Abstract

Within the context of the "Statuti" devoted to governing city life in mediaeval Italian city-states, the paper analyses linguistic, historical and legal features in the "Costituto" of Siena, a major text in Italian vernacular language. The Costituto dates back to 1309-1310, and is older and more extensive than similar texts produced in Florence or in other Tuscan or Italian cities. The paper focuses on the word citizen (cittadino), obviously of central interest in a text devoted to rules governing the city life and behaviour. "Cittadino" is examined as a single lexical unit and in verbal contexts defining civil law, behaviour, rights and duties. Connected to citizen are citizenship (cittadinanza) and the rules for acquiring it from an another state or from the country. Obtaining or losing citizenship (and also how reacquire it) are also regulated by the Costituto.