During the French period, the Civil Administration of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was reorganized under decrees dated August 8, 1806, and December 8, 1806. These decrees divided Calabria into two provinces: Citeriore, with Cosenza as its capital,
and Ulteriore, with Monteleone (modern Vibo Valentia) as its capital. Each province was headed by an Intendant, hierarchically subordinate to the Minister of Internal Affairs, who centralized administrative, financial, and police powers.
The provinces were divided into districts (four in Calabria Citeriore: Cosenza, Castrovillari, Rossano, and Amantea, which was later replaced by Paola), each headed by a sub-intendant. These districts were further divided into smaller jurisdictions managed by judges of the peace. Municipalities were governed by Decurionates, consisting of "elected" officials and a mayor. The Intendant, in close contact with sub-intendants, mayors, and other authorities, was supported by a Council of Intendancy comprising three royal appointees and a secretary general.
The Intendancy of Calabria Citeriore, comparable to a modern Prefecture, continued to exist during the Restoration (1815–1862) and maintained a vast archival collection.
The Intendant exercised active administrative powers and oversight of municipalities and public institutions, assessed the physical and moral conditions of the province, and had jurisdictional responsibilities, including the distribution of communal lands. As a high-ranking police officer, the Intendant directed health services and supervised the collection of direct contributions (Source: G. Di Benedetto)
Timeframes Covered:
1815–1862, with earlier records dating back to 1751 and additional documents extending until 1887.
Archival Highlights:
