Some remarks on last wills at Guimarães (Portugal) in the 13th and 14th Centuries

Abstract

Historians are well aware of the significant role that ecclesiastical institutions played in the Middle Ages as beneficiaries and depositories of wills. Portugal is no exception to this observation, and as a result, there are numerous documents in Portuguese archives related to the last wills of individuals who wanted to regulate their earthly possessions before their death. This type of document is created voluntarily by a testator and reflects his/her beliefs and worries about the end of his/her life. It also demonstrates the desire to entrust what mattered most during his/her life, including assets and other belongings, to the "right hands" and to assure the support of specific people connected (as family or dependent) to the testator. The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria de Guimarães is one of Portugal's most significant religious institutions. Consequently, it has been the beneficiary ofmany last wills and testamentary dispositionsmade by the town's inhabitants. The diversity of these dispositions provides an opportunity for a case study, which aims to enhance our understanding of the drafting process of wills during themedieval period. This study focuses not only on the testators but also on some strictly diplomatics aspects, particularly those related to testamentary clauses.