Del castillo al mercado y al silo. La gestión de la renta cerealista de la Almoina de Barcelona en la castellanía de Sitges (1354-1366)

Abstract

Based on the extraordinary Almoina's account books of the cathedral of Barcelona from the castle of Sitges, this article examines how its representative managed one of the most outstanding features of the seigniorial rents in Sitges: the surpluses of barley and wheat collected and kept in the granaries and silos of the castle annually. The analysis is based upon the first twelve account books preserved at Pia Almoina's archive (between 1354 and 1366).The study describes when and to what extent grain was consumed, sent to the Almoina in Barcelona, sold, lent or stored in granaries and silos of the castle. It concludes that the procurator opted for storage or commercial sale of the Almoina's grain (particularly barley, representing over 75% of the castle's grain), aiming to maximize the economic output of the lordship rather than any other objective, including that of satisfying Barcelona's Almoina demand for foodstuffs.