Women Contractors of rents, goods and services in the Early Modern Age: City Council and University of Coimbra

Abstract

This study looked at women in their contractual relations with a Town Hall and a University during the Early Modern Age – a purpose which I believe is being attempted for the first time. After clarifying the legal rights and restrictions of Portuguese women at the time, we looked at notarial contracts signed by these institutions based in Coimbra. It was found that all types of municipal and university revenue were partially financed by women's work, and they also acted in the sphere of municipal government as auctioneers and administrators of municipal rents, bidders for the supply of goods and services to the city (with and without a monopoly) and inspectors of market sales. The University administration also benefited from their work in rent collection and in monitoring the sales at its own privileged fair. Given that Coimbra could not be a unique case, it follows that, although few, women were present in the local administration of the Ancien Régime, particularly in the area of public supply, which was, in fact, the main concern of the municipal authorities. The abolition of public offices held by private persons and, above all, the extinction of the recourse to contractors, confined women in these institution to the humble functions of cleaning, water carriage and other similar tasks.