Lordship in Late Medieval Italy

The authors reconstruct the geography of lordships throughout Italy, which was characterised in the late Middle Ages by an increase in seigneurial presence. They propose a typology of the various lordships and re-examine the classic theme of the relationship between states and lords. They then investigate the nature of the relationship between lords and subjects, with an emphasis on the pervasiveness and consensual nature of lordship, the theme of communalisation, and the economic meaning of lordships. Lastly, the article questions whether it is possible to identify a specific form of Italian lordship.