Politics in the Second Middle Ages (11th - mid 15th Century)

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the political development of medieval cities, the societal conflicts between social classes, the historical details and memory of the Battle of the Golden Spurs, and the modern administrative structure of Belgium.

Keuren

Solemn documents in which the privileges (voorrechten) granted by the count to a city were recorded.

Schepenen

Officials appointed to administer justice within a city who eventually took over its governance.

Belfort

A tower that served as a symbol of urban power and was used to store a city's precious charters (keuren).

Patriciërs

Wealthy families who initially held a monopoly on the city's administration and viewed themselves as a new type of nobility.

Het gemeen

The common people, specifically craftsmen (ambachtslui) and day laborers (dagloners), who lacked political say and felt exploited by the patricians.

Accijnzen

Taxes on consumer goods (verbruiksartikelen), similar to modern VAT.

Gwijde van Dampierre

The Count of Flanders who was imprisoned by the French King Filips de Schone after seeking an alliance with England and support from city craftsmen.

Guldensporenslag

The Battle of the Golden Spurs, which took place on 11 July $1302$ at Kortrijk, where urban craftsmen defeated the French royal knightly army.

Collectieve geheugen

The collective memory; the way a specific group of people remembers and gives meaning to the past, often not based on critical source research.

Vlaamse Beweging

The Flemish Movement, which from $1870$ campaigned for more rights for Flemings and used the Battle of the Golden Spurs as a symbol of resistance.

Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck

Figures portrayed by romantic historical accounts as the heroic leaders of the Battle of the Golden Spurs.

Chronique Artésienne

An anonymous French source from ca. $1304$ that attributes the French defeat at Kortrijk to a hidden ditch used by the Flemish to drown knights.

Annales Gandenses

The Ghent Yearbooks written by an anonymous monk ca. $1308$ that portrays the Flemish victory as an act of God and result of brave leadership.

Grote Keure van Gent

A law and custom code established by Filips, count of Flanders and Viromandië, between $1165$ and $1177$.

Bestuursniveau: Federaal

The Belgian federal level responsible for national finances, defense, justice, social security, and foreign affairs.

Bestuursniveau: Gemeente

The local municipal level responsible for internal order, local public works, and sports infrastructure.