This paper analyzes the development of religious discipline within Habsburg maritime law between the 18th and 19th centuries, a process catalyzed by the cosmopolitan environment of the free port of Trieste. Moving from the rigid Theresian confessionalism of the Editto Politico di Navigazione Mercantile austriaca (1774) to the impact of Josephian tolerance, the study examines how the Progetto del Codice per l’Austriaca Mercantile Marina (1785) and Domenico Rossetti’s Progetto del Codice marittimo austriaco (1834-35) reflect a progressive opening toward non-Catholic faiths. Ultimately, these regulations evolved from a punitive tool into a vital means of fostering social cohesion among the Empire’s diverse maritime crews.
A SEA OF SOULS. The Religious Discipline of Crews in Habsburg Maritime Law
federica furfaro degasperi
2026-01-01
Abstract
This paper analyzes the development of religious discipline within Habsburg maritime law between the 18th and 19th centuries, a process catalyzed by the cosmopolitan environment of the free port of Trieste. Moving from the rigid Theresian confessionalism of the Editto Politico di Navigazione Mercantile austriaca (1774) to the impact of Josephian tolerance, the study examines how the Progetto del Codice per l’Austriaca Mercantile Marina (1785) and Domenico Rossetti’s Progetto del Codice marittimo austriaco (1834-35) reflect a progressive opening toward non-Catholic faiths. Ultimately, these regulations evolved from a punitive tool into a vital means of fostering social cohesion among the Empire’s diverse maritime crews.
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