KU Leuven Faculty of Arts Blijde Inkomststraat 21 box 3301 3000 LEUVEN, BELGIË Baanrotsen in Brabant Title, power and nobility in the duchy of Brabant in the long fourteenth century Sarah De Decker Presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Advanced Master of Arts in Medieval and Renaissance Studies Supervisor: prof. dr. Hans Cools Academic year 2014-2015 164 096 characters ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In comparison to my dear friends and colleagues from the Advanced Master, it took me some time longer to finish my thesis. The main reason for this was the uncertainty that prevailed at the beginning of this research concerning the question whether I could find baanrotsen in sources for the thirteenth and fourteenth century other than the chronicle of Jan van Heelu. Every time this uncertainty came up, it was met with the positive and motivating spirit of my supervisor prof. dr. Hans Cools. For his patience with me these last two years, for his constant support and for all the encouraging discussions about baanrotsen and Brabant, I would like to sincerely thank him. The completion of this thesis would also never have been realised without the support of my family and friends. To my aunt in particular, Tante Mie, I owe special thanks. She always made time to scrutinize the spelling and grammar of this entire thesis and in doing so, she ensured that I did not had to be embarrassed about my English writing. I would also like to thank my best friends Marjon and Lies, my sister, for the reading, their support and all the hours they sacrificed to listening to all my thoughts and concerns. My brother, who supported me in his own way, and lastly, I would like to thank my parents for their patience, trust and support, which was, and is, invaluable. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................. 2 List of illustrations................................................................................................................................. 6 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 7 2 The duchy of Brabant in the long fourteenth century ............................................................. 10 2.1 The ducal dynasty .......................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Military and financial ‘rock bottom’? ............................................................................................ 12 2.2.1 Aftermath of Woeringen ................................................................................................ 12 2.2.2 Restoration by Jan III?................................................................................................... 13 2.2.3 Johanna and Wenceslas. ................................................................................................ 15 2.3 Towns of Brabant and the ascent to power .................................................................................... 18 2.3.1 Power and towns: true ascent or dead letter? ................................................................ 20 3 Nobility in Brabant ...................................................................................................................... 22 3.1 Powerful aristocracy ...................................................................................................................... 22 3.1.1 Social distinctions: nobles, knights and ministeriales ................................................... 24 3.2 Continuation in the fourteenth century? ........................................................................................ 26 4 The first encounter with baanrotsen in Brabant ....................................................................... 28 4.1 The sources .................................................................................................................................... 28 4.1.1 Narrative sources ........................................................................................................... 28 4.1.2 Diplomatic sources ........................................................................................................ 30 4.2 Functions of baanrotsen ................................................................................................................ 34 4.2.1 Military functions .......................................................................................................... 34 4.2.1.1 Strength of baanrotsen in battle and the composition of their forces ........................ 36 4.2.2 Consultative functions ................................................................................................... 38 4.2.2.1 Financial responsibility ............................................................................................. 42 4.3 Concluding remarks ....................................................................................................................... 44 3 5 Title of baanrots: problems and diffusion ................................................................................. 46 5.1 Baanrots vs baron .......................................................................................................................... 46 5.1.1 Chivalric vs. feudal sphere? .......................................................................................... 46 5.1.2 Further evolution of the titles baanrots and baron ........................................................ 49 5.1.3 Concluding remarks....................................................................................................... 50 5.2 Baanrotsen in neighbouring principalities ..................................................................................... 51 5.2.1 Namur ............................................................................................................................ 51 5.2.2 Holland and Zeeland...................................................................................................... 52 5.2.3 Guelders ......................................................................................................................... 53 5.2.4 Flanders ......................................................................................................................... 54 6 Characteristics of baanrotsen in Brabant .................................................................................. 57 6.1 Seigniories of baanrotsen .............................................................................................................. 58 6.1.1 Baanrotsen on the map .................................................................................................. 59 6.1.1.1 First generation of baanrotsen ................................................................................... 60 6.1.1.2 Second generation of baanrotsen .............................................................................. 62 6.1.1.3 Third generation of baanrotsen ................................................................................. 63 6.1.1.4 Fourth generation of baanrotsen ............................................................................... 65 6.1.1.5 Continuity of seigniories ........................................................................................... 67 6.1.2 Concluding remarks....................................................................................................... 69 6.2 Family relations of baanrotsen ...................................................................................................... 70 6.2.1 Case study: the baanrotsen of Wezemaal...................................................................... 71 6.2.2 Concluding remarks....................................................................................................... 73 6.3 The importance of knighthood and military activities ................................................................... 73 6.3.1 Defining baanrotsen as knights ..................................................................................... 73 6.3.2 Chivalric culture ............................................................................................................ 74 6.3.3 The heart of the army of Brabant .................................................................................. 76 6.3.4 Concluding remarks....................................................................................................... 76 6.4 The ducal council ........................................................................................................................... 77 6.4.1 Equation between baanrotsen and councillors? ............................................................ 77 4 6.4.2 Composition of the ducal council .................................................................................. 78 6.4.2.1 ‘Conseillers ordinaires’ ............................................................................................. 78 6.4.2.2 ‘Conseillers occasionnels’ ......................................................................................... 79 6.4.3 Profile of baanrots - councillors .................................................................................... 80 6.4.4 Concluding remarks......................................................................................................