History of Arles at the time high-medieval
Between 500 and the Year millet, Arles, old the small Rome of Gaules is the witness of the transformations of the part of the Roman Empire which will become the Provence. The city passes under Carolingian domination mérovingienne then before being integrated into the Royaume of Arles, initially under the duke Boson then under the count Hugues of Arles and the king Conrad. As from 972, after with the intervention Guillaume Ier known as the Liberator against the Buckwheats, it depends on the first dynasty of the counts de Provence. During this period, disturbed at the same time by political events and natural disasters, Arles thus transforms Préfecture of the court of Gaules into feudal capital of the county of Provence.
6th century
End of the romanity
conflicts of the beginning of the century
Passed under the domination of the king burgonde Gondebaud at the latest in 499 or 500, the city passes by again in 501 at the time of a conflict between Francs and Burgondes under the control of the Visigoths; indeed, to deny oneself of his/her brother Godégisile and Clovis which besieges it with Avignon, Gondebaud must be combined with king Wisigoth Alaric II which benefits from the situation to recover the city.
Après Burgondes, the Francs associated and reconciled with Gondebaud and pushed by the Church to intervene against the Visigoths ariens, try in their turn to reach the sea. They then make several attempts to seize the city of Arles:
- first once, by Thierry, wire of Clovis, (which) after having gained a victory with Nimes is beaten close to Arles, then in the plain of Bellegarde probably spring 502 right before the death of the bishop of Arles of Burgundian origin Eon, which as its Cesaire successor repurchases the frank prisoners and burgondes with the Visigoths,
- then in 507 - 508, after the Bataille of Vouillé and the death of king Alaric.
protectorate ostrogoth
After the release of the city by the duke Ibba, king Ostrogoth supplies the inhabitants, finances the restoration of the ramparts and takes the city under his protection. He also names a vicar of Gaules ( vicarius galliarum ) in the city as of 508.
The years 510 - 540 which follow correspond to one period of peace with two famous men: Libérius (510-536), the prefect of the court of Gaules ( præfectus prætorio galliarum ) whose function is restored in 510 by Théodoric, and the bishop Césaire of Arles (503-542), which although suspecté on several occasions of treason because of its sympathies burgondes and franques, succeeds in as well justifying in front of Alaric with Bordeaux in 505 as in front of Théodoric with Ravenne in 513.
Lors of this voyage in Italy, Césaire receives from the pope Symmaque the right to carry the Pallium and becomes its representative as a Gaulle thereafter. At that time, the bishop of Arles évangélise pagan worship campaigns still strongly impregnated or Romans by transforming if necessary old pertaining to worship places into Christian buildings. In 532, it thus creates a monastery or a church in the Camargue, with the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, which confirms the probable presence of an older pagan temple in these places. In Arles even, after having made a first attempt out of the walls in years 506-507, it installs finally on August 26th 512 the monastery Midsummer's Day in the south-eastern angle of the rampart where under the name of Saint-Césaire , it is remained until the Revolution. The sermons of Césaire saint also bring many information to us on the daily life of quoted and its craftsmen.
fastening with the Francs
Protected by the benevolent military support from Théodoric, the city escapes until the beginning of the year 530 with the ambitions Burgondes and Franques. First once threatened in 534 by Théodebert, the city is yielded or sold more exactly in 536 with Provence by Ostrogoths which in conflict in Italy are in the incapacity to defend this province. During winter 536/537, Théodebert wire of Thierry and its uncle Childebert come to take possession of their new acquisition, chair in the city of the plays the antique and make mint with their effigy. Arles becomes thus franque city under the authority of Christian princes and either ariens, and for the first time, obeys foreign Scandinavian Masters with the Roman traditions.
In spite of the conflicts between the descendants of Clovis, of the particular bonds are then established between the royalty and the évêché and the relations between the archbishop and the Christian royalty become very cordial. In 540, for example, a deed of gift of Childebert, wire of Clovis probably gives the pècheries located at the South of the Etang of Caronte the current district of Jonquières at Césaire. It also should be remembered that the bishop nomination by the kings mérovingiens became the rule in the middle of the 6th century. Thus, in 548, the pope Vigile (537 to 555) at the request of the king Childebert Ier names Aurélien, the successor of Césaire, vicar of the Saint Sits in Gaules and the Pallium grants to him. The same year (of other sources 547 indicate), Aurélien bases in Arles a monastery for men on order of king Childebert. This intramural monastery, called of the Saint-Apostles , is at the origin of the church Holy-Cross in the Borough-Old man. Always at the same time a council is held in Arles, on June 28th 554 under the direction of the bishop Sapaudus, during which the Notre-Dame church is devoted. It is in Arles also that, towards 567, a wife of Gontran king de Bourgogne (561-591), is locked up at moniales arlésiennes with the monastery Midsummer's Day .
Catastrophes of second half of the 6th century
Second half of the century is marked by epidemics, disorders and natural disasters.Dès the end of the Years 540, Arles is struck by the Peste, is called Peste of Justinien and is evoked on several occasions by Gregoire de Tours in his '' Histoire of the Francs '': he quotes it in particular in Arles in 549 ( this province is cruelly depopulated ). A few years later, the epidemic always present carries the archbishop Licerius (586-588).
La city also undergoes the by-effect of conflicts between Francs neustriens of Gontran (in the west), Austrasiens of Sigebert (in the east) after the division of 561 and the creation of the corridor austrasien connecting the Auvergne to Marseilles and insulating Arles. The Provençal territory is also devastated by the Lombards which descend starting from 569 from the alpine valleys and the city is also affected by the Visigoths. Arles is thus besieged with many recoveries:
- in 570 twice, initially by the generals Austrasiens Firmin and Audovère who seize the city, then by the troops of the count burgonde Celsus sent by Gontran which profiting from a stratagem of the bishop Sapaudus, crush the army austrasienne and take again the city,
- in 574 by Lombards which plunder the city and razzient the cattle of the Crau,
- in 586 by the Visigoths who in reprisals of the invasion of the Septimanie by Gontran in 585, flood the city by diverting water of the Rhone. During this episode, the area and the town of Arles are defended by Leudegisèle, a prince named by Gontran, called duke of Provence of Arles .
Lastly, the city and its territory suffer from famines (great famine of 585) and from natural disasters. In 580, a raw history drowns the suburbs of the city; the Roman Cirque devastated will never be rehabilitated.
The role of the archbishop's palace of Arles at the end of the 6th century
The end of the century is known grace in particular to the epistolary exchanges of the bishop Virgilius of Burgundian origin which succeeds Licerius in 588.- In 591, the pope Gregoire Large the Virgile reprimand following many complaints in connection with forced conversions of Jews driven out of Orleans which take refuge in Provence;
- on August 12th 595, it addresses to him its letter O quam bona on the Simonie, to warn it against the misdeeds of this heresy.
- In 596, one also knows that the city of Arles shelters the preparations of the mission of England; on this occasion of the Anglo-Saxon slaves are bought. November 17th 597, Augustin of Canterbury is of return to Arles after having converted the king, the queen and the principal officers. At the request of the pope Gregoire I {{er}}, it is devoted archbishop of the Church of England in the basilica Saint-Trophime by the archbishop of Arles, Virgile, then vicar of the Holy See in Gaules, in a ceremony where take part of many bishops.
Finally during this century, the town of Arles is folded up on itself. As of years 550, one notes the disappearance of the extra-muros habitat because of the research of safety inside a surer reduced enclosure and demographic fall induced by the plague. These disorders and this reduction in population ruin agriculture arlésienne and the famine reigns. The defensive vocation of the city becomes also paramount. Thus, at the end of the 6th century, Arles and its territory enter during one difficult period.
7th century: the dark Ages
The work of Gregoire de Tours stopping into 594, the century following in spite of the Chronic of Frédégaire and its continuations like some diplomas, leave the historian enough stripped. Actually, information available is very fragmentary; for example one knows no bishop of Arles between 683 (Wolbertus, mentioned into 683) and 788 (Elifant, 788-794?). The 7th century, is thus very badly known.
With the whole beginning of this century the Provence as the remainder of Gaulle is subjected to very rigorous winters. The city in the absence of the campaigns depopulated by the demographic crisis which follows the Peste of Justinien, seems however relatively flourishing thanks to its port activities. In the same way, the archbishop's palace of Arles always plays a big role as confirm it, the Pallium and Vicariat conferred by the pope Boniface IV, in 613, with the Florianus bishop.
Under the reign of Clotaire II (613 - 629), Arles has a monetary workshop which strikes with the workshops of Marseilles, Viviers, Valence and Uzès the first coins with the name royal.
Arles is then managed by the representatives of the branches mérovingiennes, either within the framework of unified Provence, or in a way individualized by a duke. There exists thus a Provence arlésienne (in opposition to the Marseilles Provence ) of 634 with 656 under Dagobert Ier then Clovis II, of 663 with 673 under Clotaire III, then of 675 with 681 under Thierry III. The presence of this Provence arlésienne seems to go hand in hand with the existence, as at the previous century under Gontran, of the corridor austrasien . According to Louis Stouff, starting from 673 - 675, a Patrice directs Provence in the name of the frank sovereigns, but it does not sit at Arles. It resides at Marseilles become the capital of Provence. In VIIe century, the South, is in a great dependence of the frank capacity which can count on the devotion of a local aristocracy still of Gallo-Roman origin and puissante.
To Arles even, one also announces some rare events, like the council chaired by the bishop of Arles Felix about the celibacy of the priests in 682.
8th century: the Carolingian resumption in hands
Transformation of the trade
At the 7th century, in particular Syrian Eastern merchants concentrate between their hands the import trade as a Gaulle. This one continues at the next century. A diploma of Chilpéric II of 716, indicates for example the food products to us imported and forwarding by Arles or its advanced port Fos. Henri Pirenne underlines however that the exchanges between the Occident and the East strongly decline as of the Sarrasine presence in the Western Mediterranean at the beginning of the 8th century. It notes that Eastern products such as gold, silk, pepper and the papyrus practically disappear under the Carolingians and that the trade enters the Occident and the East is made nothing any more but by the Jewish traders , probably of the Radhanites, only bonds between Islam and Chrétienté.
sarrasine Presence and opposition to the mayors of the Palate
About the middle of the Years 710, disorders are announced in Western Provence. A text of 780 fact echo to a revolt led by the Patrice Antenor against the frank capacity of Pip of Herstal, then of Charles Martel, revolt which is accompanied by spoliations of goods ecclésiastiques.
Ten years later, the danger comes from the Sarrasins. Buckwheats which crossed the the Pyrenees in 720, undertake in 725 large a raid : they take Carcassonne, the Languedoc until Nimes and venture in the valley of the the Rhone until Autun; Arles being/> seems épargnée.
Taken again in hand by the Francs
In 735 - 739, in front of the danger of the troops of Charles Martel, which go down along the Rhone-native furrow until Languedoc, Arles and Avignon, for their defense directed by a certain duke Mauronte ( Maurontius ), call upon the Sarrasins. Jussef Ibn Abd-er-Rhaman, the governor buckwheat of Narbonne occupies Arles in thus 735. If the historians agree that the Francs made well three raids in Provence, including two against the city of Arles (736, 739), they diverge on the causes from the first: for some, it would be related to the presence of Buckwheats, for others not. At the time of the last raid in 739, Charles Martel is combined with the Lombards which cross the Alps. In good agreement with the Frank , the lombard Luitprand takes part in 739 in the battle of the pond of Berre which sees the defeat of the Moors the allies of the duke Mauronte. To reduce the town of Arles, the legend says that Charles Martel would have destroyed the Roman aqueduct which, until this date, continued to feed the pure water city. The turns surmounting the amphitheater probably go back to this époque.
According to Henri Pirenne, Buckwheats would have again subjected the Provençale coast and would have been maintained there a few years until Pépin expels them in 752.
After the victory of the Francs that it is in 739 or 752, Arles as Provence is put at the step with rigor by the Carolingian capacity. The function of Patrice is removed and Provence is organized in counties copied on cutting diocésal. It is probable that as of this time the count of Arles east to the top of the other provençaux counts.
Arles at the beginning of the Carolingian Rebirth
However at the end of the century (after 780) one boom appears, the Carolingian Renaissance, which is set up in parallel with a policy change of the Carolingian kings in Provence and Septimanie. The count ensures the administration and justice, while the bishop supervises the frame of mind and the reform of manners. The country is also controlled. One knows some inspections of Missi dominici , such those of Arimodus and Wernerius in 778 or of Leydrade and Théodulfe in 798. The strength of the development of Christendom generates centrifugal movements leading to the bursting of the diocese of Arles. Into 794, with the council of Frankfurt, the archbishop's palace of Arles is divided into three, the dioceses of Embrun and Aix becoming independent. The following year, Charlemagne makes safe its territory against the Sarrasins by establishing the Marche of Spain; the conflict enters Buckwheats and the Carolingians then moving in the Western Mediterranean and affecting according to H. Pirenne, the trade the Occident-East. However in 800, Théodulfe (c.750-821) bishop of Orleans, of passage in the city announces all the products which one can find there thanks to his port: silk cloths, skins of Cordoue, incense, ivory and many other products of the Syria, the Persian and the India: Arles is well at that time a prosperous free port open on the Mediterranean world.
9th century
Arles at the time of the Carolingian successions
Arles at the beginning of IXe century
The Carolingian Renouveau continues at the beginning of the 9th century: one announces for example work of marshy ground drainage in the countryside arlésienne, as so of new grounds were put in culture.
The city always knows a flourishing trade. In spring 802, she sees probably passing the white elephant intended for Charlemagne. In 820, Louis the Piles grants to the town of Arles a series of privileges and the place under its royal protection, which develops the economic activity and the harbor trade carried out by the Sarrasins and the Jews. The city has also the characteristic to be at that time on one of the routes of the Christian merchants and Jews which will sell slaves - very lucrative market at that time - with Cordoue.
Under pretext of this trade, the Jewish community attracts itself the hostility of certain ecclesiastical mediums. The bishop of Lyon, Agobard, reproach for example with the Jews to bring to it Christians removed to Arles and Lyon. The behavior of this bishop, hostile to the Jewish community of Lyon protected by king Louis, will generate a migration towards Arles and the cities of midday what accredits the presence of a many Jewish community in the city at the beginning of the 9th siècle.
The Église of Arles also has an important radiation. In May 813, to cure the state of the Church, four councils are held on the order of Charlemagne in the cities of: Mainz, Turns, Chalon-sur-Saône and Arles. That of Arles with Saint-Trophime is chaired by Jean II archbishop of the city. Jean II is an important prelate, near to the emperor who will entrust to him, like his son, several missions of confidence. During all this century, the church of Arles will enjoy an exceptional place. It takes part thus at almost all the large political and religious assemblies Carolingian. In 824, the archbishop of Arles Noton, exchange of the grounds of the countryside arlésienne with the count Leibulf (? - ap.829) which would have succeeded the Count Loup.
This Leibulf, of origin probably arlésienne, is named count de Provence by Charlemagne and is led as of 800/801, with Berà and the count de Gascogne Sanche Loup Ier, a quota of Provençaux during the forwarding of Louis the Piles against Barcelona. However, the greatest danger at this beginning of century, comes from the Sarrasins; the coasts of Septimanie and Provence start to obtain defense against the pirates by the construction of turns or churches fortresses as to the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, with the mouth of the the Rhone of Saint-Ironwood.
Arles at the end of the reign of Louis the Piles
But it is especially after death of Charlemagne and more precisely at the end of the years 820, than the history of Arles will fall under the process of disintegration of the Carolingian Empire with the disorganization of the civil capacity, the disorders and the invasions.
Towards 830, as of the first fights of wire of Louis the Piles (814-840) against their father, Provence undergoes the attack of invaders come from the sea who attack the ports and go up the Rhone. To fight against these pirates, the emperor gathers towards 835 the whole of the provençaux counties under the authority of a duke residing at Arles, probably the count Leibulf already count into 824 and 829. In 841, one also announces some Garin (or Warin), carrying the title of duke of Provence, but its capacity seems for to have sat the Lyonese; June 25th 841, this duke with his quotas arlésiens and provençaux, in the side of Charles and Louis, takes part in a decisive way in the battles of Fontanet which devotes the defeat of Lothaire in front of his/her brothers.
Cela does not prevent Arles from being plundered in 842 by the Sarrasins.
Arles under Lothaire Ier and Charles of Provence After the Treated of Verdun (843), Provence passes under the authority of Lothaire I {{er}} and of its representatives. One thus knows the dukes or counts who follow Garin: Audibert in 845, then Fulcrad which try the same year a secession of Provence with the probable participation of Arlésiens, and again Audibert in 850. This year, Arles is again attacked; but contrary to 842, it is defended successfully and massacred the barbaresque ones in their escape.
In this middle of century, we have testimonys that the town of Arles in spite of these events is still prosperous and has an active port. The deacon Florus who writes shortly after 843, indeed speaks about optimum Arelas portus (Arles, rich port) . In the same way a few years later towards 860-870, the Arab geographer Ibn Khordadbeh in his Book of the Roads and the Kingdoms evokes the Jewish merchants whom it calls Radhanites and which starting from the ports of the frank country moves towards the Middle East, carrying goods of septentrional origin (slaves, swords and skins) to bring back spices.
In 855 after death Lothaire I {{er}}, the division of its kingdom gives rise to Provence (kingdom including the Lyonese, the Viennese and Provence itself) reserved for Charles, youngest of its sons. Of fragile health, Charles leaves the administration of his kingdom with Girart of Roussillon which plays the part of regent. The court resides at Vienna which becomes thus the capital of this Kingdom to the detriment of Arles until the beginning of the 10th century. It is at that time (859) which the Normands carried out by Hasting, having passed to the Mediterranean, devastate the territory of Arles in the absence of the city. Having wintered in the Camargue at the time of very rigorous winter of 859/860, they go back to spring the the Rhone before being demolished by Girart of Roussillon probably on the level of Valence, and continue then their raid towards Italy. The Annales of Saint-Bertin specify:
- in 859, the pirates of Danish sea shingled lengthily between Spain and Africa and penetrated of force in the Rhone. After having devastated several cities and monasteries, they settled in the Camargue island… In 860, the same Danes arrived while plundering to the town of Valence and having very devastated around returned in the island - of the Camargue which they occupied .
Arles under the emperor and king d' Italie, Louis II the Young person
With died of Charles (863), the southern part of its kingdom, i.e. Provence limited to the territories of Arles, Aix and Spray, returns to Louis II the Young person emperor and king d' Italie. Under this new authority, one knows no count de Provence and in Arles the capacity then seems exerted by the bishops who are brought to take the defense of the population. Thus the archbishop Roland (852-869) made strengthen the theater and intervenes in the campaigns. At the time of a raid in the Camargue in September 869, the Sarrasins surprise it supervising the setting in defense of the area. The bishop makes captive, is exchanged against weapons, slaves, and other richnesses. Unfortunately, Arlésiens will recover only its corpse, equipped and put on a seat by the barbaresque ones at the time of the handing-over of ransom, probably organized on the beach of the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, with the mouth of the Rhone of Saint-Ironwood, active and still navigable arm at that time.
Arles under Charles the Bald person and Boson duke of Provence
In 875, with died of the emperor, Provence is recovered by Charles the Bald person who names Boson, duke of Provence. Until 878, the Boson supervision will be nominal than effective because the new duke resides initially in Italy, then to his return in France, to Provence (and the kingdom of Italy) to his brother Richard the Dispenser of justice entrusts and to Hugues the Abbot.
Au spring 878, Boson accommodates in Arles the pope Jean VIII which threatened in Italy comes to seek allies on other side of the Alps. On this occasion the bishop of Arles Rostaing, receives the Pallium. Then after having to reside some time in the city, Boson and Jean VIII take part in July following to the council of Troyes. Charles having refused the Italian crown proposed by the pope, Boson lets himself try. But its attempt supported by Jean VIII runs up against noble Italian and after an unfruitful forwarding of a few months Boson must turn over to Provence.
the ambitions of Boson, braked in Italy, however will be expressed again as of the following year.
The creation of the Kingdom of Provence
the attempt at BosonOctober 15th 879, Boson pushed by his wife Ermengarde sister of Charles and benefitting from the insecurity which reigns in Rhone-native Provence, enters in rebellion against the disputed Carolingian successors Louis III and Carloman II; it is made crown King de Provence in his castle of Mantaille with the support of large, of the minority archbishop of Vienna and that of the provençaux bishops. Indeed, only he seems three prelates, of which Rostaing archbishop of Arles, on twenty-three (of which eleven present) support this takeover what underlines the strong commitment, as of this time, of the episcopate arlésien near the Burgundian princes. Boson establishes its capital with Vienna.
The attempt turns quickly to the failure and the Carolingian party recovers Provence, by Carloman after the catch and the plundering of Vienna in October 881. Carloman leaves like traces of its passage and its authority, some sums of money struck in Arles. But during this disturbed time, Buckwheats always present and opportunist, again plunder the city, or at least its suburbs, little time before 883.
To died from Carloman (884), the authority of Charles the Large extends to Provence; Boson returns in grace and dies out in Arles a little later on January 11th 887. His wife, Ermengarde, are then named regent of the kingdom of Provence with the assistance of Richard II of Burgundy known as Richard the Dispenser of justice , the Boson brother. In May 887, it leads her son, the future king de Provence Louis III the Blind man near the emperor Charles III Large so that he adopts it, which he does.
establishment of his/her son Louis III
In 890, Louis III is proclaimed king de Provence; he resides at Vienna and undertakes at the beginning of his reign (896) some attempts against Buckwheats which continue to devastate Provence. He discharges then on the Count Thibert from the administration from his kingdom, in particular during his forwardings in Italy. Thibert intervenes in several cities, in particular in Arles, then one loses his trace towards 910.
Arles at the end of the 9th century
In this end of century, Arles is a citadel dominating a deserted territory. Several texts respectively of 874, 890 and 897, evoke grounds depopulated by the attack of the barbarians . Nevertheless, Rhone-native Provence, for reasons not completely explained from now on will be less affected by Buckwheats whose activities will move in Western Provence, probably following their installation in the years 890 with the Fraxinet.
Protected by its ramparts, the city preserves however an economic and religious role important. If Arles lost its functions of capital to the profit of Vienna where king Louis resides, its port, animated by the trade amalfitain, seems from now on to override Marseilles in full decline, contrary to the previous century. Striking arlésienne also knows an apogee around the years 880 - 890. In the same way, in the ecclesiastical field, starting from the end of the 9th century the bishops of Arles increase their temporal power and spiritual within the Church of Provence.
10th century
Arles under Hugues of Arles
True Master of the Kingdom, Hugues initially resides in the city of Arles between 911 and 926, then in a more episodical way at the time of his Italian adventure (926-946) and finally after his return in Provence, in the years 946-947.Hugues in Arles
In 911, Arles becomes the true capital of the Kingdom and Vienna that the residence of the unhappy sovereign cancels Louis III. However, the arrival of Hugues creates strong tensions between the local aristocracy and the Burgundian aristocracy brought by the count. One can remember for example, that Manassès of Arles, archbishop of Arles in 920, was wire of a count of Chalon and nephew of Hugues. He at that time becomes the only subway in Provence naming with the head of évêchés of the clerks of his entourage. These tensions which result sometimes in murders, culminate in the years 915 - 920. The area is also subjected to exogenic disorders. The Magyars devastate Provence and the valley of the Rhone in 924. They reach Mende and Nimes, by saving the city of Arles, defended probably better. However, generally, the area of Arles is exposed to these disorders and the raids of the Moors that Eastern Provence. Thus in 923, the archbishop of Arles Manasses yields to the Church of Marseilles, threatened by the bands sarrasines, the churches of Fos and the Saint-Andrew abbey of the Cape where the bishop of Marseilles, Drogo (?) can take refuge. Always in 924, Raoul, nephew of the king Boson of Provence and brother of Hugues the Black, elected king of the Francs, intervene in the kingdom of Provence. Hugues of Arles authorizes homage to him and seals an alliance by the marriage of Berthe, his niece with Boson the brother of Raoul.
Hugues in Italy
In July 926, Hugues leaves Arles to take the crown of king d' Italie and is made replace in Arles by his brother also called Boson (known as Boson of Arles or Boson VI of Provence ). Hugues returns however in the city as of 928 to died of king Louis to succeed to him on Provence. Without taking to take the title of king, it continues to carry the title of marquis de Provence and king d' Italie. It yields however the Viennese to king Raoul.
Engaged in conflicts in Italy, Hugues cannot deal correctly with Provence. Following an arrangement concluded into 926, it yields it in 934 to Rodolphe II king de Bourgogne, while preserving its properties in the area of Arles. The union of the two kingdoms is called kingdom of Both Burgundy or kingdom of Burgundy or kingdom of Arles (934-1032). Actually, thanks to his close relations, Hugues remains very powerful and continuous to hold the capacity in the area, even if it must subdue a rebellion of his Boson brother in 936. To died from Rodolphe (937), Hugues returns temporarily to Arles and in vain tries to put the hand on the widow and especially the heir, the Conrad young person who is then protected by the king from Germanie, Otton.
end of the Italian adventure
In 945 in Italy, Berenger II, also called Berenger d' Ivrée , maternal grandson of Bérenger of the Friuli succeeds in convincing of many Italian aristocrats to follow it while promising grounds and honors. Hugues seeing itself isolated, entrusts the kingdom to his Lothaire son and turns over to Provence in 947. Driven out of Italy, Hugues finds refuge near his niece Berthe, the second girl of his brother, in the town of Arles where he dies in 948.
Birth of I dynasty of the counts de Provence and feudality
suzerainté of Conrad the Pacific
As of 948 (or 949), Conrad, known as the Pacific , supported by the Germanie king, succeeds in making recognize its suzerainty on the old kingdom of Provence. Conrad affirms its authority by creating the Marquisat of Provence and by naming three counts and of the Viscounts, foreigners to the country, of which one in Arles which quickly will supplant all the others. It is about the count of Burgundian origin Boson II (relative far away from Boson of the end 9th century), at the origin of the first line of the counts de Provence.
King Conrad appears as of 945 in Arles where it holds of many plaids as from the years 963 like in 976 and 978. He also takes part in 949 in the donation of Teucinde of Arles which allows the foundation of the Abbaye of Montmajour one mile of Arles. Its presence however will become sporadic after 980, taking into account the evolution of the capacity in Provence.
safety in Provence: the problem of the Moors
Indeed, the sedentary problem most important in Provence especially in the oriental party, they are the Sarrasins. The fight against these plunderers is initially only sporadic insofar as the counts of Provence are committed in Italy in their companies of conquest. One can for example recall:
- In 940, Hugues of Arles request to the Caliph of Cordoue to protect the provençaux merchants who trade with the Andalusia, of the pirates of Freinet.
- In 941, Hugues undertakes a forwarding which short turns (it makes alliance at the last time with Buckwheats against his enemies)
The fight becomes more effective at the end of the century which sees the eradication of the last bases sarrasines. After with the removal of the abbot Mayeul, the princes of Provence brought together under the aegis of the count Guillaume Ier, who succeeded his Boson father in 968, are definitively victorious Moors with the Bataille of Tourtour in 973 (972 or 975 according to other historians).
establishment of the first dynasty comtale in Arles
This victory obtained without the troops of Conrad is important: it makes it possible Guillaume to obtain the suzerainty in fact of Provence (he will distribute the grounds reconquered to its vassal) and Arles to find its statute of capital where shortly after 981, the count become marquis de Provence returns to be established there.
Then begin a period from peace and political stability which is translated in Arles by:
- an economic revival, marked by a strong increase in population and the agricultural development (vine and cereals)
- the draining of the marshes which surround the abbey of Montmajour in 972
- the extension, already started into 972, of the city apart from its ramparts (the Old Borough in the south)
- creation towards 980 of one of the first chapters of France (with that of Avignon)
appearance of the feudal system arlésien
Simultaneously with this emancipation of Provence with respect to the kings of Burgundy, appears between 950 and the year 1000, the Feudal system and its castes ( miles and caballerius ). In Arles, they are the founders of most famous arlésiennes families: initially Pons juvenis for the family of the Beams as of 952 and then Daidonat for that of the Piglet in 972. Feudality arlésienne has its own characteristics: she is of course rural, but also urban and commercial. This birth is accompanied by spoliations/restitutions of temporal monks, feudal conflicts and with final of a loss of resources of the count. Thus, as of the death of Guillaume in 993, its less powerful successors, will control nothing any more but the area of Arles.
See too
Bond interns
External bonds
- Henri Pirenne, '' Mahomet and Charlemagne ''
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