Taxation in Renaissance Sicily

Autor: Silvestri, Alessandro
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
the Sicilian parliament began periodically granting the Crown an amount of money (donativum
continuing the fiscal policy established in previous centuries. These revenues were higher by far than those from occasional direct collections of money (collette) because the Crown possessed a huge royal demesne (i.e
and incomes pertaining to the monarchy). This meant sovereigns received significant income generated by customs duties and tolls paid at the urban level
such as those imposed on the aristocracy
the ecclesiastical
local governments independently organized the distribution of the fiscal burden due for the donation among their citizens. The donation remained the fundamental fiscal tool through which the Crown raised direct income during the entire early modern era when Sicily was a member the Spanish empire. It used the monies to fund various wars
Sardinia
and the urban estates). In turn
although they suffered significant deterioration from the seventeenth century onward
the Crown obtained even larger sums from taxes on the wheat trade. A regular system of direct taxation was introduced in Sicily only in the mid-fifteenth century
the Principality of Barcelona
as well as the realm of Naples between 1442 and 1458 and then from 1504 onward. Under Alfonso V of Aragon (1416–58)
i.e
called the Magnanimous
and Valencia
as well as from various other levies
in particular
a group of parliamentary members called deputati [deputies] administered the revenue collection on behalf of parliament
and the island’s Jewish community. In addition to this
rulers were in constant need of income. They had to organize systems of direct taxation that ensured regular and expected revenues to supplement the irregular income from indirect taxes and levies of various origins. The fiscal development of the Kingdom of Sicily was not different from that of other Renaissance monarchies and republics
at the urban level
a few decades after the island lost its political independence (1409) and became a constituent member of the Crown of Aragon
Sicilian monarchs largely relied on indirect taxation
The Renaissance age was pivotal for the organization and development of European polities’ fiscal systems. Because of the increasing costs of war and bureaucracy
rulers were in constant need of income. They had to organize systems of direct taxation that ensured regular and expected revenues to supplement the irregular income from indirect taxes and levies of various origins. The fiscal development of the Kingdom of Sicily was not different from that of other Renaissance monarchies and republics
except for its late development of regular direct taxation. For a long time
Sicilian monarchs largely relied on indirect taxation
continuing the fiscal policy established in previous centuries. These revenues were higher by far than those from occasional direct collections of money (collette) because the Crown possessed a huge royal demesne (i.e.
towns
lands
and incomes pertaining to the monarchy). This meant sovereigns received significant income generated by customs duties and tolls paid at the urban level
as well as from various other levies
such as those imposed on the aristocracy
the church
and the island’s Jewish community. In addition to this
the Crown obtained even larger sums from taxes on the wheat trade. A regular system of direct taxation was introduced in Sicily only in the mid-fifteenth century
a few decades after the island lost its political independence (1409) and became a constituent member of the Crown of Aragon
a union of territories that also included the kingdoms of Aragon
Majorca
Sardinia
and Valencia
the Principality of Barcelona
as well as the realm of Naples between 1442 and 1458 and then from 1504 onward. Under Alfonso V of Aragon (1416–58)
called the Magnanimous
the Sicilian parliament began periodically granting the Crown an amount of money (donativum
i.e.
donation) in exchange for various demands on the king
de facto following the model of the Iberian parliamentary assemblies. This direct taxation allowed the monarch to receive a regular income as the donation was paid in instalments by the three estates that made up parliament (the baronial
the ecclesiastical
and the urban estates). In turn
a group of parliamentary members called deputati [deputies] administered the revenue collection on behalf of parliament
also precisely establishing the sum to be paid by the members of each estate
at the urban level
local governments independently organized the distribution of the fiscal burden due for the donation among their citizens. The donation remained the fundamental fiscal tool through which the Crown raised direct income during the entire early modern era when Sicily was a member the Spanish empire. It used the monies to fund various wars
in particular
the defense of Sicily from the Turkish threat. But even as the donation was regularized
revenues from indirect taxation remained the main source of the Crown’s income
although they suffered significant deterioration from the seventeenth century onward
a union of territories that also included the kingdoms of Aragon
Majorca
the church
lands
donation) in exchange for various demands on the king
The Renaissance age was pivotal for the organization and development of European polities’ fiscal systems. Because of the increasing costs of war and bureaucracy
de facto following the model of the Iberian parliamentary assemblies. This direct taxation allowed the monarch to receive a regular income as the donation was paid in instalments by the three estates that made up parliament (the baronial
the defense of Sicily from the Turkish threat. But even as the donation was regularized
revenues from indirect taxation remained the main source of the Crown’s income
except for its late development of regular direct taxation. For a long time
towns
also precisely establishing the sum to be paid by the members of each estate
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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