The Medici Granducal Archive:
Documents for Jewish History, Religion and Culture

SAMPLE DOCUMENT No.4

prev

next

Cosimo II permits Simone Basileo, a Jewish actor from Mantua, to travel around Tuscany performing without an identifying badge (1611)

Citation: Archivio di Stato di Firenze, Mediceo del Principato 303, f.99r.

File copy of Patent granted to Simone Basilea Hebreo by Grand Duke Cosimo II

Date: 10 March 1611 (1610 Florentine style)

Havendoci Simone Basileo Hebreo Mantovano, ostensore della presente, rappresentataci la sua molta virtù, et industria nel recitare alcune Commedie, ci contentiamo, et vogliamo, che a Beneplacito nostro possa andare, et stare, et recitare commedie in qualsivoglia Città, et luogo de nostri Stati, et inoltre non portare egli, et suo Compagno qualsivoglia Contrasegno nel cappello o in altro luogo senza lor pregiudizio, o molestia alcuna di qualsivoglia Ministro, anzi gli usino abilità, et cortesia, meritandole per la sua scienza; Dati in Firenze.

TRANSLATION

The bearer of the present document, the Jew Simone Basileo from Mantua, has demonstrated his talent and his diligence to us while performing some plays. Therefore, it is our wish and our pleasure that he be allowed to travel, to sojourn and to perform plays in any city or in any other place in our State. Furthermore, neither he nor his companion shall wear a distinguishing badge, on their hat or elsewhere. Officials shall not hold this against them nor hinder them in any way, but shall offer the assistance and courtesy that such ability merits. Issued in Florence.

NOTES

• Simone Basileo (more often Basilea) was a Jewish actor based in Mantua and is already known from Mantuan archival sources (see Simonsohn, History of the Jews in the Duchy of Mantua, 665ff and s.v. Basilea; his full name seems to be Simone Shlumiel ben Shlomo Basilea.) According to Simonsohn, Basilea participated (along with the Jewish musician and composer Salamone de'Rossi) in an important performance in 1605. In 1615-16, Basilea headed a committee that was responsible for producing "commedie" and other plays at the Mantuan court.
  
  
• In Mantua, Basilea's acting talent was so valued that he was granted a permanent exemption from wearing the "segno" or Jewish badge. In the present patent, Grand Duke Cosimo II de'Medici extended him the same favor in the Tuscan dominion, where the "segno" had been mandated since 1567. The actor was known for his solo performances as well as his work with troupes. New documents in the Tuscan archives may tell more about the pieces that he and his "companion" performed throughout the Medici state.