Grazia e giustizia a Ferrara ai tempi di Lucrezia Borgia

During Lucrezia Borgia’s time in Ferrara, forms of princely justice emerged alongside the discretionary ones of “gracious” concessions. The institutionalization of ‘justice’ pronouncements was achieved through the establishment of a Consilium iustitiae by Duke Borso in 1453, following the example of other princedoms such as Milan and Mantua. This princely tribunal intertwined its functions with the judicial ones outlined in Ferrara’s municipal statute. At the same time, the practice of presenting and receiving petitions for ‘graces’ was codified, aimed at granting discretionary measures by the Duke, which Lucrezia also had the opportunity to exercise when her husband Alfonso was absent.