. Bajamonti was also a member of the Parliament of Dalmatia
(1861–91) and the Austrian Chamber of Deputies (1867–70 and 1873–79). He married Lujza Krušević.
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. The family originated in Bergamo
Bergamo
Bergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan...
, Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
.
The Bajamonti family has been mentioned for the first time in Split Registry Books at the beginning of the 18th century (1704) as owners of a very rich library collection. The first data about the library had been recorded by Julije Bajamonti
Julije Bajamonti
Julije Bajamonti was a medical historian, writer, translator, encyclopedist, historian, philosopher, and musician from the city of Split in present-day Croatia...
(Giulio Bajamonti) (1744–1800), registering that the big fire of 1787 had seriously damaged the collection. Until recently, the public has only been acquainted with a few titles preserved by the Split Archeological Museum Library.
Antonio Bajamonti
Antonio Bajamonti was a Dalmatian politician. Bajamonti's parents were Giuseppe Bajamonti and Helena Candido of Šibenik. He was one of the most successful mayors of Split...
(Split, 19 February 1822 - Split, 13 January 1891), who became mayor of Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
in 1860 for the Autonomist Party
Autonomist Party
The Autonomist Party was a political party in the Dalmatian political scene, that existed for around 70 years of the nineteenth century and until World War I. Its goal was to maintain the autonomy of the Kingdom of Dalmatia within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as opposed to the unification with the...
(pro-Italian) and - except for a brief interruption during the period 1864-65 - held the post for over two decades until 1880. Bajamonti was also a member of the Parliament of Dalmatia
Parliament of Dalmatia
The Diet of Dalmatia was the regional assembly of the Kingdom of Dalmatia within the Austro-Hungarian Empire...
(1861–91) and the Austrian Chamber of Deputies (1867–70 and 1873–79). He married Lujza Krušević.