NOTITIA. — According to the terminology introduced by Brunner, it is the document of proof relating to a legal transaction already complete prior to the documentation, as distinct from the charta, which has dispositive value.

The use of the n. is traced back to the 7th century, but its derivation from the Roman testimonial document, drawn up or caused to be drawn up in his own interest by the recipient, is clear; as in the latter, the validity of the n. rests on the subscriptions of the witnesses (in the classical age, seals are found in place of signatures), and the notary subscribes to it without the formula of the completio. The distinction between charta and n., however, was not preserved in practice so sharply in its diplomatic characteristics and, especially from the 11th century, one finds n. that acquire validity through the notarial subscription alone.

Bibliography5 works

BIBL.: H. Brunner, Zur Rechtsgeschichte der röm. und germ. Urkunde, Berlin 1880, pp. 8-17; H. Bresslau, Handbuch der Urkundenlehre für Deutschland und Italien, I, 2nd ed., Leipzig 1912, p. 51 ff.; A. De Boüard, Manuel de diplomatique française et pontificale, I, Paris 1929, p. 49 ff.; II, ibid. 1948, passim (v. index); H. Brunner, Carta und n., in Abhandl. zur Reichsgeschichte, I, Weimar 1931, p. 458 ff.

Alessandro Pratesi

@incollection{ec8_notitia, author = {Pratesi, Alessandro}, title = {Notitia}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {VIII}, pages = {1960}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1952}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/notitia} }

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.

About this entry