Catalan Bankers in the 14th century: A First Census

Abstract

EnglishThis paper focuses on money-changers, owners of private money-changing tables (taules de canvi) in Catalonia between approximately 1280 and 1400. It places them among the group of financial agents (especially with regard to public administrations), and it stresses the particularities of the institutions ruled by them, true private banks. Additionally, it includes a first census of over a hundred bankers documented in the Principality of Catalonia during the aforementioned period. Besides remarking some of their shared characteristics, the paper also presents several approaches to conduct in-depth studies of this group. catalaAquest article se centra en la figura dels canviadors o titulars de taules de canvi privades en la Catalunya del periode compres entre aproximadament 1280 i 1400. Se’ls situa dins del conjunt d’agents dels mercats financers (en especial en relacio amb les administracions publiques) i es ressalten les especificats dels establiments que regien, autentiques banques privades. Aixi mateix, es presenta un primer cens del centenar llarg de professionals del sector que es documenta al principat durant l’epoca esmentada. I, a part de comentar-ne trets comuns, s’exposen diversos plantejaments de cara a aprofundir en l’estudi del col·lectiu.