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This reproduction is the best copy available UMI STANDARDS OF LIVlNG IN THE COMMUNE OF NAMUR, 1263-1429 Grace LuciIe Wakelin A thesis submitted in confonnity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Centre for Medieval Studies University of Toronto O Copyright by Grace Lucile Wakelin ( 19 98) National Library Bibfiothèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Weifington Street 395, nie Weilingtm -ON KIAW OttawaûN K1AW Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence dowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distriiute or sell reproduire, prêter, distriiuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fkom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT Standards of Living in the Commune of Namur, 12651429 subrnitted by Grace Lucile Wakeiin for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 1998 Centre for Medieval Studies University of Toronto Many factors contributed to a favourable standard of living in Namur during the Dampierre period: primarily, its geographical location, its politicai history and its ecclesiastical affiliation. Chapter II deals with the administration of the commune, an oligarchy under the count but sensible of the commune's ancient charter of eeedoms. Minhng was a pnvilege which the count did not delegate, but while he profited from debasing the coinage, he was moderate compared with the excesses of some French kings and Remish counts. The financial policy was directed either towards re-building town fortifications against the threat of Liège or satiang extraordinary comitai demands. its legal system, however, was a better safeguard of Namurois welfare. Chapter QIdiscusses the role of the magistracy in mainraining public order and sanitation, and the contniution of beguines and tertiaries to the care of the aged, ill and infirm. Lepers were segregaed but not quarantined. The role of the regular and secula. orders of the Church was also important. Its schools, solemnities, festivals and processions al1 promoted the soiidarity of the commune. So also did the pasthes of the Namurois, the description of which concludes the chapter. Chapter IV describes the different classes of townspeople, with descendhg degrees of privilege: count arktocracy, bourgeoisie, artisans and marghls. Shelter, clothing and food varied with rank. Chapter V concludes that the Namurois were fortunate in being spared major wars and famines, ifnot recumng plague. Society was stratifieci and yet there was some opportunity to improve one's lot. There was for most people some of that "capability" identified by Amartya Sen as the most important mark of a desirable standard of living. And if we judge the wonh of a society by the care gven to its pauperes, medieval Namur enjoyed a better standard of living than larger, indumial cities in the North. CONTENTS .. ABSTRACT ........................................................................................... ri PREFACE ............................................................................................................ v INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1 CHAPTER I The Genesis of the Commune:Geographicd Setting, Ecclesiastical AtTiIiation, Political History ............................................................. 8 CHAPTER II Administration, Money and Finance, Law ............................................................ 4 1 CHAPTER III Commune and Church ............................................................ .. ........................... 83 CHAPTER IV CIass Distinctions ............................. CHAPTER V Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 1 57 APPENDICES ..................................................~.................................................. 168 Preface In writing this dissertation, 1 am indebted to a number of people: prirnady, to my mentor, Professor John H. Munro, who first tumed my eyes towards Beigium and who has given me invaluable guidance and assistance; to Professor Raymond Van Upen of St. Ignatius University in Antwerp, who fira directed my attention to the possibilities for research in Namur; to Mme Renson in the Namurois archives, who gave me both help and fiiendship; and esprciaiail y, t O Mme Pauiette Chaudière of the Bibliothéque Universitaire Moretus Plantin in Namur. who over three years has continued to search out and photocopy data for me. Her help has been indispensable. Some brief explanatory notes will be useful to the reader unfarniliar with various kinds of measurement in medieval Namur. 1. Calendar Year Various year datings were used in Namur in the Middle Ages. Under Philip the Noble ( 1 196- 12 12), the year began on 25 March, Annunciation Day, as it did in neighbouring Hainaut, with which Namur was cioseiy assocïated. In the second half of the thirteenth century, however, under Guy of Dampierre, Namur adopted the '-style de Pâques", fol10 wing Liégeois practice, and archiepiscopal dating at Cologne. The next change occurred when the bishop of Liège, Adolphe de la Marck decreed that throughout the diocese, the year 1333, which had begun at Easter, would end at Christmas, and that henceforth the styie of the Nativity would be foilowed, and this synem lasted until the late sixteenth century, when Namur and other junsdictions of the Spanish Low Countries adopted 1 January as the beginning of the year, as decreed in 1575 by King Philip II. AU dates in this study have been adjusteci to the new style of Gregory XIII, ordahed 24 2. Measures of area In medieval times, these units varied in size throughout the comty, although their relationship was fixed. 100 petits verges.. .......... 1 journal or arpent of 23 -65 ares' 4 journaux.. ................... -1 bonnier of 94.6 1 ares it is convenient to think of a bonnier as between one and one-haifand three acres. 3. Measures of quantity (dry) 12 dizaines...................... 1 setier.... 30.23 litres 3 5.88 litres combk 8 setiers.. ....................... -1 muid-... -1 8.2 bushels 241 -87 litres rasé 287.0 1 iitres comblé4 4. Measures of quantity (liquid) 1 pinte.. ................................. one-half litre 4 pintes.. ............................... -1 lot (2 litres) 1 setier of wine.. ..................... -ca. 3 0 litres5 5. Money See Appendix 2. 6, Ab breviations AEN - Archives de I'état de Namur ADN - Archives départementales du Nord -- ' See C.R Cheney. Handbwk of Dates for Stridents of EnWh aistory, London 1945. pp. 1- 1 1. and also Alphonse Wauters, Table chronologique des chartes et des dipiômes imprimés c-rrimt l'histoire de la Belgique. vol. K (œIntrOduction".pp. .uxvii-m), Brussets. 1868-lm. ' Sec D.-D. BrouwersersL'admiaistraîion et les finances da comté de Namur da Xme au XVe siècle Ceos et Rentes. vol. 1, Namur. 19 10. p. .W. 3 An are was appro.xhately 100 square metres. ' See Léopold Genicot. L'économie nvale Namuroise au Bas Moyen Age (119P1429), Namur. 1943. p. .Y)DCiv. A setier \vas also a measure of the area for which a setier of seed was required. vii AGR - Archives générales du Royaume Annales: ESC - Annales: Economies, Sociétés, Civilisations ASAN - Annales de la société archéologique de Namur Cart. Nam. - Jules Borgnet, Cartulaire de la commune de Namur RBPH - Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire RN - Revue du Nord IlVTRODUCTION Although the history of Namur dates, archaeologically speaking, nom neolithic times, its written history was late in appeaxing. There are no Namurois medieval chroniclers such as Gislebert of Mons (died 1224), or, in the case of Liège, Jean de Hocsem ( 1 279- 13491, Jean le Bel (o.1290- 13 70) and Jean de Stavelot ( 1388- 1449). The eartiest Namurois historiéin is Paul de Croonendael (ca154 1- 162 1). Not until the nineteenth century did distinctively Namurois historians appear. Forernost of these in time was Jules Borgnet ( 18 17- 1 872). A bt-ief account of his work will explain the enormous debt that al1 students of Namurois history owe to him. In 1848, Borgnet was named keeper of the archives of Namur. These were stacked in cartons or in bundles tied up with corci, or piled loose on the fioor in unheated and badly Iighted rooms in the Palais de Justice. The authorities gnidgingly provided some shelving and tables. Passionately aîtached to Namur and its history and a brilliant paleographer, Borgnet began to son through mountallis of archives. At the sarne the, he was constantly on the watch for archives that he might buy. A used-clothing dealer had some in a consignment from a country cade; book-binden in the town sold him others, and as the efficacy of his work became knowq private cokcton offered by donation or sale, some of their manusaipts. Constantly, he had