ACTA HISTRIAE
32, 2024, 4
UDK/UDC 94(05) ISSN 1318-0185ACTA HISTRIAE 32, 2024, 4, pp. 459-694
UDK/UDC 94(05) 
Zgodovinsko društvo za južno Primorsko - Koper
Società storica del Litorale - Capodistria
ACTA HISTRIAE
32, 2024, 4
KOPER 2024
ISSN 1318-0185
e-ISSN 2591-1767
ACTA HISTRIAE • 32 • 2024 • 4
ISSN 1318-0185                UDK/UDC 94(05)             Letnik 32, leto 2024, številka 4
e-ISSN 2591-1767
Darko Darovec
Gorazd Bajc, Furio Bianco (IT), Flavij Bonin, Paolo Broggio (IT), Stuart Carroll (UK), Àngel Casals 
Martínez (ES), Alessandro Casellato (IT), Dragica Čeč, Lovorka Čoralić (HR), Darko Darovec, Marco 
Fincardi (IT), Darko Friš, Aleksej Kalc, Borut Klabjan, Urška Lampe, Amanda Madden (USA), John 
Martin (USA), Robert Matijašić (HR), Aleš Maver, Darja Mihelič, Edward Muir (USA), Jeppe Büchert 
Netterstrøm (DK), Žiga Oman, Egon Pelikan, Luciano Pezzolo (IT), Jože Pirjevec, Claudio Povolo (IT), 
Marijan Premović (MNE), Colin Rose (CA), Luca Rossetto (IT), Vida Rožac Darovec, Tamara Scheer 
(AT), Polona Tratnik, Boštjan Udovič, Marta Verginella, Nancy M. Wingfield (USA), Salvator Žitko.
Žiga Oman, Urška Lampe, Boštjan Udovič, Jasmina Rejec
Cecilia Furioso Cenci (it.), Žiga Oman (angl.)
Žiga Oman (angl., slo.), Cecilia Furioso Cenci (it.)
Zgodovinsko društvo za južno Primorsko - Koper / Società storica del Litorale - Capodistria© 
/ Inštitut IRRIS za raziskave, razvoj in strategije družbe, kulture in okolja / Institute IRRIS for 
Research, Development and Strategies of Society, Culture and Environment / Istituto IRRIS 
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Zgodovinsko društvo za južno Primorsko, SI-6000, Koper-Capodistria, Garibaldijeva 18 
/ Via Garibaldi 18, e-mail: actahistriae@gmail.com; https://zdjp.si/en/p/actahistriae/
Založništvo PADRE d.o.o.
300 izvodov/copie/copies
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Republike Slovenije / Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
Skalne poslikave v Hekimdere pri vasi Çiçekli v okrožju İkizdere v provinci 
Rize v Turčiji / Pitture rupestri a Hekimdere, vicino al villaggio di Çiçekli, 
nel distretto di İkizdere della provincia di Rize in Turchia / Hekimdere 
Rock Depictions near the village of Çiçekli in the İkizdere district of the 
Rize province inTürkiye (foto/photo: Okay Pekşen, 2022).
Redakcija te številke je bila zaključena 15. decembra 2024.
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ACTA HISTRIAE • 32 • 2024 • 4
Volume 32, Koper 2024, issue 4UDK/UDC 94(05) ISSN 1318-0185
e-ISSN 2591-1767
VSEBINA / INDICE GENERALE / CONTENTS
Okay Pekşen & Yasin Topaloğlu: A New Rock 
Art Area in Anatolia: Hekimdere Rock Depictions ................................................
Una nuova area di arte rupestre in Anatolia: le pitture rupestri di Hekimdere
Novo območje skalne umetnosti v Anatoliji: skalne upodobitve v Hekimdere
Marija Mogorović Crljenko & Danijela Doblanović Šuran: 
Households in the Rovinj Census of 1595/6 ...........................................................
Le famiglie secondo il censimento di Rovigno del 1595/6
Gospodinjstva po rovinjskem popisu prebivalstva iz let 1595/1596
Jurij Perovšek: Kulturnobojni značaj Jutra v dvajsetih 
letih 20. stoletja – kritični premisleki .....................................................................
La lotta culturale di Jutro negli anni venti del XX secolo – 
riflessioni critiche
The Cultural-Struggle Character of Jutro in the 1920s – 
Critical Reflections
Gorazd Bajc, Tomaž Hvala & Darko Friš: 
Prispevek k biografiji Franca Snoja – ameriška leta, 1941–1943 ............................
Contributo alla biografia di Franc Snoj – il periodo americano, 1941–1943
Contribution to the Biography of Franc Snoj – American Years, 1941–1943
Tomaž Čelig: Prispevek k poznavanju sovjetskih vojaškopolitičnih 
groženj in pomoči Zahoda Jugoslaviji v obdobju 1948–1951 ................................
Contributo alla conoscenza delle minacce politico-militari sovietiche e 
dell’assistenza dell’Occidente alla Jugoslavia nel periodo 1948–1951
Contribution to the Understanding of Soviet Military-Political 
Threats and Western Aid to Yugoslavia in the Period 1948–1951
Petra Grabrovec, Špela Chomicki & Tomaž Kladnik: 
Dogajanje na območju Haloz v obdobju vojne za obrambo 
suverenosti Republike Slovenije leta 1991  ............................................................
Gli avvenimenti nella regione di Haloze durante la guerra per 
la difesa della sovranità della Repubblica di Slovenia nel 1991
Events in the Haloze Region During the War for the Defence of the 
Sovereignty of the Republic of Slovenia in 1991
459
495
521
631
559
607
ACTA HISTRIAE • 32 • 2024 • 4
Milena Dževerdanović Pejović: Maritime Archetypes of 
Montenegrin Women: Heroism and Solitude .........................................................
Gli archetipi del rapporto tra la donna montenegrina 
e il mare: eroismo e solitudine
Pomorski arhetipi črnogorskih žensk: junaštvo in samota
POROČILA
RELAZIONI
REPORTS
Veronika Kos: Symposium Report on Violence, Justice and 
Reconciliation in the Mediterranean of the Three Religions:
 Peacemaking in the Christian, Muslim and Jewish Context
(16th–19th Century), 14–15 November 2024, Rome ..............................................
Angelika Ergaver: Conference Report on Facing Foreigners in 
Urban Early Modern Europe: Legislation, Deliberation, 
Practice, 27–29 November 2024, Maribor ..............................................................
657
683
687
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HOUSEHOLDS IN THE ROVINJ CENSUS OF 1595/6
Marija MOGOROVIĆ CRLJENKO
Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Humanities, Aldo Negri 6, 52100 Pula, Croatia
e-mail: mmogorov@unipu.hr
Danijela DOBLANOVIĆ ŠURAN
Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Humanities, Aldo Negri 6, 52100 Pula, Croatia
e-mail: ddoblanovic@unipu.hr
ABSTRACT
This paper continues the analysis of the first known census of Rovinj from 1595/6. 
It examines the size and type of households, as well as the number of children within 
them. Households were analyzed in terms of their composition and number. The 
analysis revealed that the most common households were simple ones, consisting of a 
married couple (or a widow/widower) and their children, while multiple households 
with two married couples living under the same roof were very rare. Additionally, 
the census included household support staff and animals. The paper explores which 
households had specific types of support staff, the relationship between the presence 
of auxiliary staff and the animals related to a household, and whether auxiliary staff 
were more common in council families or others.
Key words: Rovinj, Istria, census 1595/6, population
LE FAMIGLIE SECONDO IL CENSIMENTO DI ROVIGNO DEL 1595/6
SINTESI
Il presente contributo continua l’analisi del primo censimento noto di Rovinj/
Rovigno del 1595/6. Esso esamina le dimensioni e il tipo di nuclei familiari, nonché il 
numero di bambini al loro interno. Le famiglie sono state analizzate in termini di com-
posizione e numero di membri. Lo studio ha rivelato che i nuclei familiari più comuni 
erano quelli semplici, composti da una coppia sposata (o da un/a vedovo/a) e dai loro 
figli, mentre erano molto rare le famiglie multiple, comprendenti due coppie sposate 
che vivevano sotto lo stesso tetto. Inoltre, il censimento include il personale ausiliario 
e gli animali. Vengono analizzati diversi tipi di relazione: la presenza di personale 
ausiliario nelle varie famiglie, il rapporto tra il personale ausiliario e gli animali e la 
presenza di personale ausiliario nelle famiglie dei consiglieri rispetto alle rimanenti.
Parole chiave: Rovigno, Istria, censimento del 1595/6, popolazione
Received: 2024-07-23                                                   D I 10.19233/AH.2024.21
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INTRODUCTION1
Rovinj/Rovigno is situated on a stretch of land that was once an islet off the gentle 
Istrian coast, later connected to the mainland by a dike. Together with Pula/Pola and 
Poreč/Parenzo, Rovinj served as a vital stop along the Adriatic crossing from Venice, 
forming part of the maritime route down the Eastern Adriatic toward the Mediterra-
nean. By the late fifteenth century, Rovinj was thriving and expanding in every way, 
experiencing demographic growth from the Late Middle Ages through to the end of the 
early modern period (Mlacović, Mogorović Crljenko & Doblanović Šuran, 2019, 158).
In the first part of our study (Mogorović Crljenko & Doblanović Šuran, 2024), 
we gave a description of the oldest known population census of Rovinj from 1595/6, 
talked about its credibility, analyzed the structure of households, the number of chil-
dren, domestic staff in households, and the animals (species, number, and owners) 
that were recorded in the mentioned census. In this work, also based on data from the 
Rovinj census of 1595/6, we analyze the origin of the population based on surnames, 
i.e. adjectives appearing in the mentioned census, then the titles of household heads, 
households of councilor families and names of household heads.
Let us recall that in the nineteenth century the census was stored in the Municipal 
Archives of Rovinj (Archivio Municipale di Rovigno) under the title Rovigno 1595 
Descrittione di tutti gli abitanti di Rovigno et di animali (Benussi, 1886, 138). To-
day, this census, along with others from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, 
is preserved in the State Archives in Rijeka (DARI-284, book (hereafter: b.) 1. The 
census consists of 56 numbered pages, with this note written on the last page: Tratta 
dal Volume civile del N. H. S. [nobil homo signor] Giacomo Minotto fu podestà Pre-
cessore essistente in questo pubblico Archivio di Rovigno. Florio Spongia Nodaro 
Pubblico e Vice Archivista. The first 60 entries are dated 1595 and the rest of the 
census is dated March 31, 1596. However, it is certain that the census (i.e., the rest of 
the census) could not have been conducted in a single day, so it is more likely that the 
census lasted for a time and that in the end the date of its completion was recorded.2
HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND COMPOSITION
In the census were recorded 539 households, and the analysis will show what 
kind of households prevailed in Rovinj at the end of the sixteenth century.
Although the birth-rate was high in the pre-modern period, with maximum 
advantage taken of women’s fertile years, households were ultimately not very 
large. This was primarily due to the high mortality rate for both infants and 
1 This paper was co-funded by the Croatian Science Foundation under project no. IP-2019-04-2055 
“Topography of Power: Eastern Adriatic Cities in Medieval Spheres of Power” (TOPOS) and Insti-
tutional project of Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Humanities: “Population of Rovinj in 
the Early Modern Period.”
2 Cf. the Introduction in Mogorović Crljenko and Doblanović Šuran (2024).
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young children, particularly during their first and up to their fifth year of life. 
Raising children to adulthood was generally challenging, because many diseases, 
particularly those affecting the stomach and intestines, such as severe diarrhea, 
posed significant threats. These health issues often led to widespread mortality, 
exacerbated by poverty and hunger. Miroslav Bertoša noted that raising a child was 
often an expensive “investment” and that the death of a child caused less trauma 
than the death of a head of livestock, whose loss could jeopardize an entire family’s 
survival (Bertoša, 1995, 722–723; 2002, 315–316). This situation was also evident 
in Rovinj, as indicated by the Rovinj baptismal and death registers from that period 
(Drandić, 2020). The census data reveals that Rovinj families were not very large: 
61.2% of households had 2–5 members, 32.3% had 6–9 members, and only 2.8% of 
households had more than 10 members (cf. Tables 3 and 4). A similar trend is ob-
served in the 1596 census for Novigrad/Cittanova, Brtonigla/Verteneglio, and Tar/
Torre (Mogorović Crljenko, 2006, 67–68). It is important to note that household 
members included not only blood relatives but also domestic staff.
The census of 1595/6 reveals various household structures that align with 
the standard classifications of nuclear, extended and multiple families, as well 
as single and unstructured households. Within these broad categories, several 
subcategories may be distinguished. Among nuclear households, there are those 
consisting solely of a married couple, those with a married couple and their 
children, and those of widowers or widows with their children. Each of these can 
further be divided into households with and without domestic staff. Similarly, the 
census identifies extended households. These include households consisting of 
a married couple with children and other relatives (in most cases with the mar-
ried couple and their children lives also the head of the household mother or his 
brothers and sisters, nephews, etc.), a married couple without children but with 
other relatives, a widower or widow with children and relatives, and a widower 
or widow without children but with relatives. Each of these configurations can 
also include domestic staff. Multiple households are also recorded, consisting two 
married couples with or without children, or a married couple with or without 
children living with a widower or widow with children. Finally, the census lists 
single households and unstructured households.
An analysis of household structure in Rovinj at the end of the sixteenth 
century reveals that nuclear families predominated, account for 77.7% of house-
holds. Among these nuclear families, the most common configuration was a 
married couple with children, and possibly domestic staff. Extended families 
accounted for 13.7% of households, while multiple families (2.6%), single 
households (3.7%), and unstructured households (2.2%) were extremely few 
(Tables 4 and 5). This household structure aligns with the broader Mediter-
ranean context. A nuclear family, consisting of one married couple and their 
children, and occasionally servants, was typical among the lower social strata, 
particularly craftsmen and merchants. Conversely, the multiple family was 
ideal among the upper social classes, who aimed to preserve their patrimony. 
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In such families, sons inherited the family business, often based on consistent 
sources of wealth, such as trade. Among poorer commoners, including artisans, 
merchants, and sailors—who generally relied on their own labor—the nuclear 
family structure was prevalent (Janeković Römer, 1994, 21–29).
Hajnal proposed a cultural division of European space based on demographic 
behavior and family and household formation (Hajnal, 1965; 1982, 449–452). He 
identified two primary marriage patterns: a “Western” or “European” model and 
an “Eastern” or “non-European” model (Hajnal, 1965). In the European model, 
the nuclear family is predominant, and individuals marry later. This pattern is 
most common in northwestern Europe, including the Scandinavian countries 
(excluding Finland but including Iceland), the British Isles, the Netherlands, 
northern France, and German-speaking regions (Hajnal, 1982, 449–450).
Peter Laslett analyzed family structure typologies within a spatial framework, 
dividing Europe into four macro-regions: Western, West-central, Mediterranean, 
and Eastern (Laslett, 1983, 513–563; Sovič, Thane & Viazzo, 2016, 3). In the 
1990s, these geographical determinants were completely overcome. David Kertzer 
concluded that “the whole enterprise of branding major areas of Europe as having 
a particular type of household system” was ultimately misleading (Kertzer, 1991, 
155–179). asna Čapo Žmegač emphasised that 
the proposed regional generalizations simplify reality by overlooking complexities 
and differences in space (regional differences), in time (different historical periods) 
and in socio-economic circumstances (within regions) (Čapo Žmegač, 1996, 187). 
It should be noted that French family historians and historical demographers 
have never regarded geography as a distinguishing factor in their analyses 
(Čapo Žmegač, 1996, 187–188). The example of Dubrovnik is both important 
and significant in this case. Although Dubrovnik functioned as a micro-region, it 
exhibited a diversity of family models that challenges the geographical criteria 
proposed by Hajnal and Laslett. Differences in family structures are evident 
across various dimensions: urban versus rural areas, islands versus mainland, 
social and economic status (nobility, craftsmen, farmers), and religious affiliation 
(Catholics, Orthodox, Jews) (Stipetić & Vekarić, 2004, 108–109). Family struc-
ture varies with time and demographic trends, is influenced by economic factors, 
and represents only one phase in the family life cycle (Herlihy & Klapisch-Zuber, 
1985, 290–319; Janeković Römer, 1989, 173). For instance, in the household 
of 26-year-old Antonio Sponza, his wife and son lived with him, along with his 
mother and his 16-year-old brother (DARI, b. 1, Census 1595/6, p. 32). At the 
time of the census, this household was an extended family, which may have been 
a multiple family unit when Antonio’s father, Francesco, was alive. In a few 
years, however, following his mother’s passing or his brother’s marriage, it could 
become either a simple or multiple family household again.
The Rovinj census 1595/6 clearly reflects the predominance of nuclear 
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households in Rovinj, characterized by spouses and their children living under 
the same roof. Most two-member households were nuclear families; in 50.9% 
(28 out of 55) of cases, they consisted of spouses, while 40% consisted of a 
widower or widow with one child (18 widows and 4 widowers). Households 
with 3 to 6 members were the most common, accounting for two-thirds (67.2%) 
of all households and accommodating 62.5% of the individuals recorded in the 
census. Three-member households often represented the initial stage of family 
life, although they could also indicate various other stages of family develop-
ment. This is suggested by the average age of the heads of three-member house-
holds, which is almost five years younger than the average age of all household 
heads. The census typically recorded the age of male household heads, with the 
overall average age being approximately 41.3 years, while for three-member 
households, it was 36.8 years. A significant proportion of three-member house-
holds consisted of spouses with one child (63%, or 52 out of 82), widowers 
with children (9.75%, or 8 out of 82), and widows with children (20.7%, or 
17 out of 82). Among four-person households, the most common configuration 
was spouses with children (62.2%, or 61 out of 98), followed by widows with 
children (23.5%, or 23 out of 98), and widowers with children (3 out of 98).
Two-thirds of five-member households consisted of spouses with children 
(63 out of 95) or one spouse with children (11 widows and one widower). The 
census recorded a slightly more than a dozen (11.6%, 11 out of 95) extended 
families (in addition to spouses and the household head’s mother, brother, sister, 
or mother-in-law).
The nuclear family also prevailed in six-member households, where 62% 
(54 out of 87) consisted of spouses and their children) and 12.6% widows and 
widowers with children (8 widows, 3 widowers) and possible servants.
Seven-member households also mostly consisted of nuclear families, 
spouses and children or surviving spouses and children (75.7%: 2 widowers 
with children and 26 couples with children). Almost 80% of eight-member 
households also consisted of nuclear families: 3 widows with seven children 
and 20 married couples with children and possible servants (23 out of 29). 
Among the nine-member households, only one was multiple (the owner and his 
wife with children, the owner’s son with his wife and children), while the rest 
were nuclear, with spouses and children (17) and sometimes servants (3 cases). 
It is interesting to note that there are fewer female household heads as the 
number of household members increases (Tables 2 and 7).
Censuses from this period are exceptionally rare. However, those that have been 
preserved and analyzed indicate a similar trend across other Istrian areas, where 
nuclear families were predominant. For instance, they accounted for a significant 
portion (90,9%) in Novigrad in 1596 (DAPA-4, b. 41, f. 675–681; Mogorović Cr-
ljenko, 2006, 30–31, 67–68) and 77.7% in Savičenta in 1613 (Doblanović, 2017, 
123). Jasna Čapo Žmegač (1996, 191) suggested that socio-economic differentia-
tion likely explains the prevalence of simple (nuclear) households among urban 
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populations, while complex households were more common in nearby villages. 
Yet, Savičenta stands out from this pattern, as nuclear families dominated both 
in the town center and in the surrounding villages on the Grimani family’s rural 
Venetian estate (Doblanović, 2017, 123).
In towns and cities along the eastern Adriatic coast, previous research 
indicates that nuclear families were predominant especially among members 
of the lower social strata, small craftsmen and merchants (Janeković Römer, 
1994, 22–25; Mogorović Crljenko, 2006, 67–68). Occasionally, multiple-family 
households appeared among the upper classes—for instance, in Dubrovnik and 
certain Istrian cities like Poreč (Janeković Römer, 1989, 173–175; 1994, 25–39; 
Uljančić, 2019, 64). However, most common citizens lived in nuclear families. 
Given that the commoners in Istrian towns worked as farmers, fishermen, and 
various types of craftsmen, it is challenging to attribute the prevalence of nu-
clear families to any specific economic activity (Mlacović, Mogorović Crljenko 
& Doblanović Šuran, 2019, 163; Mogorović Crljenko, 2019, 190–197).
It is clear that in medieval and early modern Istria, the population was pre-
dominantly poor, meaning that most people—from the upper social classes to 
the lower—had to work to earn their livelihood (cf. Bertoša, 1995, 304–413, 
722–724; Mogorović Crljenko, 2012a, 107–122, 249–250). This implies that 
people could not rely on inherited wealth to sustain them and instead depended 
on their own labor.
This is indirectly supported by the institution of the Istrian marriage pattern, 
which was the most common form of marriage, alongside the coexisting Slavic 
pattern and, to a much lesser extent, the Venatian marriage pattern. This practice 
was outlined in the statutes of Istrian towns (municipal codes). In the Istrian 
marriage pattern, the couple agreed on the property each would bring into the 
marriage. They managed this property together during the marriage (neither 
spouse could sell any property, particularly real estate, without the consent of 
the other), and upon the death of one spouse, the surviving spouse inherited 
half of the deceased’s property (cf. Margetić, 1970, 279–308; 1996, 64–99; 
Mogorović Crljenko, 2006, 15–38; 2012b, 21–29).
It is also worth noting that the households with animals (149) were predomi-
nantly simple family structures (spouses and children, spouses without children 
or widows with children), only they mostly had support staff (111 out of 149 
were nuclear families), as shown below.
Children
Despite the high child mortality rate, children accounted for a significant 
portion of the population in the pre-modern period, and Rovinj was no excep-
tion. Determining the threshold age to classify someone as a child or adult 
during this period is crucial. Typically, this would constitute the point at which 
children come of age, allowing them to marry or become emancipated. Accord-
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ing to canon law, girls reached this age at 12 and boys at 14. Secular codes gen-
erally aligned with these ages, as evidenced by most Istrian statutes (municipal 
codes), which set the age of majority for girls between 12 and 14 and for boys 
at 14 or 15. Some statutes stipulated these ages as the minimum for marriage, 
but stated that young people could not dispose of assets until a later age, with 
some statutes setting this at 18 (Mogorović Crljenko, 2006, 85–88). An earlier 
census for Novigrad from 1538 lists only men, starting from the age of 15 
onwards (DAPA-4, b. 41, f. 309–312). Consequently, the age range between 14 
and 18 can be seen as a transitional phase. During this period, individuals living 
in a household with their parents who were not yet emancipated, i.e., not yet 
married, were still considered children.
According to the census, children under the age of 10 constituted nearly 
a third (29%) of Rovinj’s population. Children aged 10 to 13 accounted for 
10.4%, and those aged 14 to 17 accounted for 9.6%. Therefore, 39.6% of the 
population was under the age of 14, and nearly half (49.1%) were under the 
age of 18. The census data for Novigrad, Brtonigla, and Tar from the same year 
(1596) show similar results. In Novigrad, children made up 45.85% of the popu-
lation, in Brtonigla 48.16%, and in Tar 45.16% (Mogorović Crljenko, 2006, 88). 
However, in these records, children are not categorized by age or gender but are 
listed collectively in a column labelled putti. Consequently, it is impossible to 
determine the percentages of children in different age groups or whether this 
information pertains to those under 14 or under 18. For comparison, in Tuscany 
during the first half of the fifteenth century—about 150 years before the Rovinj 
census—children under the age of 15 made up 36% of the population (Klapisch-
Zuber, 1987, 98–99).
Domestic staff
Servants were recorded in 7.2% of households from the 1595/6 census. 
Servants and the number of animals in the household were closely related. The 
households that had the most servants also had the most animals. Among the 
households in which there were servants (39), in as many as 77% (30) of the 
cases these were also those that had animals. Famigli were the most common. In 
households without livestock, they are not recorded, that is why we can assume 
that fameglio refers to shepherds. They were listed with 23 households, where 
there were 50 in total. Their age was declared in 39 cases, and on average they 
were 24.5 years old. The youngest was 9 and the oldest 46 years old. About 64% 
of the animals recorded in the census are associated with households that had 
shepherds. As many as seven of them are listed in the list along with ser Pietro 
Longo’s household, which consisted of him, his wife and five children, and they 
had 800 sheep (animali minuti), 3 mares, 7 cows and 6 young bulls (manzi).
Ser Bernardin Vendrame’s household consisted of himself and his wife 
and seven servants: 6 famegli and one massara. They were the second larg-
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est household with 3 mares, 4 bulls and 560 sheep. In that case, the famegli 
were certainly shepherds. In terms of the number of animals, the household of 
Pietro Iotta, son of the late ser Domenico, followed. His household consisted 
of himself and his wife, their three children, and four famegli who took care 
of 2 horses, 2 young bulls and 520 sheep. In addition to his wife and daughter, 
ser Zuanne Gambelo also had four famegli in his household who took care of 
50 horses and 110 cows.
In the census, 10 housemaids/maids (massera) were also recorded in the 
households of ser Zuanne Ciprioto, ser Bernardino Vendreame, ser Bortolo Da 
Fasana, ser Gabriele di Vescovi, son of the late Piero, ser Antonio Albanese, 
miser Zuanne Da Capodistria, ser Iacomo Lussino, miser Giusto Sponza, Pietro 
Calafà and Antonio Fachinetto. Eight of the 10 household heads who had house-
maids/maids were recorded as ser or miser, and the other two were the notary 
Facchineti and, given the surname, a master shipwright (Calafà). Maids were 
rarely recorded with their age (4). When the age was listed, they were between 
16 and 22 years old. They were not the only domestic staff in three households. 
Thus, ser Zuanne Ciprioto, in addition to a 16-year-old girl as a maid, also had 
two famegli aged 13 and 22. In the household of 60-year-old ser Bernardin 
Vendrame and his wife, a 22-year-old girl worked as a maid, and they also had 6 
shepherds between the ages of 9 and 40 who took care of 14 quarnara of sheep 
(560 sheep), four young bulls and three horses. There was also a servant (servi-
tor) in the household of Antonio Albanese and his wife in addition to the maid. 
Sometimes the maids were the only women in the household. For example, 
miser Giusto Sponza (52 years old) and his four sons between the ages of 17 and 
23 had a maid whose age was not specified.
The census also includes three households, those of miser Marco Cipriotto, 
Tomasin Biondo and Domenego Veniero, in which there were apprentices 
(garzon). The age of two is given: 14 and 16 years. The trades of the aforemen-
tioned household heads are not known. Only Marco Cipriotto is recorded as 
a mistro. Also noteworthy is that the household of Tomasin Biondo included, 
besides his two sons and a 14-year-old apprentice, two more young people (un 
zovane et un altro) without any indication of their relationship or role in the 
household. They were probably also apprentices, since no livestock was listed 
in this household.
Fanti were recorded in five households. One each in the households of Dome-
nego Di Rocco and Matia Zaccaria, two in the household of Simon Malusa and three 
each in the households of miser Zuanbattista Basilisco and Tomaso Zonta. Only this 
latter household was associated with numerous livestock (4 horses, 4 young bulls, 
18 cows and 160 sheep), while other households had few or no livestock at all. 
For example, Domenego Di Rocco had none at all, while Basilisco had a single 
horse. The boys probably performed numerous other tasks besides those pertain-
ing to livestock. In one household, the female version of fante, fantesca, was also 
recorded. This was a 16-year-old girl who was a member of the household of the 
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Medelin spouses, which also included a married couple with the surname Bronzin 
(Nadalin and his wife with a child).
Working as a servant or laborer in a household in the early modern period was 
a common phase in the lives of many young people. As young people, regardless 
of social status, and only at an early age, become servants, they are labeled with 
the phrase life-cycle servants, although among them still predominate those from 
poorer backgrounds and from large families who had many siblings, or those who 
were orphans or abandoned as children (Čapo Žmegač, 1996, 181; Hajnal 1982, 
473; Laslett, 1977, 24–35, 45–47; Janeković Römer, 1994, 40–42, 111–125; 2012, 
18–19; Stojan, 2003, 261–288; Budak, 2021, 261–288; Andrić, 2018, 192–202; 
Kralj-Brassard, 2013, 238; Ladić, 2011, 69–70, 78–79). The sources sometimes 
speak very candidly about such practices. For example, Mattio Sincovich from 
Motovun moved to Savičenta and was a fameio to Iuri Sabglich. He was accused 
and had to defend himself before the captain in Savičenta for illegally felling 
trees. When asked why he came from Motovun to the Savičenta area, he said 
that he was from a large family, that he had many brothers, and that he came 
to Sabglich who was alone (Io mi son partito del territorio di Montona perche 
siamo assai fratelli et pur assai in famiglia, et son venuto a star con il ditto mio 
Missier perche l’è solo). He also said that he had negotiated with Sabglich and 
almost agreed to stay with him for ten years, after which he should receive a third 
of his property, but that they had not concluded a contract since then (Io non sto 
altrimenti con lui per fameglio, ma son statto a parlemento con lui, et quasi ac-
cordato con lui a starvi dieci anni, et che poi io habbia il terzo di tutto il suo, ma 
anchora non habbiamo fatto il scritto dell’accordo) (ASVe, Grimani e Barbarigo, 
b. 40, Charges against Mattio Sincovich, 1568).3 It is also evident from the Rovinj 
census of 1595/6 that the councilor families did not necessarily have a great deal 
of support staff or many animals, nor were they necessarily wealthy. Most of them 
did not have animals or only had a small number. It is possible that they were 
engaged in some other business, trade or seafaring, which was not recorded in 
the census. It is also likely, at least according to the value of monetary wedding 
gifts (basadego), that many were not wealthy, but only preserved their reputation 
(Mogorović Crljenko & Doblanović, 2015, 256–263; Mogorović Crljenko, 2019, 
190–205). On the other hand, the more affluent included certain newcomers and 
citizens who engaged in certain trades, commerce, seafaring or owned animals.
Animals in the census
Out of the 539 households enumerated, 149 of them (27.6%) possessed do-
mestic animals, including horses, mares, donkeys, bulls (manzi), cattle (bovini), 
cows (vacche), and sheep. The total number of animals recorded was 4,767. 
Additionally, the term animali minuti is sometimes mentioned in the sources, 
3 The above-mentioned archival materials have not been organized, so the folios are not numbered.
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referring to small livestock, while animali grossi, referring to large livestock, 
was rarely recorded. Animali minuti are typically listed by the designation of 
quarnari, suggesting sheep, which were traditionally counted in flocks of forty. 
When small livestock are mentioned without specifying the unit of measure, it is 
likely a reference to flocks consisting of both sheep and goats, even if goats are 
not explicitly mentioned.
The census recorded 173 horses/mares, 40 donkeys, 219 young bulls (manzi), 15 
head of cattle (bovini),4 681 cows and 3,084 small animals or small livestock (402 
recorded as pegore and 2,835 as animali menudi). Small livestock accounted for al-
most 68% of the total number of animals in the census. By way of comparison, small 
livestock accounted for 92% of the total in the Zadar area (Zadar, Nin and Novigrad) 
in the 1560s (Fabijanec, 2015, 71). Slightly more than 10% of households (67/539 
or 12,4%) had a horse (59) or mare (9). Most often, it was approximately one (45 
or 67.2%) or two horses or mares (14 or 21%). Two households had a significantly 
larger number of horses/mares: ser Zuanne Gambello had 50 horses while Tomasin 
Bodi had 28 mares. Six other households had between 3 to 5 horses or mares. Some, 
like Pietro Longo (3 mares and 800 sheep) or Bernardino Vendrame (3 horses and 
560 sheep) also had many sheep. Horses probably accompanied the flocks of sheep 
and served as a means of transport when the summer highs occurred, i.e., when the 
flocks returned home in the fall. Donkeys were rarer. There were 37 households 
(33 with one and 4 with two donkeys). In 27 households, a donkey was the only 
animal connected to the recorded household. Tommasini stated of them that they 
were used (by the poor) to transport wood and water: Per la necessità dei poveri 
si allevano molti asini che portano legna, ed acqua nelle terre; muli di raro ne ho 
veduti (Tomasini, 1837, 89).
There were a total of 215 young bulls (manzi) distributed in 93 households. 
Most often (65) there were two to a household. Oxen (bovini) were recorded in 
only seven households, usually one or two, while Domenego Medelin had five.
There were significantly more cows (vacche): a total of 601 in 16 house-
holds.5 Ser Zuanne Gambello had the most (110), who also had 50 mares and 
160 sheep. Domenego Gambello, son of the late Domenego, Domenego Bodi 
and Nicolo Bodi each had 80 cows and 4 young bulls (manzi). Domenego Segala 
had 60 cows, two horses, two bulls (bovini) and 100 sheep, and donna Filippa 
Gaiarduzza, who lived in a household with three sons, had 54 cows, 2 horses 
and two bulls (bovini).
Cows were also significant to households of Nicolo Medelino (40), ser Iseppo 
Rota (25), Bernardino Medelino (20), miser Francesco Pergolis (18), Tomas Zonta 
(18), who also had 160 sheep, four horses and four young bulls (manzi), Francesco 
Ferrarese (10), ser Piero Longo (7), who also owned a huge flock of sheep (800), 
Mattio Branovichio (6) and Mattio da Pedena (3). In addition to the household of ser 
4 This probably refers to oxen.
5 In one case, 4 animali grossi are recorded in a household. They were counted among the cows.
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Nadalin Sponza, four large animals (animali grossi) were recorded.6
Sheep are very useful domestic animals that produce milk, cheese, meat, 
fat, wool and hides. It may be said that a household which had sheep also had a 
steady source of food as well as raw materials to make clothing and footwear. 
They also had something to trade. In his records of Istria in the mid-seventeenth 
century, Bishop Tomasini confirmed that:
Maggior utile cavano dalle pecore, e capre, poichè oltre li frutti hanno il formag-
gio, e le lane. Il formaggio non sanno far bene, nè durerebbe mescolando il latte 
di capre con quel di pecore, e per altra cagione non val cosa veruna, e si guasta. 
Non cavano buttiro nè altre poine, ed in alcun luogo alcune salate si fanno assai 
bene nella primavera. Tosano due volte le pecore, d’aprile e di s. Michele. La 
loro lana è grossa e resta nel paese per far panno di griso per gli abitanti, non 
riescendo per Materazzi (Tomasini, 1837, 88).7
Little milk was consumed in the Middle Ages but cheese, both fresh and 
dried, was, in considerable quantities. Most cheese was made from sheep or goat 
milk. It was only in the eighteenth century that bovine milk assumed primacy 
in Northern and Western Europe and became more highly valued than goat and 
sheep milk (Pastoureau, 2011, 140). According to the 1595/6 census, sheep were 
specifically registered in Rovinj in conjunction with five households, while in 
another 13 cases animali menudi were recorded. Massimo Montanari stated that 
behind sheep, goats and pigs are concealed by that term (Montanari, 2012, 37). 
Writing about animali minuti, Bishop Tomasini noted: Li minuti sono pecore, 
capre, castrati e porci (Tomasini, 1837, 87). However, we may justifiably as-
sume and conclude that in the Rovinj census sheep are concealed behind term 
animali menudi/minuti when the unit of measurement is recorded as quarnaro 
herds, but when the latter is not explicitly stated, then it refers to sheep and 
goats. However, goats as such are not listed separately.8 For example, Ivan of 
Buzet (Zuanne da Pinquente) was recorded as having anemali menudi quarnara 
5, while ser Pietro Longo had animali minuti quarnara 20 and Bernardino Ven-
drame had only quarnara 14 without any mention of sheep or animali minuti.
Data on animals from the 1595/6 census are an indicator of a household’s 
assets. Combined with other sources, they provide insight into the status of a 
person in society. For example, the aforementioned Piero Longo married Col-
6 Tomasini (1837, 87) writes that animali grossi are bovi, vacche, vitelli e cavalli.
7 “They derive the greatest profit from sheep and goats, as in addition to the produce, they obtain cheese 
and wool. However, they do not know how to make cheese well, nor would it last when mixing goat’s 
milk with sheep’s milk, and, for other reasons, it is of no value and spoils. They do not produce butter 
or other dairy products, although in some places, some salted cheeses are made quite well in the spring. 
Sheep are sheared twice, in April and on St. Michael’s Day. Their wool is coarse and remains in the area 
to make gray cloth for the inhabitants, as it is not suitable for finer textiles” (Tomasini, 1837, 88).
8 Very often, due to legal regulations, goats were counted among the sheep.
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lota Sponzalin on November 5, 1570, to whom he gave 12 ducats as a wedding 
gift. The Rovinj Register of Marriages recorded five weddings in which the 
brides were their daughters. The first, Francesca (February 21, 1590) married 
ser Francesco Ferarese, son of ser Luca, and no wedding gift was recorded. 
Zaneta married Piero Ive, son of ser Hieronimo, on August 6, 1598. She re-
ceived 15 scudi (scudi) as a wedding gift. Euphemia married Giacomo Iotta on 
February 26, 1604 and received 5 ducats as a wedding gift, and Antonia married 
Zuanne Rota on September 2, 1610 and received as much as 20 ducats from 
miser Iseppo. The last wedding was that of donna Francesca, and her father, ser 
Piero Longo, had already died by then. It is not stated that she was a widow, 
but since a daughter named Francesca had already married in 1590, it may be 
assumed that this was the same person. She married Zuane Vidotto and received 
10 ducats as a wedding gift.
From the Rovinj Register of Deaths, we learn that the son of Pietro Longo 
(Griguor) was buried on May 23, 1590, and 12 lire were paid for his burial. 
Pietro’s wife died on September 30, 1591, and for her burial and masses later 
offered for the salvation of her soul, the local cathedral chapter received a dona-
tion of 12 lira and 8 small soldi, which was a rather generous sum compared 
to the contributions for other deceased people.9 In addition to the children and 
wife of ser Pietro Longo, the burial of persons from the ranks of the servants in 
his household was also recorded. Thus, on November 14, 1591, it was recorded 
that unus iuvenis famulus ser Petri Longo ad meliorem vitam migravit and the 
cathedral chapter received 4 lire. It is not indicated here how old the famulus 
was, but the amount donated indicates on the one hand the attitude toward serv-
ants, as well as the reputation of ser Pietro Longo’s family.
CONCLUDING CONSIDERATIONS
The census of 1595/6 stands as the oldest known enumeration of Rovinj’s 
population, providing a detailed list of household heads, their spouses, children 
and servants, as well as the domestic animals owned by each household. It 
recorded a total of 539 households, with women serving as household heads in 
99 cases (18.3%). But certain segments of the population, such as members of 
the Venetian administration and clergy, were not encompassed by the census.
The census of 1595/6 reveals a detailed picture of household structures in 
Rovinj, showing that nuclear families were predominant. Despite high birth rates, 
households were generally small due to high infant and child mortality. The census 
9 The oldest Rovinj Register of Deaths (1551–1601) is not a real Register of Deaths, rather, it is a list of 
funeral proceeds. In addition to the names of the deceased, funeral revenues were recorded in it. Thus, it 
shows that two lire were mainly paid for children and 6 lire for adults, although sometimes twice as much 
(12 lira). The latter, 12 lire, were mainly paid for the burial and salvation of craftsmen (Mistro Zuanne 
Pelizer, March 21, 1590, Mistro Mathio Moscarda detto Murer, May 13, 1590) (DAPA-429, Rovinj Reg-
ister of Deaths (1553–1601)). The Register is also available online at familysearch.org.
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indicates that 61.2% of households had 2–5 members, 32.3% had 6–9 members, 
and only 2.8% had more than 10 members. Nuclear families, typically consisting 
of a married couple with children, were most common (77.7%). Extended families 
accounted for 13.7% of households, while multiple families, single households, 
and unstructured households were relatively rare. This household structure aligns 
with broader Mediterranean trends, where nuclear families were typical among 
poorer commoners, and multiple families were more common among the upper 
social classes.
Out of the 539 households enumerated 27.6% possessed domestic animals, 
including horses, mares, donkeys, bulls, oxen, cows, and sheep, with a total of 
4,767 animals recorded. Small livestock, referred to as animali minuti, made 
up almost 68% of the total animals, significantly more than large livestock. 
The census revealed that households with horses were rare, but some, like ser 
Zuanne Gambello and Tomasin Bodi, had large numbers. Donkeys were less 
common and mainly used by poorer households for transporting wood and 
water. Bulls and oxen were present in a few households, while cows were more 
significant, especially in some prominent families. Sheep provided essential 
resources such as milk, cheese, meat and wool, making them valuable for trade 
and self-sufficiency. There was a strong correlation between households with 
servants and those with a significant number of animals. Servants were recorded 
in 7.2% of households. Famigli (likely shepherds) were the most common, as-
sociated with 23 households that had a total of 50 servants. These households 
held 64% of the recorded animals, indicating the critical role of shepherds 
in managing livestock. Housemaids (massera) were also noted, typically in 
wealthier households, and sometimes were the only female members. Appren-
tices (garzon) were listed in three households, and fanti, young male servants, 
were recorded in five. Servitude was a common stage in the lives of many 
young people, particularly those from poorer backgrounds. The census reveals 
that council families did not always have many servants or animals and were 
not necessarily wealthy, contrasting with some affluent newcomers engaged in 
trade or seafaring. The data from the census offer insights into the social status 
and wealth of households, highlighting the economic and social importance of 
livestock in Rovinj during this period. This census is an extremely valuable 
source of data on the population of Rovinj. Together with the censuses from the 
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, which are currently undergoing analysis 
and which contain data on the locations of the households mentioned herein, 
it may provide a more complete picture of the Rovinj’s population in the early 
modern period.
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GOSPODINJSTVA PO ROVINJSKEM POPISU PREBIVALSTVA 
IZ LET 1595/1596
Marija MOGOROVIĆ CRLJENKO
Univerza Jurja Dobrile v Pulju, Fakulteta za humanistične znanosti, Aldo Negri 6, 52100 Pulj, Hrvaška
e-mail: mmogorov@unipu.hr
Danijela DOBLANOVIĆ ŠURAN
Univerza Jurja Dobrile v Pulju, Fakulteta za humanistične znanosti, Aldo Negri 6, 52100 Pulj, Hrvaška
e-mail: ddoblanovic@unipu.hr
POVZETEK
Prispevek nadaljuje analizo prvega znanega popisa prebivalstva Rovinja iz 
let 1595/1596. Proučuje velikost in vrsto gospodinjstev ter število potomcev po 
zakonskem paru. Gospodinjstva so bila analizirana glede na njihovo sestavo in 
število. Analiza je pokazala, da so bila najpogostejša enodružinska gospodinjstva 
sestavljena iz zakonskega para (ali vdove/vdovca) in njunih otrok, medtem ko so 
bila gospodinjstva z dvema poročenima paroma, ki sta živela pod isto streho, zelo 
redka. Poleg tega je popis vključeval služinčad in živali. Članek raziskuje, katera 
gospodinjstva so imela posebne vrste služinčadi, razmerje med prisotnostjo pomo-
žnega osebja in živalmi, povezanimi z gospodinjstvom, in ali so bili posli pogostejši 
v svetniških družinah ali drugih. Pomožno osebje je bilo zajeto v 7,2 % gospodinj-
stev. Med gospodinjstvi s služinčadjo in tistimi z velikim številom živali je obstajala 
močna povezava. Od 539 naštetih gospodinjstev jih je 27,6 % posedovalo domače 
živali, vključno s konji, kobilami, osli, biki, voli, kravami in ovcami. Drobna živina, 
imenovana animali minuti, je predstavljala skoraj 68 % vseh živali. Podatki popisa 
živali ponujajo tudi vpogled v družbeni položaj in bogastvo gospodinjstev ter iz-
postavljajo gospodarski in družbeni pomen živine v Rovinju v tem obdobju. Popis 
Rovinja iz obdobja 1595/1596 je izjemno dragocen vir podatkov o prebivalstvu; 
v kombinaciji s popisi iz 17. in 18. stoletja, ki so še v postopku analize, lahko 
zagotovi popolnejšo sliko o prebivalstvu Rovinja v zgodnjem novem veku.
Ključne besede: Rovinj, Istra, popis prebivalstva 1595/6, prebivalstvo
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APPENDICES
Household heads 539
Their wives 377
Sons 734
Daughters 678
Mothers 33
Brothers 24
Sisters 26
Nephews 11
Nieces 16
Sisters-in-law 5
Brothers-in-law 4
Mothers-in-law (madonna) 11
Daughters-in-law 8
Grandchildren 15
Other relatives 58
Domestic staff 75
2,614
Table 1: Household members according to the 1595/6 census.
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Household 
members Households %
Total of 
people in these households
Of these women as carriers 
of households
1 20 3.7 20 9
2 55 10.2 110 19
3 82 15.2 246 18
4 98 18.2 394 23
5 95 17.6 475 14
6 87 16.1 522 12
7 37 6.9 259 1
8 29 5.4 232 3
9 22 4,1 197 0
10 5 0.9 50 0
11 5 0.9 55 0
12 2 0.4 24 0
13 0 0 0 0
14 1 0.2 14 0
15 1 0.2 15 0
539 100% 2,614
Table 3: Number of household members according to the 1595/6 census.
Households members Households %
1 20 3.7
2 and 3 137 25.4
4 and 5 193 35.8
6 to 9 174 32.3
more than 10 15 2.8
Table 2: Number of household members according to the 1595/6 census. 
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 w
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ow
s w
ith
 c
hi
ld
re
n 
+ 
do
m
es
tic
 st
aff
3
92
17
.1
38
8
31
41
9
77
.7
Extended family
M
ar
rie
d 
co
up
le
 w
ith
 c
hi
ld
re
n 
+ 
re
la
tiv
es
30
M
ar
rie
d 
co
up
le
 w
ith
 c
hi
ld
re
n 
+ 
re
la
tiv
es
 +
 d
om
es
tic
 st
aff
4
34
6.
3
M
ar
rie
d 
co
up
le
 w
ith
ou
t c
hi
ld
re
n 
+ 
re
la
tiv
es
3
M
ar
rie
d 
co
up
le
 w
ith
 c
hi
ld
re
n 
+ 
re
la
tiv
es
 +
 d
om
es
tic
 st
aff
2
5
0.
9
W
id
ow
er
/w
id
ow
 +
 c
hi
ld
re
n 
+ 
re
la
tiv
es
15
W
id
ow
er
/w
id
ow
 +
 c
hi
ld
re
n 
+ 
re
la
tiv
es
 +
 d
om
es
tic
 st
aff
0
15
2.
8
W
id
ow
er
/w
id
ow
 w
ith
ou
t c
hi
ld
re
n 
+ 
re
la
tiv
es
 o
r o
th
er
 p
eo
pl
e
20
W
id
ow
er
/w
id
ow
 w
ith
ou
t c
hi
ld
re
n 
+ 
re
lat
iv
es
 o
r o
th
er
 p
eo
pl
e +
 
do
m
es
tic
 st
aff
0
20
3.
7
68
6
74
13
.7
Multiple or 
joint family
Tw
o 
m
ar
rie
d 
co
up
le
s (
w
ith
 o
r 
w
ith
ou
t c
hi
ld
re
n)
2
Tw
o 
m
ar
rie
d 
co
up
le
s (
w
ith
 o
r w
ith
ou
t c
hi
ld
re
n)
 +
 d
om
es
tic
 
st
aff
2
4
0.
7
M
ar
rie
d 
co
up
le
 w
ith
 o
r w
ith
ou
t 
ch
ild
re
n 
an
d 
w
id
ow
er
/w
id
ow
 w
ith
 
ch
ild
re
n 
10
M
ar
rie
d 
co
up
le
 w
ith
 o
r w
ith
ou
t c
hi
ld
re
n 
an
d 
w
id
ow
er
/
w
id
ow
 w
ith
 c
hi
ld
re
n 
+ 
do
m
es
tic
 st
aff
0
10
1.
9
12
2
14
2.
6
So
lit
ar
ie
s
20
20
3.
7
N
o 
fa
m
ily
 (s
ol
ita
ire
s a
nd
 re
la
tiv
es
 o
r o
th
er
 p
eo
pl
e)
12
12
2.
2
50
0
39
53
9
10
0%
92
.8
%
7.
2%
Ta
bl
e 
4:
 T
yp
es
 o
f h
ou
se
ho
ld
s 
ac
co
rd
in
g 
to
 th
e 
15
95
/6
 c
en
su
s.
ACTA HISTRIAE • 32 • 2024 • 4
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Marija MOGOROVIĆ CRLJENKO & Danijela DOBLANOVIĆ ŠURAN: HOUSEHOLDS IN THE ROVINJ CENSUS ..., 495–520
Table 5: Composition of households with regard to relationship to the household head.
Total Men Women Unknown
Households heads 539 440 99
Their wives 377 0 377
Their children 1413 734 679
Mothers 33 0 33
Siblings 50 24 26
Nephews and nieces 27 11 16
Brothers/sisters-in-law 9 5 4
Daughters-in-law 8 0 8
Mothers-in-law (madonna) 11 0 11
Grandchildren 15 9 6
Other relatives 57 23 32 2
Domestic staff 75 64 11
2,614 1,310 1,302 2
Table 6: Children in households according to the 1595/6 census. This table was compiled 
on the basis of data from the list such that it does not include those children whose age is 
unknown or, for example, five daughters recorded as being under the age of 19. When the 
census indicates that a household head has four sons under the age of 14, one is included 
in the 14–17 group, and the rest in the 10–13 group, although they may have been under 
10. However, since there are only a few such cases, 2 involving sons and 2 daughters, 
such a procedure does not significantly affect the final results.
Less than 10 10 to 13 14 to 17
Men Women Unknown Men Women Men Women
Children 398 324 120 125 112 120
Siblings 2 3 5 5 7 2
Grandchildren 4 4 3 1 4 1 0
Nephews and nieces 3 4 3 5 2 4
Other relatives 5 8 1 3 0 2
Domestic staff 1 2 0
413 343 3 132 142 122 128
761 274 250
ACTA HISTRIAE • 32 • 2024 • 4
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Marija MOGOROVIĆ CRLJENKO & Danijela DOBLANOVIĆ ŠURAN: HOUSEHOLDS IN THE ROVINJ CENSUS ..., 495–520
Table 7: Household size according to the 1595/6 census.
Households 
members
With domestic staff
(number of 
households)
Without domestic 
staff (number of 
households)
Total
Men as 
household 
heads
Women as 
household 
heads
1 0 20 20 11 9
2 0 55 55 36 19
3 4 78 82 64 18
4 4 94 98 75 23
5 5 90 95 81 14
6 5 82 87 75 12
7 4 33 37 36 1
8 5 24 29 26 3
9 3 17 20 20
10 2 4 6 6
11 3 2 5 5
12 2 1 3 3
14 1 0 1 1
15 1 0 1 1
39 500 539 500 99
ACTA HISTRIAE • 32 • 2024 • 4
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Marija MOGOROVIĆ CRLJENKO & Danijela DOBLANOVIĆ ŠURAN: HOUSEHOLDS IN THE ROVINJ CENSUS ..., 495–520
Table 8: Animals in households according to the 1595/6 census.
Number Households with these animals
Average per 
household
Horses 127 58 2.2
Mares 45 9 5
Donkeys 41 38 1.1
Young bulls 215 93 2.3
Cattle 15 7 2.1
Cows 594 14 42.4
Large animals (animali grossi) 4 1 4
Sheep 402 5 80.4
Small animals (animali minuti) 2,955 13 227.3
4,398
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Marija MOGOROVIĆ CRLJENKO & Danijela DOBLANOVIĆ ŠURAN: HOUSEHOLDS IN THE ROVINJ CENSUS ..., 495–520
Table 9: Number of animals according to the 1595/6 census.
Number of 
animals
Households 
with this 
number of 
animals
Notes
1 40 65% of these were donkeys and horses (26 donkeys and 7 horses)
2 40 82.5% of households had 2 young bulls (33)
3 24 87.5% had 2 young bulls and a horse or mare (21)
4 to 10 16 152 animals in total; 58 or 38% are young bulls, about 14% were horses and mares
10 to 19 2 2 donkeys, 18 cows and 12 sheep
20 to 29 3 29 mares, 2 donkeys, 2 young bulls, 20 cows and 20 sheep
30 to 39 2 5 horses, 35 cows, 6 young bulls, 25 small animals 
40 to 49 1 2 young bulls, 6 cows, 40 sheep
50 to 59 1 2 horses, 2 oxen and 54 cows
60 to 69 0
70 to 79 3 3 horses, 2 mares, 4 young bulls, 70 cows, 70 sheep and 70 small animals
80 to 89 6 501 animals, of which 240 small animals and 240 cows
100 to 199 5 756 animals: 57 horses, 188 cows, 100 sheep and 280 small animals
200 to 299 1 200 sheep and 2 young bulls
300 to 399 2 627 animals: 40 cows, 280 sheep and 300 small animals
400 to 499 0
500 to 599 2 98% small animals
600 to 699 0
700 to 799 0
800 to 899 1 98% small animals
149
ACTA HISTRIAE • 32 • 2024 • 4
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Marija MOGOROVIĆ CRLJENKO & Danijela DOBLANOVIĆ ŠURAN: HOUSEHOLDS IN THE ROVINJ CENSUS ..., 495–520
Table 10: Households in which domestic staff is listed according to the census of 1595/6.
Su
rn
am
e,
 N
am
e 
(fa
th
er
’s 
na
m
e)
 
W
ife
C
hi
ld
re
n
M
ot
he
r
Si
bl
in
gs
 
O
th
er
 re
la
tiv
es
 
se
rv
ito
r
fa
m
eg
li
m
as
se
ra
ga
rz
on
fa
nt
i
fa
nt
es
ca
D
om
es
tic
 st
aff
 in
 to
ta
l
A
ni
m
al
s i
n 
to
ta
l
Calafà, Pietro yes 4 1 1
Miser De Capodistria, Zuanne yes 1 1
Di Rocco, Domenego yes 3 1 1
Ser Da Fasana, Bortolo yes 2 1 1
Mistro Cipriotto, Marco 1 1 1
Ser Lussin, Iacomo yes 1 1
Venier, Domenego q. Venier yes 4 1 1 1
Biondo, Tomasin 2 2 1 1
Bodi, Nicolo yes 4 2 2 2 84
Miser Basilisco, Zambattista yes 10 3 3 1
Ser Ferrarese, Antonio yes 5 1 1 1
Sponza, Nicolo q. Gabriel yes 6 1 1 1
Fachinetto, Antonio yes 1 1 1
Ser Albanese, Antonio yes 1 1 2 2
Ser Sponza, Christofooro q. Biasio yes 4 1 1 2
Di Vescovi, Zuanne q. Piero yes 2 1 1 2
Malusà, Simon yes 2 2 2 2
Di Vescovi, Gabriel, q. Piero yes 4 1 1 3
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Marija MOGOROVIĆ CRLJENKO & Danijela DOBLANOVIĆ ŠURAN: HOUSEHOLDS IN THE ROVINJ CENSUS ..., 495–520
Sponza, Cristofolo q. 
Francesco yes 3 1 1 3
Miser Sponza, Giusto 4 1 1 3
Gambello, Domenego yes 1 1 1 4
Zaccaria, Mattio yes 1 1 1 4
Ser Bichiachi, Zuanne yes 2 1 1 5
Ser Ciprioto, Zuanne yes 4 2 1 3 5
Ser Lanzeto ?, Zuanne yes 4 1 1 3 3 7
Ive, Antonio yes 3 2 1 1 7
Mismas, Astolfo yes 5 1 1 26
Ser Rota, Iseppo yes 7 2 2 34
Ferrarese, Luca yes 1 2 2 74
Gambello, Domenego q. D. yes 7 1 1 86
Ser Medelin, Nicolo 6 1 3 3 93
Medelin, Domenego yes 2 1 3 126
Ser Gambello, Zuanne yes 1 4 4 160
Zonta, Tomaso yes 1 1 2 3 3 3 186
Da Pinguente, Zuanne yes 1 2 2 202
Iotta, Piero q. ser Domenego yes 3 4 4 524
Ser Vendrame, Bernardin yes 6 1 7 567
Ser Longo, Piero yes 5 7 7 816
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Marija MOGOROVIĆ CRLJENKO & Danijela DOBLANOVIĆ ŠURAN: HOUSEHOLDS IN THE ROVINJ CENSUS ..., 495–520
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