Women's wealth in the 19th century Italy: some evidences from the probate records of Milan (Italy, 1862-1900)

The middle classes, protagonists of the process of industrialisation, have been the subject of numerous studies nearly all of which have, however, examined the male component. Also studies in gender history, which were more interested in considering the specific nature and characteristics of female work, have not dedicated much attention to elite women. This essay is dedicated to them. The chosen archival source is the one which, in the opinion of most scholars, offers the best information regarding the wealthy and their wealth in the past: the Acts of Succession. Information taken from the census of 1871 and 1881 have been integrated in a database containing all the details of the female post-mortem records which were submitted to the Milan Registrar’s Office in those years. An analysis of the information available has shown the importance of female wealth within the economic and social structure of the time, and has in part, explained how and where these assets were used.