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The Crusades, the Genoese and the Latin East - DSpace at ...

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All <strong>the</strong> records th<strong>at</strong> contain such restrictions in <strong>the</strong> instructions to <strong>the</strong> travelling<br />

merchants begin by specifying <strong>the</strong> first destin<strong>at</strong>ion of <strong>the</strong> venture. From <strong>the</strong> first destin<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>the</strong><br />

merchants were given <strong>the</strong> permission to proceed wherever <strong>the</strong>y think best. <strong>The</strong>n <strong>the</strong> restrictions<br />

were inserted. For example, a <strong>Genoese</strong> merchant named Buonovassallo Cabella registered two<br />

contracts th<strong>at</strong> had such restrictions in 1203. Interestingly, <strong>the</strong> two travelling merchants were both<br />

instructed to travel to Alex<strong>and</strong>ria first on board <strong>the</strong> same ship called <strong>the</strong> Torexana. This in itself is<br />

quite a rare condition. Contracts from <strong>the</strong>se years usually specified ship names only in cases th<strong>at</strong><br />

involved pledges, particularly, sea-loans or maritime insurance. One of <strong>the</strong> travelling partners,<br />

Giovanni Sardo, is an extraordinary example of a slave who was sent on a venture. Ansaldo<br />

Rapallino, his master, allowed this journey to <strong>the</strong> east <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> commenda contract, <strong>the</strong>refore,<br />

specified th<strong>at</strong> it was signed 'jussu Ans<strong>and</strong>i (sic) Rapallini sui dominl' [my emphasis]. In th<strong>at</strong><br />

contract Buonovassallo instructed Giovanni to join Guglielmo Buccucio in Alex<strong>and</strong>ria <strong>and</strong> travel<br />

with him wherever he goes, except for <strong>the</strong> kingdom of Jerusalem <strong>and</strong> Byzantium. 174<br />

Vivaldo Rapallino Fabiano was <strong>the</strong> second merchant with whom Buonovassallo signed a<br />

contract. He was similarly instructed to sail on <strong>the</strong> Torexana to Alex<strong>and</strong>ria <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n his travel<br />

route became complic<strong>at</strong>ed because he had to proceed `quo sibi Deus aministraverit causa<br />

merc<strong>and</strong>i, excepto Ultramare et in Romania et in Siciliam. i175 <strong>The</strong>se two cases contained detailed<br />

instructions, including <strong>the</strong> name of <strong>the</strong> ship as well as <strong>the</strong> lists of prohibited destin<strong>at</strong>ions. Because<br />

both contracts were signed with <strong>the</strong> same residing merchant it seems likely th<strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong>se cases<br />

represent personal preferences. <strong>The</strong>y tell more about <strong>the</strong> personality of Buonovassallo de Cabella,<br />

<strong>the</strong> merchant who dict<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>the</strong> restrictions.<br />

In ano<strong>the</strong>r case, <strong>the</strong> detailed instructions seem to be rel<strong>at</strong>ed to <strong>the</strong> age of travelling<br />

merchants or <strong>the</strong>ir lack of experience. Guglielmo B<strong>at</strong>ifoglio signed two consecutive contracts in<br />

which he promised to travel to <strong>the</strong> kingdom of Jerusalem with two different residing merchants.<br />

In both records Guglielmo declared himself over twenty <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> time of <strong>the</strong> sign<strong>at</strong>ure. In addition,<br />

<strong>the</strong>re are also uncommon details specified, such as <strong>the</strong> freights taken abroad, <strong>the</strong>ir quantities <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>ir values. Guglielmo gained permission to continue from Ultramare to wherever he thought<br />

best; however, both contracts <strong>the</strong>n limit his decision making: `excepto in Romania et in Sicilian:<br />

et in stallo de Ultramare. '176 <strong>The</strong>re is no explan<strong>at</strong>ion in <strong>the</strong> text why <strong>the</strong>se destin<strong>at</strong>ions were<br />

prohibited. <strong>The</strong>re is also no more inform<strong>at</strong>ion provided to wh<strong>at</strong> was meant by `stallo de<br />

Ultramare. i177 <strong>The</strong> elabor<strong>at</strong>e details <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> list of prohibited destin<strong>at</strong>ions seem to suggest th<strong>at</strong> it<br />

174 GG, no. 649, from 20 September 1203.<br />

'" GG, no 661, from 20 September 1203.<br />

16 GG, nos. 694 695 from 21 September<br />

- 1203.<br />

"' <strong>The</strong>se two contracts are <strong>the</strong> only time this term was mentioned in <strong>the</strong> cartularies examined in this<br />

dissert<strong>at</strong>ion. David Jacoby suggested th<strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong>re is a misreading for S<strong>at</strong>alia, visited by <strong>Genoese</strong> since 1156 <strong>at</strong><br />

60

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