Civic Religion in Late Medieval Marseille: the Hospital of Saint-Esprit, 1306-1457
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Civic Religion in Late Medieval Marseille: The Hospital of Saint-Esprit, 1306-1457 Caley McCarthy Department of History and Classical Studies McGill University, Montreal Submitted August 2020 A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. © Caley McCarthy, 2020 ii Abstract This thesis examines the function of the Hospital of Saint-Esprit in Marseille between 1306 and 1457. It relies on daily account books produced by the hospital administrators to tell the social history of the institution, reconstructing the role of the hospital in the community and as a community in late medieval Marseille. The incomes and expenditures recorded in the accounts reveal that the Hospital of Saint-Esprit served as an expression of “civic religion” in Marseille and, as such, functioned in the city at both a community and individual level. From the time of its foundation in 1188, Saint-Esprit had close ties to the various governing bodies of Marseille; by at least the beginning of the fourteenth century, the municipal council appointed annually two rectors to oversee its administration. This association granted the hospital both a symbolic and a functional role in civic life in Marseille. Symbolically, association with the hospital conferred social and political capital on individuals. Functionally, the council’s oversight of the hospital allows it to be understood as an expression of communal health measures in the city. Yet the Hospital of Saint-Esprit was not simply an instrument of civic authorities; that it was able to participate as it did in the civic realm attests to the socio-cultural value ascribed to it. The hospital institutionalized the charitable ideals of the period, performing the seven corporal works of mercy to provide for the sick and needy whose suffering brought them closer to Christ. These individuals lacked traditional social networks in the city that could otherwise offer support in times of need, and thus suffered a need that is inextricably physical, spiritual, and social. Their social rootlessness in the city resulted, sometimes, from situation – as in the case of abandoned infants – and, sometimes, from circumstance – as in the case of the many sick and injured of the galleys who passed through the port. Through the performance of the seven corporal works of iii mercy, Saint-Esprit provided a community for those who lacked one in the city and, through baptism of infants and prayer for and commemoration of the dead, they incorporated into a community in the afterlife those who otherwise lacked one in this life. Résumé Cette thèse s'articule autour de la fonction de l'Hôpital du Saint-Esprit de Marseille de 1306 à 1457. Elle s'appuie sur des livres de comptes quotidiens produits par les administrateurs de cet hôpital. Elle raconte donc l'histoire sociale de l'établissement en reconstituant le rôle de l'hôpital dans la communauté Marseillaise, mais aussi comme une communauté en soi-même. Les revenus et dépenses enregistrés dans les comptes révèlent que l'hôpital du Saint-Esprit a servi d'expression de la “religion civique” à Marseille et, à ce titre, a fonctionné dans la ville tant au niveau communautaire qu'individuel. Dès sa fondation en 1188, le Saint-Esprit entretenait des liens étroits avec les différents pouvoirs dirigeants Marseille. Depuis au moins le début du XIVe siècle, le conseil municipal nommait chaque année deux recteurs pour superviser son administration. Cette association confère à l'hôpital à la fois un rôle symbolique et fonctionnel dans la vie civique marseillaise. Symboliquement, l'association avec l'hôpital conférait un capital social et politique aux individus. Sur le plan fonctionnel, la surveillance exercée par le conseil sur l'hôpital permet de le comprendre comme l'expression des mesures de santé communautaire dans la ville. Mais l'hôpital du Saint-Esprit n'était pas simplement l’instrument des autorités civiques. Sa participation robuste dans le domaine civique atteste de la valeur socioculturelle qui lui est attribuée. L'hôpital a institutionnalisé les idéaux caritatifs de l'époque, accomplissant les sept œuvres de miséricorde corporelle pour subvenir aux besoins des malades et des indigents dont leurs souffrances les ont rapprochés du Christ. Ces personnes manquaient accès aux réseaux iv sociaux traditionnels de la ville qui pourraient autrement fournir un soutien en cas de besoin. Elles ont donc souffert d'un besoin inextricablement physique, spirituel et social. Leur déracinement social dans la ville résultait, parfois, de leur situation – comme dans le cas des enfants abandonnés – et, parfois, de leurs circonstances – comme dans le cas des nombreux malades et blessés des galères qui traversent le port. Grâce à l'exécution des sept œuvres de miséricorde corporelle, le Saint-Esprit fournissait une communauté pour ceux et celles qui en manquaient autrement dans la ville. Soit par le baptême des nourrissons soit par la prière pour les défunts, les agents de l'hôpital ont incorporé ceux et celles qui manquaient une communauté terrestre dans la communauté de l'au-delà. v Acknowledgements This research was made possible through the financial support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and McGill University. It took off and took shape thanks to innumerable individuals. My sincerest gratitude goes to Prof. Faith Wallis, for her constant guidance and for her patience as I fumbled through this process; to Prof. Geneviève Dumas, whose knowledge of the language, hand, and nature of the records allowed me to get to know them; and to Prof. Paula Clarke, who helped me to see beyond these records. I am grateful, also, to Prof. Daniel Le Blévec, whose direction during my time in Montpellier led me to this project, and to Prof. Francine Michaud and Prof. Daniel Smail, who have been so generous in their conversations with me. Prof. Steven Bednarski has provided me with more opportunities, more experience, and more support and guidance than I could ever have imagined: thank you. I have had the privilege of being supported by generous peers throughout this process. I spent many hours writing beside Marjorie Hopkins, whose commitment helped me to structure my own time, and many hours in the archives with Rebecca MacAlpine, who helped me to capture furiously photos of my records. Andrew Moore has read various versions and various aspects of this work. He has spent days discussing minute concepts, challenging single sentences, and pushing me to be better; this would not have been possible without his support. My friends and family survived me and supported me throughout these long years, and I would not be where I am without them. Kayla Maunsell has provided me with sanity and reprieve, and Montgomery and Loki have been there for me even on the bad days. My parents have supported and encouraged me more often and in more ways than I think they know, and I am more grateful than I think they know. My sister, Devin, has always kept me going with her scathing sense of humour and her understanding. Thank you. vi Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................... v Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Part One: The Institutional History of Saint-Esprit ................................................................. 21 Chapter 1: The religious landscape: the role of the poor in medieval Christianity .................. 21 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 21 1.2 Monasticism........................................................................................................................... 22 1.3 Mendicants ............................................................................................................................ 27 1.4 Lay Piety ................................................................................................................................ 34 1.5 Confraternities and Hospitals .................................................................................................. 37 1.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 48 Chapter 2: The Hospital and the City .................................................................................... 50 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 50 2.2 The Confraternity of Saint-Esprit, the Order of Saint-Esprit, and the Hospital of Saint-Esprit: An Historiographical Debate .............................................................................................................. 51 2.3 The Hospital and the City ........................................................................................................ 64 2.4 Urban Health in Marseille ....................................................................................................... 71 2.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 86 Part Two: