=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-1399/paper11
|storemode=property
|title=Who's Who in Late Medieval Brussels
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1399/paper11.pdf
|volume=Vol-1399
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/bd/Vannieuwenhuyze15
}}
==Who's Who in Late Medieval Brussels==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1399/paper11.pdf
Who’s who in late medieval Brussels
Bram Vannieuwenhuyze
Caldenberga – KU Leuven
Elsegemplein 46
9790 Elsegem
Belgium
E-mail: Bram.Vannieuwenhuyze@arts.kuleuven.be
Abstract
Historians face many difficulties when plumbing the depths of the very dynamic and heterogenic population structures of pre-modern
towns, especially because very few sources encompass the various layers of the urban population. In this paper I argue that it is
necessary to collect and unlock larger amounts of data in databases, which in turn allow to compose multi-facetted biographies of
townspeople and finally pave the way for urban prosopography. That is exactly the aim of the current Who’s who in late medieval
Brussels database project, which unlocks biographical data on people who worked, lived or stayed in Brussels before 1600. In this
paper I will shortly explain the configuration of the database and take it as a case study for balancing some of the methodological issues
and present some research perspectives.
Keywords: databases, prosopography, urban history
and his court, state officials, court suppliers, different
1. Introduction types of fortune seekers, etc. Yet, the complex population
Without any doubt pre-modern towns were characterised structures and social evolutions of these cities contrast
by very dynamic and heterogenic population structures. with their biased representation as prosperous court cities,
Historians face many difficulties when plumbing the both by the contemporary people and by the historians.
depths of this complex phenomenon, especially because Brussels, for instance, is often considered as « the
very few sources encompass the various layers of the princely capital of the Low Countries », and we notice
urban population. Indeed, most documents focus on that historians do not hesitate to use this epithet as a pars
specific socio-professional groups (e.g. the town’s pro toto for the whole late medieval and early modern
magistracy, members of craft guilds and confraternities, period. More importantly, social characteristics and
town and state officials, urban nobility, the clergy, changes are often explained by referring to the city’s
families, poor people, widows, orphans, artists) or on function as a seat of lordly power. But apart from the
people who are carrying out similar activities (e.g. magnificence of the court, the development of Brussels
merchants, immigrants, criminals, landowners, was also due to its function as a local market-place, to the
benefactors). Historians mainly pay attention to the opportunities offered by its topographic situation, to the
general demographic evolution of the entire town (for blooming of particular industries (especially the textile
Brussels, e.g. Cosemans, 1966; Baerten, 1981) or study industry) and to the power of the civic government and
the socio-economic profiles of people belonging to very ecclesiastical authorities. Without any doubt the
specific urban groups and communities, of whom the characteristics and evolutions of population structures
majority have to be included with the elites (for Brussels, were tributary to a whole range of factors too.
e.g. Vandervelde, 1958; Sosson, 1961; Sosson, 1962; van It is of course very difficult – not to say impossible – to
Parys and de Cacamp, 1971; Paquay, 2003; Roobaert, make an all-embracing and in-depth study of the
2003; Deligne, Billen and Kusman, 2004; Sleiderink, pre-modern urban population. However, the question
2014). Without any doubt such a ‘narrow’ viewpoint is remains if it is possible to obtain a more nuanced view. In
necessary to by-pass the complexity of population this paper, I argue that this goal can only be achieved by
structures, but it also leads to a fragmented image of urban collecting, unlocking and studying larger amounts of data
society as a whole. Yet, the path of life of most people was in databases, since it allows to compose multi-facetted
not fixed in advance, and it seems hazardous, then, to link biographies of townspeople and finally pave the way for
people to one and the same social group. Various urban prosopography. That is exactly the aim of the
biographies (for Brussels, e.g. Maesschalck and Viaene, current Who’s who in late medieval Brussels project,
1985; Roobaert, 2002; Sleiderink and Vannieuwenhuyze, which unlocks biographical data on thousands of people
2012) indeed show how people changed their lives and who worked, lived or stayed in Brussels before 1600. Of
networks regularly. course, such an undertaking requires serious efforts. In
The situation is even more complex for the pre-modern this paper I will explain the configuration of the Who’s
capital cities. Thanks to their status and importance, these who in late medieval Brussels database and take it as a
cities housed and attracted particular people: the landlord case study for balancing some of the methodological
issues and present some research opportunities (for more
68
details and background information, see also different fields. Unfortunately not all fields and crosslinks
Vannieuwenhuyze, 2014). could be incorporated. At this moment, some 33.000
records have been delivered to the State Archives and
2. The Who’s who in late medieval Brussels should be available online soon (situation on 29 May
database 2015).
The configuration of the Who’s who in late medieval The Who’s who in late medieval Brussels database
Brussels database dates back to the start of an individual includes data on individual people who worked, lived or
doctoral research project on the topographic development stayed in Brussels up to 1600. The names of these people
of late medieval Brussels in 2003 (see Vannieuwenhuyze, are registered and linked to the source which provides the
2008). The initial ambition was to collect and link information (both historical records and scholarly
information on topographic features and on people living literature). Yet, people are only registered if these sources
in Brussels up to 1570, in order to analyse the provide additional biographical data (e.g. a profession or
socio-topographic patterns and evolutions of the late an office, a title or degree, the membership of an
medieval and early modern city. Unfortunately, this association or a social group, the names of family
project was too ambitious because of the huge mass, members, etc.) or inform us about his/her connection to
complexity and heterogeneity of the source material, topographic features and/or activities inside the city.
including transaction deeds, land books, urban edicts, Unfortunately, it is not always clear whether a person was
princely ordinances and privileges, accountancy, maps, effectively present in Brussels or not. For some people,
and so forth. However, both the topographical and the their presence inside the city is explicitly mentioned in the
people’s database were realised and regularly updated records (e.g. a person who bought a house, a traveller who
afterwards; they now contain respectively 12.261 and visited the city, a merchant who sold his goods on a
40.314 entries (situation on 29 May 2015). market-place, a person holding a public office, a criminal
In order to save the mass of collected data and the many who was punished by the aldermen, etc.), but for others it
efforts that have been done, the province of is not. Their presence in the city can, however, be
Vlaams-Brabant and the Flemish heritage institution of presumed, as is for instance the case for the hundreds of
Brussels funded a small scale heritage project in order to state officials, noblemen and subcontractors who worked
unlock the people’s database on the internet. This will be for or followed the court. In short, all people in the
achieved with the support of the Belgian State Archives, database can be traced and classified by applying two sets
of filters: ‘spatial/topographical filters’ (presence in the
city and/or link with a particular topographic feature) and
‘biographical filters’ (family ties, professional situation,
social groups).
Instead of creating ‘personal files’ – in other words:
arranging all data on a particular person in one single
entry –, each reference to an individual person is
registered separately. Consequently, for some persons the
database contains more than one entry. The famous,
fourteenth-century ‘urban hero’ and alderman Everard
T’Serclaes (†1388), for instance, is registered eighteen
times. Various stages of his life and various activities are
registered and can be found back separately. In this
respect, the database mirrors the complexity and
heterogeneity of both the source material and pre-modern
urban society. Arguably, this important choice might seem
rather unpractical from a user’s perspective. From the
Figure 1: Homepage of the Zoeken naar Personen online search designer’s perspective, however, it is the only way to
robot of the Belgian State Archives. make good progress with the work, since it is a very
time-consuming operation to check for each person
who are currently integrating the database into their whether he or she is already registered or not.
central online search robot Zoeken naar However, this choice allows to avoid some awkward
Personen/Rechercher des Personnes, which actually identification problems. It is commonly known that late
contains not less than 26.641.512 entries (situation on 29 medieval and early modern texts are not always consistent
May 2015; see Figure 1).1 Logically, the Who’s who in with regard to the orthography and translation of proper
late medieval Brussels database had to be adapted in order names. A person called Hendrik de Smet could likewise
to integrate it into the State Archives’ system, especially have been mentioned as Heinrec de Smedt or Henric
by standardising and/or reducing the content of the Smeets. In the few French documents and in the abundant
French scholarly literature, his name would be translated
as Henri le Forgeron, while Latin scribes would have
1
For more information, see the project’s website: written Henricus Faber. Secondly, identification of late
http://search.arch.be/nl/zoeken-naar-personen.
69
medieval townspeople is seriously hindered by the fact surname, type of the source, date, occupation(s) or
that different persons bore the same name. It was a office(s), title(s), names of family members) and those
common practice to name one of the sons after the father fields where it is allowed to indicate interpretation
or grandfather and one of the daughters after the mother or problems and difficulties (e.g. the field with the original
grandmother. But even apart from family ties people were text transcription, the field with comments) (see Figure 2).
often called the same way, as Table 1 clearly shows. It As a result, it is possible to search and filter the database
seems that in the second half of the fourteenth century and quite efficiently, without losing the possibility to verify
the beginning of the fifteenth century, different persons the original text fragment and check the references.
called Jan van Laken lived or worked in Brussels. We
might suppose that the four stonecutters named Jan van
Laken were one and the same person, although they also
could be fathers and sons. We certainly may not identify
them as the priest Jan van Laken, nor as the baker Jan van
Laken. It remains however unclear how we should
identify the three (other?) persons called Jan van Laken
without indication of occupation.
Orignal text Year Profession - Social group
office
Johanni 1292 / /
Johannis de Laken 1321 / /
her Jans […] van 1361 priest
Laken priesters parochiaan of St Figure 2: Example of an entry of the Who’s who in late medieval
prochiaen wilen was Nicholas’ parish
in Senter Claes
Brussels database.
prochie vors.
Johannis de Laken 1364
Obviously, the quality and quantity of the data differ from
source to source. Some only indicate the occupation,
Jan van Laken 1392 stonecutter stonecutter’s guild
sworn man of the while others provide lots of biographical information and
stonecutter’s evoke the activities, networks, behaviour, thoughts and
guild
emotions of people. It is of course not easy to register all
Jan van Laken 1393 stonecutter stonecutter’s guild these data and date them precisely. Sometimes, they can
sworn man of the
stonecutter’s be dated precisely, but very often, the sources refer to
guild things that happened during a longer time span in the past
Jan van Laken 1394 stonecutter stonecutter’s guild or will happen in the future. The chronological problem,
sworn man of the for instance, manifests itself when the documents mention
stonecutter’s
guild people who have died earlier, which is the case for some
900 persons registered in the Who’s who in late medieval
Jan van Laken / stonecutter’s guild
Brussels database. In other words, they appear in
Jan van Laken beckere 1408 baker confraternity of St documents that were created and dated much more
Jacob’s
recently (especially property lists, transaction deeds,
wilen Jans van Laken / baker obituaria, etc.). Unfortunately, the standardization rules
beckers
of the database do not allow to furcate the dating or to
Jan van Laken rietmaker confraternity of St provide termini ante quem or post quem, since this kind of
riemakere Jacob’s
data is hardly searchable. Hence, users should always bear
in mind that there can be a significant difference in time
Table 1: Men called Jan van Laken in late medieval Brussels. between the editing or promulgation of a document and its
content (in this case the mentioning of a person). This
Another important methodological choice concerns the situation can of course influence search results and filter
standardization of the data. It is commonly known that operations, although the margin of error remains, after all,
accuracy and clearness are not the strong points of late quite small.
medieval and early modern texts. In many cases the
content, the aim or the date of the record remain vague, 3. Research perspectives
and (parts of) texts are sometimes difficult to understand
The Who’s who in late medieval Brussels project was
due to missing fragments, damage, bad copying, or the
initially funded in order to unlock the data through the
use of abbreviations, translations and incomprehensible
Zoeken naar Personen search robot of the Belgian State
terminology. Yet, a digital database that aims to be
Archives. Logically, the second aim is to enhance new
searchable, offers little room for uncertainties. For that
scholarly research on the pre-modern population
reason there is a clear distinction between the fields which
structures and evolutions of Brussels. Since the unlocking
contain well-defined, standardized data (e.g. name and
of the database is still in progress, it is not yet possible to
70
present the results of new fundamental research projects or acted as powerful moneylenders (e.g. some members of
here. Therefore, I am obliged to confine myself to some the butcher’s craft guild, see Deligne, Billen and Kusman,
small cases, which hopefully show the potential of the 2004). But logically, the opposite movement also took
database. place. Let us, for instance, take the case of the T’Serclaes
First of all, the database will be of incalculable value for family, which clearly belonged to the lineages: the
establishing new or completing existing biographies of majority of the 271 members of the T’Serclaes family
people who lived, worked or visited Brussels in the late who are registered in the database, can be identified as
medieval and early modern period. In addition, new lords and knights, or held public offices that were
prosopographical research will also benefit from data reserved for members of the lineages. However, at least
taken from the Who’s who in late medieval Brussels three men named T’Serclaes did not belong to these
project, especially since it is possible to search and extract lineages. Heinric T’Serclaes and Jan T’Serclaes became
larger amounts of data for people who belong to the same member of the masons’ craft guild, respectively in 1435
professional groups, social networks or families. In this and in 1439, which undoubtedly means that they were (or
respect, it would for instance be possible to make an had become) craftsmen. It is probably not a coincidence
in-depth study of the social profiles of the city officials, as that this happened in a period of heavy economic crisis.
has already been done for smaller towns elsewhere (e.g. Perhaps both men became impoverished and decided to
Van Steensel, 2006; see also Prevenier, 1972), or to define seek their fortune in the building sector. Jooris T’Serclaes
which craft guilds succeeded in gaining political power in was born in 1433 as the bastard son of Wenceslas
the fifteenth century, by surveying the craftsmen who took T’Serclaes. He got involved in the revolt against the
up the office of councillor. Recently, scholars have made emperor Maximilian of Austria in the 1480’s and was
use of the data provided by the database for studying even imprisoned and banished from the city. Later he was
female agency with regard to real estate (Bardyn, 2014) or somehow rehabilitated, because he obtained a master’s
for prosopographical research on the chamber of rhetoric degree and became a city clerk. Anyway, the three cases
de Korenbloem (Sleiderink, 2014). show that downwards social mobility also took place
The database will also be of great value for new research among the lineages.
on late medieval and early modern immigration to the city Finally, I want to stress that the database can enhance the
of Brussels. At the moment, the only available data for study of phenomena that until now remain unknown or
this neglected field of study are provided by the lists of unstudied (at least for late medieval and early modern
new citizens (Godding, 1962; Caluwaerts, 2010). After Brussels), such as the informal networks between people,
all, these lists are quite scarce. Moreover, citizenship was associations and institutions. Logically, this phenomenon
only available to those who could meet the legal is very difficult to capture because of the intangibility of
conditions and pay the registration fee. The large group of the subject. Needless to say that we do not have official
immigrants who moved to Brussels without paying the lists of the informal networks at our disposal. The
fee, is much more difficult to capture in the sources, database can offer help, since it allows for instance to
especially because their names were never listed together. trace straw men that acted ‘on behalf of’ charitable and
The database can offer help in three ways: 1/ in some ecclesiastical institutions. On 29 July 1553, for instance,
documents the birthplace or origin of people is the city’s secretary Franchois vander Baren acted on
mentioned, and this information is registered behalf of the chapter of St Gudula’s church. It seems that
(respectively 43 and 578 entries); 2/ the titles of the nobles the ecclesiastical institution not always relied on its own
who only resided temporarily in the city or just followed staff of clerics for editorial work, but also hired city
the court, can give an indication of their possessions and officials. It remains a question whether this only happened
origins; and 3/ many surnames refer to the origin of the on special occasions or much more frequently and why.
person (or one of his ancestors). Although these data may Another case is much more intriguing: on 2 March 1439,
certainly not be used thoughtlessly, they make it possible the cleric Arnoldus de Lyra (Arnold or Aert van Lier in
to indicate trends (e.g. the existence of immigration Dutch) acted on behalf of the St Gorik’s church with
waves, the mapping of the origins of Brussels’ regard to a property transaction. Unfortunately, the
immigrants), which subsequently can be checked by document does not inform us about the relationship
in-depth research. between the cleric and the church. Other documents from
Research based on the Who’s who in late medieval the early fifteenth-century however identify Aert van
Brussels project can also lead to a more nuanced view on Liere either as a dyer or as guardian of the St Jacob’s
the distinction between the city elites, assembled in seven hospital, but it remains unclear if all these references
lineages (geslachten), and the craftsmen, represented by relate to one and the same person. The Who’s who in late
the guild associations (ambachten, natiën). For Brussels, medieval Brussels database contains no less than 381
the traditional scholarly literature on this topic makes a examples of this kind of straw men and can offer a solid
very clear distinction between both milieus (e.g. Des ground for studying this intriguing phenomenon more
Marez, 1905-1906; Bonenfant, 1920-1921; Favresse, profoundly. It seems that the majority of these straw men
1932; Baerten, 1985). Exceptionally, social promotion is acted on behalf of ecclesiastical and charitable
noticed, for instance when a rich craftsman succeeded in institutions, but also (and surprisingly) on behalf of the
joining the ranks of one of the lineages (e.g. by marriage) landlord (the duke of Brabant) and the city’s
71
administration. This is all the more intriguing, since we l’Université de Bruxelles, 26(1), pp. 566--594.
may logically expect that, in normal circumstances, these Caluwaerts, J. (2010). Poorters van Brussel 1350-1795
institutions delegated one or more of their administrators Bourgeois de Bruxelles. I B 1501-1600. Leuven: Jan
or clerks in order to defend their rights. Further research is Caluwaerts.
needed in order to identify these unofficial Cosemans, A. (1966). Bijdrage tot de demografische en
representatives, to unravel their relationship with the sociale geschiedenis van de stad Brussel 1796 – 1846.
institutions they represented and to understand the Brussels: Gemeentekrediet van België.
underlying incentives. Daelemans, F. (1989). De bevolking tijdens het ancien
régime. In A. Smolar-Meynart & J. Stengers (Eds.), Het
4. Epilogue Gewest Brussel. Van de oude dorpen tot de stad van nu.
The compilation and unlocking of the Who’s who in late Brussels: Gemeentekrediet van België, pp. 130--137.
medieval Brussels database was (and still is) a long-term Deligne, Ch., Billen, C. and Kusman D. (2004). Les
project. Anyone who is seeking information on people bouchers bruxellois au bas Moyen Age. Profils
who lived, worked or stayed in late medieval Brussels can d'entrepreneurs. In S. Jaumain & K. Bertrams (Eds.),
benefit from the large amounts of data that are now Patrons, gens d'affaires et banquiers. Hommages à
available online. I hope to have shown in the preceding Ginette Kurgan-van Hentenryck. Brussels: Le Livre
paragraphs that the database has a big potential, both in Timperman, pp. 69--92.
gathering dispersed data and in opening new lines of Des Marez, G. (1905-1906). Les luttes sociales à
research. Yet, the data should always be used with Bruxelles au Moyen Age, Revue de l’Université de
caution, since they are manipulated in order to make them Bruxelles, 2(4-5), pp. 287--323.
searchable. Favresse, F. (1932). L’avènement du régime démocratique
Secondly, I hope that this project will urge other scholars à Bruxelles pendant le Moyen Age (1306-1423).
to launch similar projects or to unlock their datasets too, Brussels: Maurice Lamertin.
both for the scholarly world and the wider audience. The Godding, Ph. (1962). La bourgeoisie foraine de Bruxelles
Who’s who in medieval Brussels project is surely du XIVe au XVIe siècles. Cahiers bruxellois, 7(1), pp.
extendable to other pre-modern cities, towns, villages and 1--64.
regions, especially because it relies on a wide range of Maesschalck, A. and Viaene, J. (1985). Bouwmeester Jan
source types that are also available elsewhere. Hopefully van Ruisbroek, herdacht (1486-1986), Tijdschrift voor
this paper has enhanced some kind of knowledge transfer Brusselse Geschiedenis, 2, pp. 17--109.
with regard to methodological questions and heuristic Paquay, I. (2003), Niveaux de vie du "peuple des villes" à
choices that are inextricably related to the configuration la fin du Moyen Âge. Étude d’un cas: charpentiers et
of people’s databases for the pre-modern era. charpentiers de moulins à Bruxelles au XVE siècle. In
Ph. Guignet (Ed.), Le peuple des villes dans l’Europe
5. Acknowledgements du Nord-Ouest (fin du Moyen Âge - 1945). Volume I.
Colloque organisé à Villeneuve-d'Ascq par le
The Who’s who in late medieval database project was
CRHEN-O Équipe "Espace et Cultures de la ville"
financed by the province of Vlaams-Brabant in 2012 and
Maison de la Recherche les 23, 24 et 25 novembre
the Flemish heritage institution of Brussels in 2013. I
2000. Lille: Centre de Recherche sur l'Histoire de
want to thank the State Archives of Belgium, especially
l'Europe du Nord-Ouest - Université Charles de Gaulle
Harald Deceulaer, Eddy Lermytte and Marc Carnier, for
- Lille 3, pp. 365--394.
offering the opportunity to integrate the database into
Prevenier, W. (1972). Ambtenaren in stad en land in de
their online central search robot Zoeken naar
Nederlanden. Socio-professionele evoluties (veertiende
Personen/Rechercher des Personnes. Finally I would like
tot zestiende eeuw), Bijdragen en mededelingen
to express my gratitude to Bart Lambert (Durham
betreffende de geschiedenis der Nederlanden, 87(1),
University) for the correction of the English text.
pp. 44--59.
Roobaert, E. (2002). Jan de Clerck dit van Antwerpen,
6. References
licier et marchand de tapisseries: sa participation à la
Baerten, J. (1981). De omvang van de Brabantse vie publique et au développement de l'industrie de la
hoofdsteden in de 14de en de 15de eeuw. Een kritische tapisserie à Bruxelles (1486 à 1539), Annales de la
bijdrage tot de historische demografie, Bijdragen tot de Société Royale d'Archéologie de Bruxelles, 65, pp.
Geschiedenis, 64(1-2), pp. 9--14. 61--104.
Baerten, J. (1985). De politieke evolutie te Brussel in de Roobaert, E. (2003). Priesters en rederijkers te Brussel in
15de eeuw, Tijdschrift voor Brusselse Geschiedenis, de eerste helft van de zestiende eeuw, Spiegel der
2(1-2), pp. 111--122. Letteren, 45(3), pp. 267--293.
Bardyn, A. (2014). Vermogende vrouwen. Het Sleiderink, R. (2014). De schandaleuze spelen van 1559
vastgoedbezit van vrouwen in laatmiddeleeuws en de leden van De Corenbloem. Het
Brussel op basis van cijnsregisters (1356-1460), socioprofessionele, literaire en religieuze profiel van de
Stadsgeschiedenis, 9(1), pp. 1--24. Brusselse rederijkerskamer, Belgisch Tijdschrift voor
Bonenfant, P. (1920-1921). Le premier gouvernement Filologie en Geschiedenis, 92, pp. 847--875.
démocratique à Bruxelles (1303-1306). Revue de
72
Sleiderink, R. and Vannieuwenhuyze, B. (2012). Everard
T’Serclaes. Beeldvorming en lieux de mémoire rond
een Brusselse stadsheld, Tijd-Schrift. Heemkunde en
lokaal-erfgoedpraktijk in Vlaanderen, 2(1), pp. 6--21.
Sosson, J.-P. (1961). Quelques aspects sociaux de
l’artisanat bruxellois de métal (1360-1500), Cahiers
bruxellois, 6(2), pp. 98--122.
Sosson, J.-P. (1962). L’artisanat bruxellois du métal:
hiérarchie sociale, salaires et puissance économique
(1360-1500), Cahiers bruxellois, 7(4), pp. 225--258.
Vandervelde, J. (1958). Recherches sur les Origines du
Patriciat Bruxellois. In C.-R. Paternostre de la Mairieu
(Ed.), Tablettes du Brabant. Généalogie - Histoire –
Héraldique. Hombeek: s.n., pp. 25--40.
Vannieuwenhuyze, B. (2008). Brussel, de ontwikkeling
van een middeleeuwse stedelijke ruimte. Unpublished
PhD Thesis. Ghent University.
Vannieuwenhuyze, B. (2014). Wie is wie in
laatmiddeleeuws Brussel? De ontsluiting van een
databank met 32.000 laatmiddeleeuwse Brusselaars,
Vlaamse Stam, 50(6), pp. 530--550.
Van Steensel, A. (2006). Het personeel van de
laatmiddeleeuwse steden Haarlem en Leiden,
1428-1527, Jaarboek voor Middeleeuwse Geschiedenis
9, Hilversum: Verloren, pp. 191--252.
van Parys H.-Ch. and de Cacamp F. (1971). Généalogie
des familles inscrites aux Lignages de Bruxelles en
1376 d’après les travaux de J.B. Houwaert et d’après
les sources originales. Brussels: Genealogicum
belgicum, 1971.
73