ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the central power of San Giorgio. An introductory paragraph answers the question whether San Giorgio may be defined as an autonomous political power while the commune continued to exist in Genoa. It then focuses on sources, dominions and administrative power of San Giorgio, a central organization that progressively acquired multiple offices and resources. The chapter presents findings related to the possibility of studying the nodal system of San Giorgio through the internal circulation of merchants, material culture and offices. The main argument for this view was that various members of the same Genoese families held offices both in San Giorgio and in the commune. The positive terms pertained to San Giorgio, the negative terms to the commune. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the characteristics of the nodal system of San Giorgio as a financial and territorial framework.
