The judgment of Courtisols, 13 May 847
Based on the edition in J-P. Devroey, "Libres et non-libres sur les terres de Saint-Remi de Reims: La notice judiciare de Courtisols (13 Mai 847) et le Polyptyque d'Hincmar , Journal des Savants (2006), 65-103
Translated by Charles West 2016
Translated by Charles West 2016
On the command of Archbishop HINCMAR, his legates – that is
Sigloard the priest and head of the school of the holy church of Rheims, and
the noble Dodilo vassalus of the
bishop – came to Courtisols. Sitting at the public court, and investigating the
justice of Saint Remi and of the already mentioned lord [Hincmar], they heard a
rumour [sonus] about the mancipia[1]
whose names are given below, and about their genealogy: that they rightly ought
to be servi and ancillae,[2]
because their grandmothers Berta and Avila had been bought by the lord’s price.
The above-mentioned legates, when they heard this, diligently looked into the
matter.
These are the names of those who were present and
questioned: Grimold, Warmher, Leuthad, Ostrold, Adelard, Ivoia, and the
daughter Hildiardis.[3]
They said in response “That is not so, for we ought to be free by birth”.
The already mentioned legates asked if there was anyone
there who knew the truth of this matter or who wanted to prove it. Then very
old witnesses came forward, whose names are these: Hardier, Tedic, Odelmar,
Sorulf, Gisinbrand, Gifard, Teuderic.[4]
And they testified that their origin had been bought by the lord’s price, and that
they ought by justice and law more to be servi
and ancillae than free men and free
women.
Then the legates asked
if the witnesses against them were telling the truth. They [the mancipia] saw and accepted the truth and
proof of the matter, and at once re-entrusted themselves, and re-pledged the
service that had been unjustly held back and neglected for so many days,
through the judgement of the scabini[5],
whose names are these: Geimfrid, Ursold, Frederic, Urslaud, Hroderaus,
Herleher, Ratbert, Gislehard.
ENACTED in Courtisols on the 4th Ides of May in
the public court, in the sixth year of the reign of the glorious King Charles;
and in the third year of the rule of Archbishop Hincmar of the holy see of
Reims.
Sign: I Sigloard the priest was present and subscribed with
my own hand to all these truthful matters. I Heronod the chancellor signed. I
Dodilo signed with my own hand. Sign of Leidrad the monk. Sign of Adroin the
mayor. Sign of Gozfred the advocate. Sign of Flotgis. Sign of Guntio. Sign of
Betto. Sign of Rigfred. Sign of Urinus. Sign of Alacramn, Altiaud, Balsmus,
Balthard, Fredemar, Tuehtar, Atuhar, Geroard, Wido, Righard, Amalhad, Rafold,
Alter, Amalbert.[6] I
Hairoald the chancellor authorised and signed.
The above mentioned witnesses also proved that Teutbert and
Blithelm were by origin servi, and
they repledged their service in that court meeting, by the judgement of the scabini whose names are written above.
[1] Mancipia is a term that generally means
‘unfree people’, and that would traditionally be translated as ‘slaves’. In
property transfer records, mancipia
are listed as part of an estate’s assets, along with livestock and agricultural
infrastructure.
[2]
Ie, male and female slaves/servants.
[3]
These people are listed in the estate survey for Courtisols that was made
around the same time (in the polyptych of St-Remi). It is to be noted that many
of them were joint tenants of holdings along with people of free status, which may
well be why they claimed that they were free too.
[4]
All these witnesses were legally-free inhabitants of Courtisols.
[5] Scabini were residents who enjoyed a
special status: something like jurors or local councillors.
[6]
Most of these names were other residents of Courtisols.
