| Abstract: | Study explores the intricate dynamics between landowners and their managers
in the Ribnica lordship, owned by count Guido Cobenzl. It emphasizes the
interplay of careerism, social prestige, and mechanisms of social stability,
particularly through the lens of solidarity and charitable practices.
The Ribnica lordship, owned by Guido Cobenzl, serves as a case study for
analyzing the multifaceted interactions between landowners and their managerial agents. Cobenzl, an aristocrat deeply embedded in the Viennese court
culture, navigated a complex social landscape that demanded both economic
viability and the maintenance of noble prestige. The ascension of his son, Filip
Cobenzl, to the position of Vice Chancellor intensified the imperative for social respectability, a value that was deeply ingrained in familial expectations.
The administration of the Ribnica estate was characterized by variable
degrees of oversight, with managers employing owner’s social capital and
networks to fulfill both their own ambitions and the objectives of the landowner. The shifting political and legal landscape of the late 18th century
further complicated land tenure and revenue generation, while at the same
time they may have increased the pressure on the serfs. The intersection of
these external factors necessitated adaptive strategies by the landed gentry to
preserve their socio-economic status. A key mechanism employed to sustain
the precarious balance of power in lordship was the cultivation of various forms of solidarity, manifesting in charitable acts and social engagements that
among other functions served dual purposes: addressing personal prestige
and ensuring socio-political stability.
Analysis of correspondence between Guido Cobenzel and his administrators Jožef Repešič and Anton Rudež and the correspondence between Filip
Cobenzl and Rudež, reveals the operationalisation of different strategies and
of social responsibility. These communications illustrate how the administrators, in their role as stewards of the estate, contributed to the consolidating
social influence and enhancing noble prestige within the estate.
In the 18th century, the Cobenzl family was exceptional among the nobility who had estates in what is now Slovenian territory, due to its social
prestige, the offices held by its representatives and the income it earned. It is
also notable for its very diverse forms of donation. While it was not a formal
requirement for high ranked nobility to substantiate their status through acts
of charity towards serfs, particularly by the end of the 18th century, in case
of Cobenzl family such philanthropic gestures were strategically employed.
The charitable engagements of the nobility were perceived as important
measure to the maintenance of social harmony and the reinforcement of the
paternalistic role of the landowner. This paternalism echoed the overarching
narrative established by absolutist governance, reflecting a broader strategy
of legitimizing authority and sustaining order within the feudal hierarchy. |
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