Un domain state dinamico? Primi appunti su gabella del sale e appalto del tabacco nella Toscana medicea (secc. XVII-XVIII)

Taxation on tobacco and salt knew a widespread diffusion in early mod- ern Europe. However, a sort of ‘centralization paradigm’ has discouraged in- tense research on them. In this paper, moving from the recent renovation of studies on the fiscal state, I analyze the privative on salt and tobacco in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany between the 17th and 18th centuries. Despite their traditional setting, they show a pivotal role in serving the sovereign’s aim of increasing authority and revenues. In this respect, we can consider the early modern Tuscan state as a ‘dynamic domain state’.