Accounting in the organisation and life of a religious institution: The Monastery of <i>Santa Ana</i> in the eighteenth century

Set in the municipal archives of Braga, this article studies accounting system and practices Monastery Santa Ana, a female monastery located small town, Viana do Castelo, north Portugal, during eighteenth century. This work is full-scale examination interlink between governance aspects Benedictine organisations. It sheds light on extent management administration that gender was able to exercise pertaining monastic order. The use ‘displacement’ ‘restraint’ concepts pivotal such exploration Monastery. analysis makes visible large parts its embedded social internal controls rather than principal-agent type relationship abbess, her auxiliaries monastery. Moreover, help appreciate level freedom nuns exceeded actual contemporary married woman.