Tafelgüterverzeichnis

The Holy Roman Empire, superimposed on today's Europe

The Tafelgüterverzeichnis is a list of the "courts which belong to the table of the king of the Romans" (curie que pertinent ad mensam regis Romanorum), that is, a register of the lands belonging to the royal demesne (or fisc) and of the payments in cash or in kind which each estate owed annually. The title "king of the Romans" was the preferred official title of the medieval Kings of Germany if they had not yet been crowned Holy Roman Emperor. Besides Germany, they also ruled the kingdoms of Italy and Burgundy. The Tafelgüterverzeichnis lists lands in both Germany and Italy.

Manuscript and date

The Tafelgüterverzeichnis is found, alongside ten other documents pertaining to the Kornelimünster in Aachen and dating to the last quarter of the twelfth century, in manuscript "Bonn S. 1559" in the library of the University of Bonn.[1] It is a "draft of a letter sent by a canon of Aachen to someone of high rank in the king's entourage, perhaps his chancellor[, and] not really part of a survey policy [nor] an administrative document in the strict sense of the word."[2] It is nevertheless the closest thing to a fiscal record of the German monarchy in the twelfth century.[2]

The date of the Tafelgüterverzeichnis has been a matter of debate for over a century. It was probably drawn up after the first coronation of a king (as "King of the Romans") and before his imperial coronation, since the compiler is uncertain about the Italian estates: "How much they give no one can relate or find out unless we come to Lombardy."[3] The use of the "Roman" title precludes its being earlier than the reign of Henry IV, leading to an earliest dating of 1064/5.[4] Most commonly it is dated either to the first year (1152) of the reign of Frederick I or to the eve of his fifth visit to Italy (1173/4).[2] It has been dated as late as 1185/9 by Wolfgang Metz, who argues that the Tafelgüterverzeichnis was compiled in three phases and only took on its final form through the work of a ministerialis, perhaps William of Aachen, under Henry VI.[3][4][5]

Contents

The curie (singular curia) of the register were royal farmlands associated with manors, castles or towns. There were 20 recorded in Saxony, 21 in "Franconia along the Rhine" (Francia circa Rhenum, including Lotharingia), 12 in Bavaria and 28 in Lombardy. The register is divided between these four regions, but while its information on the German regions is detailed and consistent, that for Lombardy is uneven.[1] It is not a complete list of lands owned by the crown, much of which was enfeoffed, nor even a complete list of crown lands that were directly exploited by the monarchs. No lands in Swabia or Alsace are included, possibly because these had been informally attached as an appanage to the Duchy of Swabia. This would place the date of composition of the Tafelgüterverzeichnis after the election of Conrad III of the Swabian House of Hohenstaufen in 1138. On the other hand, the total number of services (servitia) owed by the Saxon estates is greater than that owed by all the other estates combined. This is best explained by dating the register to the reign of Lothair III (1125–37), who was a Saxon and whose court was dominated by Saxons. A Saxon servitium consisted of "thirty large pigs, three cows, five suckling pigs, fifty hens, fifty eggs, ninety cheeses, ten geese, five barrels of beer, five pounds of pepper, ten pounds of wax, wine from cellars all over Saxony." The servitia in the other German regions consisted of the same products in different proportions, with the Bavarian and Franconian servitia being the same. The high burden of the servitia suggests they were for the support of an army or of the royal palace year-round, but there is no indication of the period of time which a servitium was supposed to cover.[3]

The totals of servitia owed in Saxony and Bavaria are given by the scribe as "as many days as are in year plus 40" (quot sunt dies in anno, et XL plus) and 26, respectively. Since specific service requirements are only given for two Saxon estates, and a total of 405 were owed by the 20 estates, the average number owed by the other 18 for which now specific requirement is given must be 20 servitia, a very high number, given that only one other estate in the entire register owed more than eight.[3][6][7] Nine of the 28 Lombard estates owed cash payments totaling 5,600 marks (marcas). None of the German estates owed any. The imperial crown—and the authority in Italy that was established with it—were appealing to the German kings largely for the monetary resources that the advance economy of Lombardy provided. The Tafelgüterverzeichnis does not mention any tolls, although these were increasingly the main means of raising cash in Germany. Sixteen of the estates in the register are known to have had royal toll stations, but these are not mentioned.[3]

The most common meat in the Tafelgüterverzeichnis is pork, although archaeological evidence suggests that beef was more common.[8]

Other theories

Caroline Göldel argues that the Tafelgüterverzeichnis is not a list of renders owed to the king and his entourage, but was drawn up in 1165 by Otto of Andechs, then provost of the Kornelimünster, in connexion with the canonisation of Charlemagne. She believes Frederick I was made a canon of Aachen at that time, and that the register records the benefices associated with this honorary canonry.[4]

John Freed states that it was compiled in 1173 or 1174 to protect the interests of the diocese of Bamberg.[8]

Table

This table is derived from Ludwig Weiland's critical edition of 1893.

      Saxony (Saxonia)      Franconia along the Rhine (Francia circa Rhenum)      Bavaria (Bawaria)      Lombardy (Lombardia)

Location Name in Latin Owed Notes
Leisnig Licendices 5 servitia regalia
Görlitz Melca ?
Nossen Nisana ?
Bautzen Budesin ?
Altenburg Altenburc ?
Eisleben Gisleua ?
Allstedt Altensteda ?
Wolferstedt Wulfersteda ?
Farnstädt Warnesteda ?
Wallhausen Walehusen ?
Tilleda Tulleda ? The Königspfalz at Tilleda was atop the Pfingstberg hill until the Hohenstaufen period,
when it was moved into the valley to accommodate its farms and marketplace.[9]
Osterode Ostrorobeda ?
Werlaburgdorf Werla ?
Goslar Goslaria ?
Homburg Hohenborc ?
Pöhlde Poleda ?
Grone Gruna ? This estate owned a salt works (ibi pertinent salcaru regis),
probably that of Salzderhelden, not that of Luisenhall.[10]
Eschwege Iskinwege ?
Mühlhausen Mulchusa ?
Merseburg Merseborc 40 servitia regalia
Tiel Tijla 2 servitia regalia
Nijmegen Numaca 8 servitia regalia
Aachen Aquisgrana 8 servitia regalia
Compiègne? Compendium 2 servitia regalia
Düren Dura 2 servitia regalia
Remagen Reimaia 2 servitia regalia
Sinzig Syncika 2 servitia regalia
Hammerstein Hambrestein 2 servitia regalia
Andernach Andernaca 2 servitia regalia
Boppard Bobarda 3 servitia regalia
Nieder-Ingelheim Ingleheim 3 servitia regalia
Kaiserslautern Luthera 8 servitia regalia
Briey Brie castrum 8 servitia regalia
Thionville Tydonisvilla 3 servitia regalia
Florange Floringia 7 servitia regalia
Schlüchtern Salotra 7 servitia regalia
Surbourg? Surie 7 servitia regalia
Hassloch Hasela 1 servitium regale
Nierstein Nerestena 1 servitium regale
Trebur Triburia 4 servitia regalia
Frankfurt Frankeneuort 3 servitia regalia
Nuremberg Nuremburc 2 servitia regalia
Großgründlach? Grenda 1 servitium regale
Scheiblhof Scybol 1 servitium regale
Polting Botinga 1 servitium regale
Weissenburg Wizenborc 1 servitium regale
Burg Nürnberg Nuremburc castrum 7 servitia regalia
Bamberg Hauemberc 7 servitia regalia
Greding Gradinga 5 servitia regalia
Neuburg an der Donau Nuvemburc super Danubium 2 servitia regalia
Creussen Crusa 3 servitia regalia
Neumarkt Nuerenwat ? Described as being "with many manors" (cum multis mansis).
Dörnberg Turenberc 2 servitia regalia
Settimo Torinese Septima 2 servitia regalia
Turin Turrin ? Described as "his [the king's] allod" (allodium suum) without any servitia, perhaps
indicating that the scribe knew no more than that a royal palace existed at Turin.[11]
Susa Susa 2,000 marks
Avigliana Auilana castrum 1,000 marks
Piossasco Ploszascum 500 marks
Chieri Cara 500 marks
Testona Tastusta 500 marks
Revello Viuel 500 marks
Saluzzo Saluza 200 marks
Albenga Albinga 200 marks
Savona Seduna civitas 200 marks
Torcello
(or Trofarello?)
Tarcul
(or Tarvil?)
? The three civitates (cities) of Torcello, Cavallermaggiore
and Canelli gave a total of 8 servitia.
Cavallermaggiore Caualar ? The three civitates (cities) of Torcello, Cavallermaggiore
and Canelli gave a total of 8 servitia.
Canelli Canella ? The three civitates (cities) of Torcello, Cavallermaggiore
and Canelli gave a total of 8 servitia.
Annone Naum 10 servitia regalia
Rubbiano? Rubianacum 1 servitium regale Perhaps Ruvignano (Rugné) in Bairo, Revigliasco d'Asti,
Revignano d'Asti or else a Robbiano.[12]
San Giorgio Monferrato Sanctum Georgium 5 servitia regalia
Gamondio Gamunda 4 servitia regalia
Spinetta Marengo Marona (or Marinca?) 8 servitia regalia
Sezzadio Zeca 3 servitia regalia
Retorto Retor 2 servitia regalia
Pontecurone Bijpoint (or Sypont?) 2 servitia regalia
Basaluzzo Basiliadus 2 servitia regalia
Voghera? Vigiula (or Viguila?) ? Perhaps Vigol at Tortona. Described as a "noble court" (nobilis curia),
perhaps because the compiler did not know what it owed.[13]
Tromello? Tronibal ? Described as a "noble court" (nobilis curia),
perhaps because the compiler did not know what it owed.[13]
Lomello Lombel ?
Montiglio Montilin ?
Corana Curana ? Described as being "with great appurtenances" (cum magni appendiciis), perhaps
Silvano Pietra and Bastida de' Dossi, known royal properties since the 9th century.[14]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Bordone 2011, p. 59.
  2. 1 2 3 Leyser 1988, p. 157.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Arnold 1997, pp. 166–68.
  4. 1 2 3 Cowdrey 1998, p. 1274.
  5. Arnold 1985, p. 188 n. 37.
  6. Bordone 2011, p. 62.
  7. Schmid 1977, p. 300.
  8. 1 2 Freed 2005, p. 611.
  9. Arnold 1997, p. 160.
  10. Weiland 1893, p. 647 n. 20.
  11. Bordone 2011, p. 71.
  12. Weiland 1893, p. 649 n. 17.
  13. 1 2 Bordone 2011, p. 68.
  14. Bordone 2011, p. 72.

Sources

Further reading

  • Arnold, Benjamin (2004). Power and Property in Medieval Germany: Economic and Social Change c. 900–1300. Oxford University Press. 
  • Brühl, Carlrichard; Kölzer, Theo (1979). Das Tafelgüterverzeichnis des römischen Königs. Cologne. 
  • Eisenlohr, E. (1985). "Paläographische Untersuchungen zum Tafelgüterverzeichnis des römischen Königs". Zeitschrift des Aachener Geschichtsvereins 92: 5–74. 
  • Göldel, Caroline (1997). Servitium Regis und Tafelgüterverzeichnis: Untersuchungen zur Wirtschafts- und Verfassungsgeschichte des deutschen Königtums im 12. Jahrhundert. Sigmaringen. 
  • Göldel, Caroline (1998). "Otto von Andechs, Stiftspropst von Aachen, Bischof von Bamberg, und das Tafelgüterverzeichnis". Die Andechs-Meranier in Franken: Europäisches Fürstentum im Hochmittelalter. Mainz: Verlag Philipp von Zabern. pp. 75–79. 
  • Kaminsky, Hans H. (1973). "Das ‘Tafelgüterverzeichnis des römischen Königs’: eine Bestandsaufnahme für Lothar III.?". Deutsches Archiv 29: 163–96. 
  • Metz, Wolfgang (1978). Das Servitium regis. Darmstadt. 
  • Niederkorn, J. P. (1979). "Die Datierung des Tafelgüterverzeichnisses: Bemerkungen zu einer Neuerscheinung". Mitteilungen des Instituts für österreichische Geschichtsforschung 87: 471–87. doi:10.7767/miog.1979.87.jg.471. 
  • Thiele, M. (2004). Das Tafelgüterverzeichnis des deutsch-römischen Königs in der Forschung: Wegweisende Arbeiten im 20. Jahrhundert. Berlin. 
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