«Molte spese pago più che non posso». Riflessioni sulla Chiesa toscana nell’età del primo catasto fiorentino (a partire dal caso di Volterra)

This paper analyses the situation of the Tuscan secular Church in the first two decades of the 15th century through the case study of Volterra. After an examination of the tax obligations (both secular and ecclesiastical) to which the priests were subjected, the data extrapolated from two pastoral visits which took place in 1413-1414 and 1422-1423 have been compared with those taken from the first Florentine catasto (of the late 1420s). The thesis proposed is that the practice of joint levies between the Apostolic See and the commune of Florence - inaugurated by the "Pisan" popes - significantly weakened the network of benefices (and the pastoral care).