From Servitude to Freedom : Manumission in the Sénonais in the Thirteenth Century

Manumission—the freeing of serfs—was of major significance to medieval French society. William Chester Jordan studies the causes and consequences of the movement. Manumission—the freeing of serfs—was of major significance to medieval French society. William Chester Jordan studies the causes and consequences of the movement.

During the thirteenth century, many great French nobles and churchmen who possessed serfs decided to grant freedom to them or at least to remove some of their disabilities. Manumission—that granting of freedom­-was of major significance to medieval French society. William Chester Jordan studies the causes and consequences of the movement toward manumission by looking at the region around Sens in northern France. He supplements this regional approach with an intensive case study of the freeing of a group of serfs by the abbey of Saint-Pierre-le-Vif of Sens.

Using various scholarly methods for investigating regional communities, Jordan examines the numerous and complex reasons for the granting of freedom and, insofar as possible, the attitudes and hopes of those freed. He discusses in detail the sociological aspects of the manumission process and the profound uncertainties associated with it, and he explores the effects of manumission­-particularly the economic effects. His conclusions are based not only on the evidence gathered from Sens, but also on extensive comparisons with other regions in northern France and in England.

From Servitude to Freedom makes a significant contribution to the history of the European peasantry in the thirteenth century. It will be of value to scholars interested in medieval history, French history, and social history.

During the thirteenth century, many great French nobles and churchmen who possessed serfs decided to grant freedom to them or at least to remove some of their disabilities. Manumission—that granting of freedom­-was of major significance to medieval French society. William Chester Jordan studies the causes and consequences of the movement toward manumission by looking at the region around Sens in northern France. He supplements this regional approach with an intensive case study of the freeing of a group of serfs by the abbey of Saint-Pierre-le-Vif of Sens. Using various scholarly methods for investigating regional communities, Jordan examines the numerous and complex reasons for the granting of freedom and, insofar as possible, the attitudes and hopes of those freed. He discusses in detail the sociological aspects of the manumission process and the profound uncertainties associated with it, and he explores the effects of manumission­-particularly the economic effects. His conclusions are based not only on the evidence gathered from Sens, but also on extensive comparisons with other regions in northern France and in England. From Servitude to Freedom makes a significant contribution to the history of the European peasantry in the thirteenth century. It will be of value to scholars interested in medieval history, French history, and social history. Contents 5 Preface 7 Part One: Status and Manumission 11 1. Historiography and Sources 11 2. Status and Manumission in the Sénonais 27 Part Two: Case Study 45 3. The Struggle for Freedom of the Dependents of the Abbey of Saint-Pierre-le-Vif of Sens 45 Part Three: Complexities Of Manumission 69 4. Arranging to Pay 69 5. Residual Problems 89 Epilogue 105 Notes 109 Bibliography 139 Index 151