Feudal French's Coins

The feudal coins are an important part of medieval numismatics, but they do not cover the entire period of the Middle Ages, which extends from the fifth to the fifteenth century. It is considered that the French feudal coins were issued from XI to the XV century, when feudalism was developed, reached its peak, and then slowly turned off.

This whole period was characterized, until the advent of the mechanization of the knocks on the Renaissance, by a strike craft: each piece is stamped by hand and is therefore unique. A very characteristic of this time is the care of the population about the metal value of coins - linked to the precious metal which they were made - rather than their facial value only.

Feudality

One cannot study feudal currencies without studying the historical context of the time, including feudalism itself. Feudalism is primarily characterized by a weak central political authority. Political power, linked to land ownership, is fragmented into many units nested in each other. Typically, these principalities - roughly similar to our existing regions - are fragmented into many fiefdoms,granted by a suzerain to his vassal, which in return offer support and tribute. There may be a lot of relationships within the principality, with some reciprocal relationships - nobles are both lords and vassals of one another. Thus, from the king to the vavasseurs - vassals of vassals - there may be 5 hierarchical degrees :

* King * The Duke * The Barons * The Lords * The Vavasseur

This extreme fragmentation was set up in response to pressure from Vikings and Saracens raids, lootings raids playing on mobility and made unnecessary a powerful centralized royal army. Therefore, the defense was done locally and thus the warriors able to protect the surrounding population, helped by theirs castles, gained a lot of political and financial power, and they were a lot more concretes than a distant and helpless king.

Emergence of the Bourgeoisie

From the thirteenth century, the development of cities leads to the emergence of a new class, in addition to the three medieval orders - warriors, priests and peasants, the bourgeoisie, focusing on crafts and trade. The Capetian not having enough administration, and wishing to restrict the power of feudal fiefs, granted many rights and privileges to cities that were becoming real sources of political and financial power, and can print money.

Impact of feudality on coins

* Apogee of feudalism

This highly fragmented political power has led to fragmentation of the right to print money. From the Xth to the XIIth century, a lot lords are sharing it, as well as some church authorities - including abbeys - and cities.

During this area, the principal currency is the denarius, which contain a quantity of silver - quantity which vary a lot depending on location - itself divided into oboles often poor in precious metals. On the one place to another, these funds have different weights, ranging generally from 1 to 1.5 grams, and their value is not the same.

The currencies of the feudal period are therefore characterized by extreme diversity and variable quality, depending on the workshop where they are designed. Some lords also allowed themselves the right to fly the currency, adding more and more confusion. However, the pieces are relatively stable over time, as the lords do not wish to make changes too abrupt and too visible.

Typically, each city, principality and many fiefs had their own currency, often copied from the neighbor or overlord, but not always the same value or the same weight, and differentiating by changes more or less subtle. This era was the golden age of changers.

* Decline of feudalism

From the thirteenth century and the arrival of Philippe Auguste to the throne, the royal power gradually strengthened its authority, extending its territory and controlling more precisely the seigniorial currencies. From the advent of Philippe Auguste (1180) to the end of the reign of Philippe le Bel (1314), the use of local currencies decreases significantly, while the royal currencies replace them, and while the royal domain widens further. Most seigniorial, church or bourgeois currencies extinguished at that time. The last local coins cease to be made in the first half of the XIV century.

In addition, the centralization of money around the denarius stops from 1263, when St. Louis brought the gros tournoi on his return from crusade.

These coins were made of silver, weighed about 4 grams and worth 12 denarius. Philippe le Bel develops a complex monetary system, using a lot of different coins made of gold, silver or billion, that will be used throughout almost the entire fourteenth century.

The Hundred Years War weakened the royal power, which sometimes had to devalue its currency, but this does not permit the local currency to regain their old force. At the end of the war, the royal power is greatly enhanced by the expulsion of English from France, and King Louis XI has a near monopoly on the minting of money, despite some notable exceptions. The era of feudal coins is over.

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