he testamentaryprovisions of an individual have legal effect only after death, as the very nature of a testament requires. Therefore, for the fulfilment of what is stipulated therein, the executors who have the obligation to carry them out are indicated in thesecharters. However, there are testaments that mention testamentary executors in their clauses, and others that do not. With this paper, we aim to address several questions. We shall work within a diachronically extensive documentary range including different social categories and genders from both privileged and non-privileged layers of medieval Portuguese society. T 1. Since when are testamentary executors systematically indicated? How was the execution ensure before? 2. In which part of the diplomatic text are they presented? Are there specific formulae related to their presentation? If so, how do they evolve? 3. What are the social categories of the executors? What degree of kinship or familiarity do they have with the testators? What is the role of women in this context? 4. How do we know whether the duties of the testamentary executors were carried out? What responsibilities were involved in such a task? Were there any rewards for the task? maria helena da cruz coelho & maria do rosário morujão 275 Abstract
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