Papal States. Congregazione del censo

From the early fourteenth century the Apostolic Camera was both the financial and juridical bureau for the Papal States as well as for the church itself. Moreover, its financial policy and that of the Papal States were always closely related. During the second half of the fifteenth century, however, a great change occurred in ecclesiastical finance. Income from total ecclesiastical sources of revenue amounted to only a third of what it had been in the fourteenth century, but that from the Papal States was increasing dramatically. There are records of taxes imposed by Paul III (1543), Paul V (1605), and Innocent XI (1676). Clement XI (1708) also attempted to make his authority more effective in the provinces in this way.

Throughout these pontificates legislation in this area was exercised by the Congregazione del Buon Governo (ID VATV615-A). Taxes were based on fixed income or declaration of proprietorship confirmed by oath. A general tax could not be imposed for the entire Papal States because each community had the faculty of imposing its own tax independently of one another.

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