SOUTH-EAST-FLANDERS ----- ZUID-OOST-VLAANDEREN
FLEMISH ARDENNES ----- VLAAMSE ARDENNEN
FLANDERS - BELGIUM ----- VLAANDEREN - BELGIE
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Next Page Historical Overview Homepage Created 2001/03/17 |
843 - 1225 The Treaty of Verdun in 843 divided the empire of Charlemagne into three parts: the French Empire, the Middle Empire and the German Empire. Due to dynastic divisions, the Middle Empire quickly crumbled. The French and German sovereigns, on the other hand, tried to consolidate their positions through granting land to vassals in exchange for their military and financial support. Still, after some time, the French king found himself left with only a symbolic function, where as his vassals obtained more and more administrative and judicial power. In the German Empire, church leaders were also administering secular territories, and central government could keep its power for a longer time. This evolution took part during the invasions of the Vikings. In the Meuse region, the consequences of these invasions were less felt. The Scheldt region, on the other hand, was heavily plundered, and therefor recovered only slowly. The monastery in Ronse, for example, was left by the monks around 880, and would only regain its activities from 945 on as a canon chapter. In the 10th century local rulers dominated society. Administering sometimes small territories or seigniories, they concentrated all wealth in their hands. They were occupying wooden moat castles: man made earthen hills surrounded by a moat. The first stone towers date back to the 11th century, and later developed into fortified castles. This type of feudal society, mainly based on kinship and landownership, kept Europe in its grasp till the beginning of the 13th century. It is traditionally assumed that in this society, the farmers worked the land, knights guaranteed protection and safety, and the clergy prayed for everybody's soul. Economically, it was difficult to get any further than the primary necessities of life. Trade was limited. There was no separation of Church and State. Rulers considered themselves as being responsible for their subjects towards God. Kings, noblemen and local rulers actively interfered with religious affairs. This lead to the establishments of private churches (Dutch: eigenkerken), gifted with wealthy donations, where the secular leaders appointed the priests. During the pontificate of Gregorius VII (1073-1085), the church begin to resist this situation, leading to the Investiture Controversy. The Concordat of Worms in 1122 determined that the right of patronage, including the appointment of the priest, belonged to the bishop, while the owner of the church could only propose a candidate. Source: Koenraad DE WOLF, Architectuurgids Zuid-Oost-Vlaanderen. Romaanse Bouwkunst (1000-1225), 1996, p. 7. (English translation: Architectural Guide of South-East-Flanders. Romanesque Architecture.) |
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