Capitulary of Herstal

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The Capitulary of Herstal, or Capitulare Haristalense, was a capitulary issued during the reign of Charlemagne which was intended to organize the functioning of the kingdom of the Franks, especially the restoration of order in the Church and State, and the strengthening of royal power. It was drawn up within the framework of a mixed assembly of the kingdom (counts and bishops) in March 779.

Contents

Context

The assembly of counts, abbots and bishops met at Herstal, for 14 years Charlemagne's favourite residence, in March 779, [1] [2] following a serious political crisis linked to the disaster of the expedition to Spain, the uprising of the Saxons who threatened Cologne, and the fear of other revolts in Aquitaine and Septimania. Added to this was a severe famine, which Charlemagne tried to combat with the capitulary. François Louis Ganshof wrote that "Undoubtedly in the opinion of Charlemagne and his counsellors, the crises of 778 were interpreted as a warning from Heaven to eradicate scandalous abuses and to make justice prevail." [3]

The two capitularies of Herstal

Two capitularies were drawn up in March 779, the other being known as the Capitulare episcoporum. Hubert Mordek, in a detailed investigation, establishes the dating of March 779 and associates the two capitularies, where Boretius  [ de ] leaned towards the beginning of the year 780 and Ganshof towards 792-793. [4] It can also be found named as "the double capitulary of Herstal". [5]

Significance

The Capitulary of Herstal is the first text to use the term capitulare in the same sense as constitutio, decretum or even edictum, terms with a strong "legislative" connotation linked to imperial authority during the Later Roman Empire. [3] Carlo De Clercq, in 1936, described the capitulary of 779 as "the constitutive charter that Charlemagne gave to all the territories of the ancient Frankish kingdom". [6]

Content

The Capitulary contains 23 clauses, the first seven dealing with Church matters, the remainder aimed at the laity. [7] [8] The payment of tithes, of which a part are to be devoted to relieving the poor, is made obligatory throughout the Frankish kingdom. [9] The subordination of priests to bishops and of bishops to metropolitans is stressed. The king's vassals are ordered, on pain of losing their offices, to administer justice fairly against murderers, robbers and perjurers, [10] particular emphasis being laid on these measures to maintain order. Frankish counts are empowered to execute or mutilate offenders provided that they do so to secure justice, rather than to advance their own private ends. The formation of armed bands is prohibited. [11] Feuds are henceforth to be settled by the payment of compensation. [12]

Citations

  1. ↑ Fried, Johannes (2016). Charlemagne. Translated by Lewis, Peter. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. p. 253. ISBN   9780674737396 . Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  2. ↑ Kupper, Jean-Louis (1981). Liège et l'église impériale, XIe–XIIe siècles. Bibliothèque de la Faculté de Philosophie et Lettres de l'Université de Liège, fasc. 228 (in French). Paris: Les Belles Lettres. p. 95. ISBN   9782251662282 . Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  3. 1 2 Ganshof, F. L. (1971). The Carolingians and the Frankish monarchy. Translated by Sondheimer, Janet. Harlow: Longman. pp. 143–144. ISBN   0582482275 . Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  4. ↑ Mordek, Hubert (2005). "Karls des Großen zweites Kapitular von Herstal und die Hungersnot der Jahre 778/779". Deutsches Archiv für Erforschung des Mittelalters (in German). 61: 1–52.
  5. ↑ "Les Carolingiens dans le bassin mosan autour de palais de Herstal et de Jupille". À la une (in French). Université de Liège. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  6. ↑ De Clercq, Carlo (1936). La législation religieuse franque de Clovis à Charlemagne: étude sur les actes de conciles et les capitulaires, les statuts diocésains et les règles monastiques (507 – 814). Université de Louvain. Recueil de travaux publiés par les membres des Conférences d'histoire et de philologie. 2e sér.; fasc. 38 (in French). Louvain: Bureau du recueil, Bibliothèque de l'Université. p. 159. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  7. ↑ Herrin, Judith (2021) [1987]. The Formation of Christendom. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. p. 432. ISBN   9780691219219 . Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  8. ↑ Bullough, D. A. (1991). Carolingian Renewal: Sources and Heritage. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 129. ISBN   0719033543 . Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  9. ↑ Devroey, Jean-Pierre (2017). "La 'mauvaise année' 779 : accès à la nourriture et bon gouvernement en période d'échec des récoltes céréalières". In Close, Florence; Dierkens, Alain; Wilkin, Alexis (eds.). Les Carolingiens dans le bassin mosan autour des palais de Herstal et de Jupille: actes de la journée d'étude tenue à Herstal le 24 février 2014. Les dossiers de l'IPW, 27 (in French). Namur: Institut du patrimoine wallon. p. 45. ISBN   9782875221988 . Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  10. ↑ Pennington, Kenneth (1999) [1996]. "Roman and Secular Law". In Mantello, F. A. C.; Rigg, A. G. (eds.). Medieval Latin: An Introduction and Bibliographical Guide. Washington, D. C.: Catholic University of America Press. p. 258. ISBN   0813208416 . Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  11. ↑ Collins, Roger (1998). Charlemagne. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 108. ISBN   0802082181 . Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  12. ↑ Ewig, Eugen (1969). "The Age of Charles the Great, 768–814". The Church in the Age of Feudalism. By Kempf, Friedrich; Beck, Hans-Georg; Ewig, Eugen; Jungmann, Josef Andreas. Translated by Biggs, Anselm. New York: Herder and Herder. p. 70. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
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