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ITALIANO: L’estrema ricchezza della documentazione genovese e ligure permette di affrontare il tema della dote, patrimonio femminile per eccellenza, a partire da una cronologia molto alta, subito a ridosso dell’abolizione della tercia che, come ben noto, innesca un processo di deterioramento dei diritti patrimoniali femminili. Il saggio prende in considerazione il nesso tradote e matrimonio, sottolineando come non vi è, almeno fino alla fine del periodo qui preso in considerazione, un modo per certificare con assoluta sicurezza la validità dell’unione matrimoniale. Segue una discussione sull’evoluzione della normativa che regola la dote, semprein bilico tra protezione ed esclusione. Molta attenzione è prestata all’informazione che ricaviamo dagli atti della prassi: dalla costituzione della dote e dalle strategie familiari e coniugali ad essa connesse, alla fluidità del fondo dotale, che può anche essere aumentato (augmentumdotis) o trasformato, alla difficoltà delle donne a riottenere le loro spettanze una volta raggiunta la vedovanza. Quello che emerge è un quadro molto complesso a testimonianza dell’estrema varietà delle situazioni e della duttilità dell’istituto della dote. / ENGLISH: The rich and varied extant Genoese and Ligurian sources enable to consider the dowry from as early as the second half of the twelfth century, immediately after the abolition of the tercia, which, as is well known, is the first step in the process of deterioration of women's property rights observable in the late medieval Italian communes. The essay considers the link between dowry and marriage, highlighting that at least until the end of the period considered here no clear way existed that could guarantee with absolute certainty the validity of a marriage. A discussion on the evolution of the law governing dowry, perfectly balanced between protection and exclusion, ensues. Much attention is devoted to the information obtained from the acts of practice: from the constitution of dowry, and the family and conjugal strategies it entailed, to the fluidity of the dotal fund, which could be increased (augmentum dotis) or transformed, to the difficulties endured by widows reclaiming their dowries. A very complex picture emerges, testifying to the extreme variety of situations and the flexibility of the dowry.

ITALIANO: Nei secoli qui considerati si riscontrano limitazioni alla gestione delle proprie sostanze: in primo luogo, l’obbligo per le donne di farsi accompagnare da due consiglieri (consiliatores) ogni qualvolta vi sia la necessità di redigere un atto notarile. Tuttavia possiamo intuire che questa imposizione non è necessariamente sintomo di mancanza di autonomia, vuoi perché tale obbligo non è sempre rispettato, vuoi perché spesso quella dei consiliatores è una presenza pro forma. Si aprono così diverse possibilità per le donne che possono, in assenza di pressioni, scegliere come indirizzare i loro capitali. Il saggio illustra queste differenti modalità di gestione: l’investimento in immobili (spesso frutto di strategie familiari), nel commercio a lungo raggio o nelle attività artigiane, o ancora inserendosi nel mercato creditizio cittadino. L’ampia casistica qui esaminata mostra donne di elevata ma talora di umile estrazione sociale, mettendo in rilievo le variegate strategie che le donne adottano per aumentare il proprio (anche molto esiguo) patrimonio. / ENGLISH: During the period considered here limitations existed to the direct management of female property: first and foremost, women were obliged to draw up notarial deeds in presence of two legal guardians (consiliatores). This obligation, however, does not necessarily imply a lack of autonomy, either because this prescription was not always respected, or because very often the presence of legal guardians was a mere formality. It follows that in the absence of pressure by family members, women could choose how to invest any disposable income they had. The essay illustrates the different ways through which women could manage their property: by investing in real estate (often the result of family strategies), in long-distance trade or artisan activities, or even by entering the urban credit market. The many cases examined here show women from the upper echelons, but also those from a very humble social background, highlighting the varied strategies they could adopt in order to increase their (at times even paltry) estates.

International audience; The article provides an overview of the collection of studies which focus on the management of family assets by women in twelfth- and thirteenth-century Liguria. The articles gathered here have enabled to chart a chronology of the developments elucidating the extent to which law matched practice as well as regional differences. Moreover, the topics considered have underscored the many opportunities that existed and the role of women in family alliances and strategies. The volume represents a solid foundation for future studies on gender and family from a perspective.; Il contributo chiude la raccolta di studi dedicata alla gestione dei beni familiari da parte delle donne in Liguria nei secoli XII e XIII. Grazie agli articoli qui presentati si è potuta tratteggiare in primo luogo una cronologia degli sviluppi che mette in evidenza sia lo scarto tra norma e prassi sia le differenze all’interno della regione. Le ricerche permettono di apprezzare l’ampio ventaglio di possibilità come anche il ruolo delle donne nelle alleanze e strategie familiari. Il volume si presta così a diventare una solida base per le future ricerche su genere e famiglia in una prospettiva di lunga durata

ITALIANO: Il saggio ricostruisce le vicende di tre donne dell’aristocrazia cittadina mettendo a fuoco il loro ruolo nella gestione del patrimonio delle loro famiglie. La prima, Mabilia de Lecavelis, è una giovane vedova che cerca di ricompattare il patrimonio immobiliare del gruppo parentale del marito con l’obiettivo di rafforzare la posizione dell’unico figlio maschio. Aimelina di Guglielmo Rataldo, che possiamo osservare negli stessi anni, è figlia di un facoltoso mercante, che viene concessa in sposa a Fulco de Castello, rampollo di un’importante famiglia consolare.Il testamento di quest’ultimo e alcuni altri documenti che mostrano i due coniugi agire insieme, sembrano indicare che tra i due si instauri un rapporto di sincero affetto. Del tutto peculiare il caso di Simona comitissa Fieschi, osservabile nel suo ruolo di tutrice dei nipoti dopo la morte del figlio, che sul finire del Duecento cerca di portare avanti la decisione del figlio defunto di negare a uno dei nipoti, un religioso, la sua porzione di eredità. Da questi tre medaglioni emerge chiaramente come le donne contribuiscano a rafforzare il progetto patrimoniale delle famiglie che le accolgono. / ENGLISH: The essay reconstructs the stories of three aristocratic women by focusing on their role in managing their families’ estates. The first, Mabilia de Lecavelis, is a young widow who tries to reassemble the real estate property of her husband’s parental group with the aim of strengthening the position of her only son. Aimelina, daughter of Guglielmo Rataldo, whom we can observe in the same years, hails from a family of merchants and is given in marriage to Fulco de Castello, scion of an important consular family. The will of the latter, and other documents that show the two spouses acting in unison, suggest that the two were bound by sincere affection. The case of Simona comitissa Fieschi, is peculiar: attested as guardian of her grandchildren towards the end of the thirteenth century, she tries to fulfil her deceased son’s decision to deny one of his descendants, a Church man, his portion of the inheritance. These three cases show clearly how women played an active part in strengthening the patrimonial projects of the families they married into.

The article provides an overview of the collection of studies which focus on the management of family assets by women in twelfth- and thirteenth-century Liguria. The articles gathered here have enabled to chart a chronology of the developments elucidating the extent to which law matched practice as well as regional differences. Moreover, the topics considered have underscored the many opportunities that existed and the role of women in family alliances and strategies. The volume represents a solid foundation for future studies on gender and family from a perspective.

During the period considered here limitations existed to the direct management of female property: first and foremost, women were obliged to draw up notarial deeds in presence of two legal guardians (consiliatores). This obligation, however, does not necessarily imply a lack of autonomy, either because this prescription was not always respected, or because very often the presence of legal guardians was a mere formality. It follows that in the absence of pressure by family members, women could choose how to invest any disposable income they had. The essay illustrates the different ways through which women could manage their property: by investing in real estate (often the result of family strategies), in long-distance trade or artisan activities, or even by entering the urban credit market. The many cases examined here show women from the upper echelons, but also those from a very humble social background, highlighting the varied strategies they could adopt in order to increase their (at times even paltry) estates.

The essay reconstructs the stories of three aristocratic women by focusing on their role in managing their families’ estates. The first, Mabilia de Lecavelis, is a young widow who tries to reassemble the real estate property of her husband’s parental group with the aim of strengthening the position of her only son. Aimelina, daughter of Guglielmo Rataldo, whom we can observe in the same years, hails from a family of merchants and is given in marriage to Fulco de Castello, scion of an important consular family. The will of the latter, and other documents that show the two spouses acting in unison, suggest that the two were bound by sincere affection. The case of Simona comitissa Fieschi, is peculiar: attested as guardian of her grandchildren towards the end of the thirteenth century, she tries to fulfil her deceased son’s decision to deny one of his descendants, a Church man, his portion of the inheritance. These three cases show clearly how women played an active part in strengthening the patrimonial projects of the families they married into.

The essay reconstructs the stories of three aristocratic women by focusing on their role in managing their families’ estates. The first, Mabilia de Lecavelis, is a young widow who tries to reassemble the real estate property of her husband’s parental group with the aim of strengthening the position of her only son. Aimelina, daughter of Guglielmo Rataldo, whom we can observe in the same years, hails from a family of merchants and is given in marriage to Fulco de Castello, scion of an important consular family. The will of the latter, and other documents that show the two spouses acting in unison, suggest that the two were bound by sincere affection. The case of Simona comitissa Fieschi, is peculiar: attested as guardian of her grandchildren towards the end of the thirteenth century, she tries to fulfil her deceased son’s decision to deny one of his descendants, a Church man, his portion of the inheritance. These three cases show clearly how women played an active part in strengthening the patrimonial projects of the families they married into.

The rich and varied extant Genoese and Ligurian sources enable to consider the dowry from as early as the second half of the twelfth century, immediately after the abolition of the tercia, which, as is well known, is the first step in the process of deterioration of women's property rights observable in the late medieval Italian communes. The essay considers the link between dowry and marriage, highlighting that at least until the end of the period considered here no clear way existed that could guarantee with absolute certainty the validity of a marriage. A discussion on the evolution of the law governing dowry, perfectly balanced between protection and exclusion, ensues. Much attention is devoted to the information obtained from the acts of practice: from the constitution of dowry, and the family and conjugal strategies it entailed, to the fluidity of the dotal fund, which could be increased (augmentum dotis) or transformed, to the difficulties endured by widows reclaiming their dowries. A very complex picture emerges, testifying to the extreme variety of situations and the flexibility of the dowry.