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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Foires et marchés à Auxerre aux XIIe et XIIIe siècles

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Fairs and markets in Auxerre in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. In addition to numerous "ordinary" and "solemn" markets, there are two fairs during the Middle Ages in Auxerre : the fair in Chandemai which is the largest commercial envent, and the fair in Tannet whose existence after the thirteenth century seems doubtful. Agricultural, meat, fishery and forestry products, as well as finished and semi-finished crafted goods can be found there. The activities of change which were strictly "controlled", as well as lending developped. The role of the fairs in Auxerre was essentially that of regional redistribution. For a long time the fairs and markets in Auxerre were the subject of a struggle between the count and the bishop for seigniorial rights. The arbitration of Saint Bernard (1145) and Geoffroy (1164) divided these rights between the two lords. Thus, the bishop, lord of the land of Chandemai lets the count have a third of the taxes leviedat the fair in Chandemai, while the market grounds in Auxerre belonged as much to the bishop as to the count. The two lords control the fairs and markets by sharing the fees for using the roads and rivers such as the "customs of the ropes and pullies", the "poulenagium", the "pagium" and the "roagium", and the fees on the markets themselves such as sales and purchase taxes, or weighing ans measuring fees. Il is only in 1379 that the fair of Saint-Martin will be introduced by the king thus reasserting his kingly authority.