Historical development of the Hospitaller Commandery of San Giovanni Battista di Castrovillari in Calabria

Abstract

This dissertation reflects the study of the different historical aspects regarding the Hospitaller Commandery of San Giovanni Battista of Castrovillari. It shows the various estates, the income and other returns accrued from these estates as well as the style of management that was used for the administration of the Commandery. The geographical and environmental elements which formed part of the topography of the area are also important aspects which give an idea of the kind of territories and the agrarian way of life that were part of the Commandery of Castrovillari. Although this Commandery was not one of the important commanderies owned by the Order of St. John, yet it also helped increasing the revenue of the Common Treasury through the yearly responsions that it contributed to the Order. The orderly management of the Commandery as well as the religious services that were held in its churches helped in promulgating the relevance of the Order in the region of Calabria. The documents found in the ‘Miglioramenti’ especially, the ‘Cabrei’ and some ‘Scritture’ of the Priory of Capua give a clear picture of all that wen on in the Commandery during the early modern period and are very informative. In the dissertation the inventory of the estates and certain lists are in the style and format that I found in the Archives of the Order to remain as faithful as possible to the documents that I researched.