ANNATA. - What in the fourteenth century was called *fructus primi temporis*, *annalia*, or *annua* later came to mean specifically all the fruits of a minor benefice reserved to the Pope, payable to the Apostolic Chamber. Under the name of *annata* were also, less properly, included both the *communia servitia* owed by concistorial benefices to the Pope and cardinals, and the *minuta servitia* payable to minor officials of the Roman Curia, as well as the *quindennia*, namely the fruits payable to the Pope every fifteen years by benefices incorporated into ecclesiastical institutions that never became vacant.
Even more improperly, the term *annata* was applied to the *fructus medii temporis* (also called *intercalares*), that is, the fruits of benefices accruing during the first year of vacancy, and to other taxes and contributions payable for other reasons.
The origin of the *annata* is not entirely certain. Apart from very ancient antecedents such as the Greek *inhronisticum* and the Roman *oblatio*, Fagnano considers them so ancient as to be reckoned among immemorial institutions. The institution in its substance appears to have existed already in the ninth century; in subsequent centuries it was expanded and refined, though the liable party varied. The attribution to the Apostolic Chamber, which later characterized the true and proper *annata*, evidently derives from the reservation: when the provision of benefices passed to the Pope, all the rights of the previous collators naturally passed to him as well (Reg. 46, in 60), including the *annalia*. However, the first example of a general papal *annata* is found under Clement V (1 February 1306), who reserved to the Apostolic Chamber for three years the fruits of all vacant benefices in the British Isles. The measure was extended by John XXII (in 1316) to all of Europe for vacant and non-vacant benefices over the next three years; and in the same year, the *annata* of all minor vacant benefices *apud S. Sedem* was reserved to the Holy See. The same John XXII then regulated the quota and manner of collecting the *annata* (c. 2, I, in *Extr. Ioann. XXII*), so that many regard this Pope as the true author of the *annata*. Finally, Gregory XI (1376) subjected all benefices reserved to the Apostolic See to the *annata*.
The *annata* were collected directly by the Holy See through commissioners, collectors, or *collectores* vested with special powers. At first the *annata* consisted of the net fruits of the benefice; but Boniface IX (1384–1409) reduced them to half, the so-called *mezz’à* or *bonificaria*, though payable in advance. This *mezz’à*, *bonificata*, must not be confused with the *mezza annata* introduced by Benedict XIII through the constitution *Pius et misericors* of 20 April 1728, by which all minor benefices not reserved to the Holy See were, with few exceptions, burdened with a half *annata*, namely the gross fruits of six months (of vacancy) in favor of the respective cathedral or collegiate church, and this only for Italy and adjacent islands. This *annata*, however, was not collected if the church had established a patrimony for its fabric or if a patron existed upon whom the obligation of repairs devolved.
Strong opposition arose against the *annata* everywhere. Heretics, and even some Catholics, unjustly called them symbolic. Opposition culminated at the Council of Constance. Martin V in 1418 regulated the matter with Germany, Spain, England, France, and Italy through special concordats, but the *annata* were maintained in principle. The Council of Basel abolished the *annata* (9 June 1435, sess. XXI); and although its decree did not take immediate effect, it dealt a severe blow to the institution. Many exceptions were first admitted; later the true *annata* fell into disuse everywhere, though not the Benedictine half *annata*, established in favor of the cathedral and collegiate churches of Italy. It is to these that canon 1482 refers, requiring that they be maintained where still in force, in observance of particular statutes and laudable customs regulating them in the various regions.