The Transmission of Wealth and Testamentary Freedom in Medieval Valencia as Reflected in Notarial Records: 1381-1450 (SP)

Abstract

This paper presents research conducted on a set of notarial documents from the 14th and first half of the 15th centuries. The information provided by 95 wills and codicils is systematically processed in order to put the focus on practices concerning last wills and testaments in late medieval Valencia, where the abolition of inalienable succession rights following a legal disposition by King Peter II in 1358 became a prominent feature. Last wills are contemplated as part of the chain of succession within the family that started at the time of the marriage of children and involved quantitative assessments regarding the fair allotment of bequests, all of which helped to establish the underlying concept and mentality of the family institution in medieval Valencian society.