ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

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Rasón's office (or Razon's handwriting) was a judiciary of the Republic of Venice, with accounting tasks on all administrators who managed public money.

The Rason officials have been informed since the 13th century, but were initially established only in an extraordinary way. For example, in 1364, the Most Council called them to impose on the rectors of some centers of the Trevigiano (Asolo, Castelfranco, Noale and Mestre) the regular payment to Comun's chamberlains of the sums they received.

In 1375, a Senate decree made it a stable judiciary, expanding its expertise on all Earth's rectors. In 1376 he also had powers on the ambassadors' accounts and in 1381 he extended his controls on certain duties and locations of public peaches.

In 1385 the Greater Council also granted the officials the judicial power over all debtors of the State. Subsequently they also took over the accounts of the officials of the Levant, as well as the Rectors of Istria and the Rectors of Customs. In 1394 they had the power to report the magistrates who neglected their duties (through so-called appointments).

Given the increasing roles, in 1395 or 1396 it was necessary to double the judiciary, dividing it into old Rasons and new Rasons, and bringing the number of officials from four to six, assigning three per part.

In 1401 the officials also had the task of controlling the counts of the rectors of Candia and in 1409 of the Dalmatian rectors. Later they obtained similar duties for Albanian and Morea rectors, but also on consuls and vice-consuls of Syria and Aleppo and on the cottimi and travels of Flanders and Cyprus.

In 1413, they also had criminal jurisdiction over the subtracts of public money perpetuated by state officials. The last assignment was assigned in 1433, when they began to deal with donations and hospitality expenses to foreign potents.

Since 1410 they had the right to sit and vote in the Senate.

Notes

Institutions and offices of the Republic of Venice