Stamenti
Encyclopedia
The Stamenti was the parliament of Sardinia
, consisting of representatives of the three estates of the realm
. The term "stamenti" is the plural of "stamento", itself an Italianisation of the Spanish word "estamento", from "estar" ("to be"), and referring to an estate of the realm. The Sardinian parliament was divided into three traditional stamenti: the first estate (stamento ecclesiastico), the second estate (baronale) and the third estate (demaniale). It had the power to authorise taxation, although its powers were exectued by a commission of deputies after 1721 and it was abolished in the "perfect fusion
" of the Savoyard realm in 1847, replaced by the Subalpine Senate. It would be almost a hundred years before Sardinia received an autonomous parliament
again (1946).
In 1355 Peter IV
called a parliament of the Sard nobility in order to address the resistance to his rule of Judge Marianus IV of Arborea
, but the greater nobles refused to attend. This was nevertheless the first Sardinian parliament. Its role was formalised in a the constitution promulgated by Alfonso V
in 1421, after which it was convenede (semi-)regularly every ten years. In 1624–25 there was strong resistance in the Stamenti to the king's request for monies to pay for the ongoing Thirty Years' War
, resistance which was also met around the same time in the Parliament of England
and the Corts of Catalonia
.
The last time the Stamenti was convened under Spanish rule was in 1699, by Charles II
. During the tumultuous period from 1700 to 1720
, which include the War of the Spanish Succession
(1701–14) and of the Quadruple Alliance
(1718–20), it was not convened at all. In August 1720, Saint-Rémy, the viceroy of the new king, Victor Amadeus II of Savoy, called a meeting of the Stamenti to swear fealty to Victor Amadeus and approve taxes. Early in 1721 it was called upon again to approve emergency taxes to deal with an epidemic of bubonic plague
. This was the last time the Stamenti met. Thereafter only its commission of deputies was asked to authorise taxes, which it duly did every three years. This brought Sardinia in line with the other possessions of the House of Savoy
, save the Duchy of Aosta
, the last one where parliamentary approval was still required for raising monies.
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
, consisting of representatives of the three estates of the realm
Estates of the realm
The Estates of the realm were the broad social orders of the hierarchically conceived society, recognized in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period in Christian Europe; they are sometimes distinguished as the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and commoners, and are often referred to by...
. The term "stamenti" is the plural of "stamento", itself an Italianisation of the Spanish word "estamento", from "estar" ("to be"), and referring to an estate of the realm. The Sardinian parliament was divided into three traditional stamenti: the first estate (stamento ecclesiastico), the second estate (baronale) and the third estate (demaniale). It had the power to authorise taxation, although its powers were exectued by a commission of deputies after 1721 and it was abolished in the "perfect fusion
Perfect fusion
The Perfect Fusion was the 1847 act of King Charles Albert of Savoy which abolished the administrative differences between the constituent countries of the Kingdom of Sardinia, especially the governmental division between Sardinia and the mainland....
" of the Savoyard realm in 1847, replaced by the Subalpine Senate. It would be almost a hundred years before Sardinia received an autonomous parliament
Politics of Sardinia
The Politics of Sardinia, Italy takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democracy, whereby the President of Regional Government is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the Regional Government...
again (1946).
In 1355 Peter IV
Peter IV of Aragon
Peter IV, , called el Cerimoniós or el del punyalet , was the King of Aragon, King of Sardinia and Corsica , King of Valencia , and Count of Barcelona Peter IV, (Balaguer, September 5, 1319 – Barcelona, January 6, 1387), called el Cerimoniós ("the Ceremonious") or el del punyalet ("the one...
called a parliament of the Sard nobility in order to address the resistance to his rule of Judge Marianus IV of Arborea
Marianus IV of Arborea
Marianus IV , called the Great, was the Giudice of Arborea from 1347 to his death. He was, as his nickname indicates, the greatest sovereign of Arborea. He was a legislator and a warrior whose reign saw the commencement of massive codification of the laws of his realm and incessant warfare with the...
, but the greater nobles refused to attend. This was nevertheless the first Sardinian parliament. Its role was formalised in a the constitution promulgated by Alfonso V
Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso the Magnanimous KG was the King of Aragon , Valencia , Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica , and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples from 1442 until his death...
in 1421, after which it was convenede (semi-)regularly every ten years. In 1624–25 there was strong resistance in the Stamenti to the king's request for monies to pay for the ongoing Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
, resistance which was also met around the same time in the Parliament of England
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
and the Corts of Catalonia
Parliament of Catalonia
The Parliament of Catalonia is the unicameral legislature of Catalonia. It is formed by 135 members , who are elected every four years in ordinary period, or extraordinarily upon dissolution and call of elections by the President of Catalonia, by universal suffrage in proportional lists with four...
.
The last time the Stamenti was convened under Spanish rule was in 1699, by Charles II
Charles II of Spain
Charles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
. During the tumultuous period from 1700 to 1720
Kingdom of Sardinia (1700–1720)
From 1700 to 1720, the Kingdom of Sardinia, as a part of the Spanish empire, was disputed between two dynasties, the Habsburgs and the Bourbons. With the death of Charles II, the last of the Spanish Habsburgs, on 1 November 1700, the throne passed to Duke Philip of Anjou , although the Emperor...
, which include the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
(1701–14) and of the Quadruple Alliance
War of the Quadruple Alliance
The War of the Quadruple Alliance was a result of the ambitions of King Philip V of Spain, his wife, Elisabeth Farnese, and his chief minister Giulio Alberoni to retake territories in Italy and to claim the French throne. It saw the defeat of Spain by an alliance of Britain, France, Austria , and...
(1718–20), it was not convened at all. In August 1720, Saint-Rémy, the viceroy of the new king, Victor Amadeus II of Savoy, called a meeting of the Stamenti to swear fealty to Victor Amadeus and approve taxes. Early in 1721 it was called upon again to approve emergency taxes to deal with an epidemic of bubonic plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
. This was the last time the Stamenti met. Thereafter only its commission of deputies was asked to authorise taxes, which it duly did every three years. This brought Sardinia in line with the other possessions of the House of Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
, save the Duchy of Aosta
Duchy of Aosta
The Duchy of Aosta, originally the County of Aosta, was a state ruled by the House of Savoy from the early 11th century until the late 18th, when its independent institutions were aligned with those of the Principality of Piedmont. The title "Duke of Aosta" continued to be used by the second sons...
, the last one where parliamentary approval was still required for raising monies.