Sauver les riches: la charité à Lille à la fin du Moyen Âge

Abstract

This PhD thesis concerns the profits generated by the accomplishment of the seven works of mercy in Lille, during the last three centuries of the Middle Ages. Within the County of Flanders, Lille is a quiet astonishing town, especially compared to its Dutch-speaking neighbours. Its case has only seldom been studied. Lille was successively ruled by the counts of Flanders, the kings of France and the dukes of Burgundy. In 1237, Countess Joan of Constantinople founded for the sake of her soul, a hospital that she endowed a lot. The goal of the institution was to welcome as many pauperes Christi as possible. At the very beginning of the 16th century, the density of charitable institutions in a 25 000 inhabitants town (a generous hypothesis) was very high, with 16 hospitals, one orphanage in developement, seven parochial charities and numerous alms made by individuals. The goal of helping the pauperes Christi was at the heart of numerous memorial devices. Charitable institutions constituted an important economic issues, due to their wealth and needs in goods and workforce. A prosopographical research shows that their management allows people who could not participate to the Magistrat to obtain an honourable place into the society. Finally, this study shows that the control of charitable institutions – even if indirect – does not only represent a political issue between citizens and their rulers but reinforces their connections