Fypt 2004 | Esilehti
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Karin Tilmans Karin Tilmans THE DUTCH CONCEPT THE DUTCH CONCEPT OF THE CITIZEN: FROM OF THE CITIZEN: FROM THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES TILL THE 21ST CENTURY1 TILL THE 21ST CENTURY1 uch has been and continues to be written about burghers in uch has been and continues to be written about burghers in Mthe Netherlands, but few of these studies concern conceptual Mthe Netherlands, but few of these studies concern conceptual history. The fine collective studies in De stijl van de burger (Aerts and history. The fine collective studies in De stijl van de burger (Aerts and Te Velde 1998) and Beschaafde burger: Burgerlijkheid in de vroegmoderne Te Velde 1998) and Beschaafde burger: Burgerlijkheid in de vroegmoderne tijd (Hendrix and Meijer Drees 2000) are recent manifestations of tijd (Hendrix and Meijer Drees 2000) are recent manifestations of this ongoing interest, which is present in the Netherlands as well. this ongoing interest, which is present in the Netherlands as well. Both collections deal mainly with bourgeois culture in the Net- Both collections deal mainly with bourgeois culture in the Net- herlands after 1500. The volume in conceptual history about the herlands after 1500. The volume in conceptual history about the Dutch burgher concept, – the fourth in the Dutch series on conceptual Dutch burgher concept, – the fourth in the Dutch series on conceptual history published by Amsterdam University Press – of which the history published by Amsterdam University Press – of which the present article gives an overview, is inspired first and foremost by present article gives an overview, is inspired first and foremost by German studies, especially the collections Bürgerschaft. Rezeption und German studies, especially the collections Bürgerschaft. Rezeption und Innovation der Begrifflichkeit vom Hohen Mittelalter bis ins 19. Jahrhundert Innovation der Begrifflichkeit vom Hohen Mittelalter bis ins 19. Jahrhundert (Koselleck and Schreiner 1994), and Bürgertum. Bürger in der Gesell- (Koselleck and Schreiner 1994), and Bürgertum. Bürger in der Gesell- schaft der Neuzeit (Puhle 1991). The concepts of ‘Bürger’ in the Ge- schaft der Neuzeit (Puhle 1991). The concepts of ‘Bürger’ in the Ge- schichtliche Grundbegriffe (Brunner 1992) and citoyen-sujet-civisme in schichtliche Grundbegriffe (Brunner 1992) and citoyen-sujet-civisme in the Handbuch politisch-soziale Grundbegriffe in Frankreich 1680-1820 the Handbuch politisch-soziale Grundbegriffe in Frankreich 1680-1820 146 146 Karin Tilmans Karin Tilmans THE DUTCH CONCEPT THE DUTCH CONCEPT OF THE CITIZEN: FROM OF THE CITIZEN: FROM THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES TILL THE 21ST CENTURY1 TILL THE 21ST CENTURY1 uch has been and continues to be written about burghers in uch has been and continues to be written about burghers in Mthe Netherlands, but few of these studies concern conceptual Mthe Netherlands, but few of these studies concern conceptual history. The fine collective studies in De stijl van de burger (Aerts and history. The fine collective studies in De stijl van de burger (Aerts and Te Velde 1998) and Beschaafde burger: Burgerlijkheid in de vroegmoderne Te Velde 1998) and Beschaafde burger: Burgerlijkheid in de vroegmoderne tijd (Hendrix and Meijer Drees 2000) are recent manifestations of tijd (Hendrix and Meijer Drees 2000) are recent manifestations of this ongoing interest, which is present in the Netherlands as well. this ongoing interest, which is present in the Netherlands as well. Both collections deal mainly with bourgeois culture in the Net- Both collections deal mainly with bourgeois culture in the Net- herlands after 1500. The volume in conceptual history about the herlands after 1500. The volume in conceptual history about the Dutch burgher concept, – the fourth in the Dutch series on conceptual Dutch burgher concept, – the fourth in the Dutch series on conceptual history published by Amsterdam University Press – of which the history published by Amsterdam University Press – of which the present article gives an overview, is inspired first and foremost by present article gives an overview, is inspired first and foremost by German studies, especially the collections Bürgerschaft. Rezeption und German studies, especially the collections Bürgerschaft. Rezeption und Innovation der Begrifflichkeit vom Hohen Mittelalter bis ins 19. Jahrhundert Innovation der Begrifflichkeit vom Hohen Mittelalter bis ins 19. Jahrhundert (Koselleck and Schreiner 1994), and Bürgertum. Bürger in der Gesell- (Koselleck and Schreiner 1994), and Bürgertum. Bürger in der Gesell- schaft der Neuzeit (Puhle 1991). The concepts of ‘Bürger’ in the Ge- schaft der Neuzeit (Puhle 1991). The concepts of ‘Bürger’ in the Ge- schichtliche Grundbegriffe (Brunner 1992) and citoyen-sujet-civisme in schichtliche Grundbegriffe (Brunner 1992) and citoyen-sujet-civisme in the Handbuch politisch-soziale Grundbegriffe in Frankreich 1680-1820 the Handbuch politisch-soziale Grundbegriffe in Frankreich 1680-1820 146 146 THE DUTCH CONCEPT OF THE CITIZEN THE DUTCH CONCEPT OF THE CITIZEN (Book 9) were other models for a diachronous national conceptual (Book 9) were other models for a diachronous national conceptual history. With all due respect for the German project on conceptual history. With all due respect for the German project on conceptual history, we have elected to pursue our own Dutch course, like our history, we have elected to pursue our own Dutch course, like our predecessors in Vaderland (Van Sas 1999), Vrijheid (Haitsma Mulier predecessors in Vaderland (Van Sas 1999), Vrijheid (Haitsma Mulier and Velema 1999) and Beschaving (Den Boer 2001), although our and Velema 1999) and Beschaving (Den Boer 2001), although our research starts well from the Middle Ages and considers even the research starts well from the Middle Ages and considers even the twenty-first century. Moreover, the contributions are not written from twenty-first century. Moreover, the contributions are not written from a historic perspective only, but also from the perspective of Dutch a historic perspective only, but also from the perspective of Dutch linguistics, history of law and art history. linguistics, history of law and art history. The term ‘burgher’ and the Dutch synonym poorter, which was The term ‘burgher’ and the Dutch synonym poorter, which was more widely used into the fifteenth century, were the equivalent of more widely used into the fifteenth century, were the equivalent of the Latin concept civis. A burgher was a member of the civitas, the the Latin concept civis. A burgher was a member of the civitas, the established political community. This community, however, was not established political community. This community, however, was not circumscribed by the territory of the sovereign. Even the oldest circumscribed by the territory of the sovereign. Even the oldest sources from the Netherlands, both those in Latin and the ones in sources from the Netherlands, both those in Latin and the ones in the local vernacular, associate burghers with cities. Burghers were the local vernacular, associate burghers with cities. Burghers were regarded first of all as members of the municipal community. This regarded first of all as members of the municipal community. This membership was not yet legally defined, let alone established in an membership was not yet legally defined, let alone established in an administrative context. It did, however, carry a political-legal claim administrative context. It did, however, carry a political-legal claim to a measure of sovereignty. The status and legitimacy of cities and to a measure of sovereignty. The status and legitimacy of cities and burghers were no cause for philosophical contemplation at the time. burghers were no cause for philosophical contemplation at the time. Any understanding of the ideas about burghers and cities – or perhaps Any understanding of the ideas about burghers and cities – or perhaps the term feeling would be more accurate – requires a digressive the term feeling would be more accurate – requires a digressive approach. Piet Leupen has done just that in his analysis of the early approach. Piet Leupen has done just that in his analysis of the early city seals (Leupen 2002). This approach is very informative, as the city seals (Leupen 2002). This approach is very informative, as the design of city seals reveals how such cities view themselves and wish design of city seals reveals how such cities view themselves and wish to be perceived. In his research, Leupen shows that the early cities to be perceived. In his research, Leupen shows that the early cities often featured a fortification on their seal: a gate, a citadel or a often featured a fortification on their seal: a gate, a citadel or a surrounding wall. The image did not necessarily depict an existing surrounding wall. The image did not necessarily depict an existing reinforcement, and many of the cities featuring them did not even reinforcement, and many of the cities featuring them did not even have fortifications at all. Fortifications were not, especially not have fortifications at all. Fortifications were not, especially not primarily, intended to represent reality but symbolized awareness of primarily, intended to represent reality but symbolized awareness of an individual identity. Cities chose the symbol of a gate or a citadel an individual identity. Cities chose the symbol of a gate or a citadel to indicate their claim to autonomy despite legal subordination to to indicate their claim to autonomy despite legal subordination to the sovereign. The interests of the sovereign did not prevail, as the the sovereign. The interests of the sovereign did not prevail, as the city had concerns of its own. The seal symbolized a legitimacy outside city had concerns of its own. The seal symbolized a legitimacy outside the feudal order. the feudal order. 147 147 THE DUTCH CONCEPT OF THE CITIZEN THE DUTCH CONCEPT OF THE CITIZEN (Book 9) were other models for a diachronous national conceptual (Book 9) were other models for a diachronous national conceptual history. With all due respect for the German project on conceptual history.