DALMATIAN PATRICIANS AND SOCIAL CHRISTIANITY. ON MEDIEVAL HOSPITALS OF RAB, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE HOSIPTAL PF THE BODY OF CHRIST AND ITS FOUNDER PETER DE ZARO

Na temelju analize četiriju oporuka i triju kodicila, koje je zapisao rapski kanonik i bilježnik Toma Stančić za jednog od najuglednijih rapskih patricija 15. stoljeća Petra de Zaro, autorica razmatra pitanje utemeljenja hospitala i bratovština kao izričaja tzv. »socijalnog kršćanstva« u kojem se kao osnova religioznosti ističu milosrđe i solidarnost prema potrebitima – bolesnima, starima i drugim osobama na marginama komunalnih društava na istočnoj obali Jadrana. Oporuke i kodicili Petra de Zaro, sastavljeni u razdoblju od 1450. do 1464. godine, izuzetno su zahvalna neobjavljena arhivska građa koja nam daje izravan uvid u religioznost jednog vrlo bogatog, a istodobno i obrazovanog i religioznog, patricija koji je imao toliko materijalno i novčano bogatstvo da je sam mogao utemeljiti hospital i oltar Tijela Kristova vezanih uz katedralnu crkvu sv. Marije u Rabu kao i religioznu bratovštinu u crkvi sv. Bernardina u Kamporu. Pored raščlambe podataka koji se odnose na hospital i bratovštinu, u radu se razmatra njihovo uređenje koje je Petar de Zaro vrlo detaljno razradio u svojim posljednjim voljama. Također se razmatra značenje blagdana i svetkovine Tijela Kristova u kasnom srednjem vijeku, problem siromaštva u Rabu te razvitak brige za siromašne i bolesne kao općenito poboljšanje zdravstvene kulture na Rabu u kasnom srednjem vijeku.Notarial books of Rab commune from the period of high and late Middle Ages are exceptionally well preserved. Namely, during that period several dozens of notaries were engaged by Rab authorities and their records represent one of the best preserved archival sources on the Eastern Adriatic coast. Unfortunately, majority of these records are still unpublished. Similarly, these documents are examined only by few scholars during the twentieth century, who consulted them regarding only certain historical questions and some issues concerning history of art. Consequently, this contribution also investigates only one segment of the history of Rab. Namely, author of this article analyzes and attempts to reconstruct some aspects of religious life of medieval inhabitants of Rab as a part of their daily life. The analysis is based on four testaments and three codicils, which were written for Peter de Zaro, one of the most prominent inhabitants of Rab. These documents were written by Thomas Stančić, contemporary prebendary and notary of Rab. Moreover, author analyzes last will of Peter’s wife Maria de Zaro, which was also recorded by Thomas Stančić. Beside records of Thomas Stančić, in the analysis author uses information from the notarial books of Andrew Fajeta, and some other notaries of Rab from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, too. Moreover, author has consulted relevant data from the Statute of Rab, canonical visitations and certain information from other eastern Adriatic communes, primarily as a comparative material. Focus of the analysis is put to the questions about foundation of the hospital and its relations to confraternities, as phenomena of “social Christianity”, which was characterized by charity and solidarity towards those in need – sick, old and others on the margins of the communal societies at the Eastern Adriatic coast. Last wills and codicils of Peter de Zaro, written in the period between 1450 and 1464, represent exceptionally useful archival material since they reveal an explicit insight to religiosity and social life of a considerably rich and educated patrician, whose wealth enabled him to establish hospital and altar of the Body of Christ (Corpus Christi) connected with the cathedral of St Mary in Rab and religious confraternity in the church of St Bernard in Kampor. Moreover, Author discusses relations between the hospital and the confraternity, and delivers a detailed examination of their organizational structures that can be found in the last wills of Peter de Zaro. By the same token, author discusses importance of Corpus Christy feast during the late Middle Ages, especially because Peter de Zaro was openly inclined to such kind of piety. Furthermore, author analyzes problem of poverty in Rab in respect of development of charity, together with the care for the poor and sick, and development of health care system in general during the late Middle Ages. At the end, it is important to note that, in spite of the endeavors of Peter de Zaro, the ultimate goal of his charity bequeaths was not accomplished. Namely, during the later centuries the trust he bequeathed did not remain prosperous and organized as it should, though the executors of the testaments and codicils, together with the prior of the hospital of the Body of Crist had reasonably clear instructions how the trust should be governed. Namely, records from canonical and bishopric visitations clearly show that the afore-mentioned institutions, which Peter de Zaro wanted to last in perpetuum, often were driven to the edge of poverty