Ambasciatori, nunzi, spie ed esploratori negli statuti bolognesi tardomedievali (1250-1267, 1288, 1335, 1352, 1357, 1376, 1389 e 1454)

Abstract. The article focuses on the ambassador and the normative efforts to construct and to define this charge in all the 8 late medieval statutes produced in Bologna that survived to this day. By analysing the statutes of 1250-1267, 1288, 1335, 1352, 1357, 1376, 1389 and 1454, one explores the attempts to differentiate the ambassador from other agents of the Bolognese diplomatic apparatus, such as the «nuncius», the «spia» and the «explorator» in these almost three centuries. Particular attention is given to the development – often far from linear – of the dispositions regarding all these four agents, and some of the reflections proposed in the article concern the jurisdiction on selecting ambassadors, the criteria used in choosing them, the nature of the charge, the representative capacity of these agents, their privileges, protections and insurances. More practical aspects, such as the fluctuation of the norms concerning their salaries and the number of horses ambassadors could bring in their missions, also receive special attention in the article. The normative analysis is often complemented by the comparison with documents more connected to the practice, namely, council minutes – the «riformagioni» and «provvigioni» – and legal cases pertaining to the «ad maleficia» courts involving ambassadors and all the other figures of the late medieval Bolognese diplomacy.