Crombie, Laura orcid.org/0000-0001-5235-5338 (2011) Honour, community and hierarchy in the feasts of the archery and crossbow guilds of Bruges, 1445–81. Journal of Medieval History. pp. 102-113. ISSN 0304-4181
Abstract
Archery and crossbow guilds first appeared in the fourteenth century in response to the needs of town defence and princely calls for troops. By the fifteenth century these guilds existed across northern Europe. Despite this they have not received the attention they deserve, and have even been dismissed as little more than militias. An analysis of the uniquely detailed account books of the two Bruges guilds, the archers of St Sebastian and the crossbowmen of St George, reveals much about their social activities, and especially their annual meals. Feasts were important to the guilds in three main ways. Firstly, they demonstrated the guild's status and wealth. Secondly, meals helped to strengthen the bonds of the community. The guild's community could include not just members resident in Bruges, but also shooters from other towns and even leading noblemen. Thirdly, and in contrast to this, communal meals were an occasion to exhibit the hierarchy present within these guilds. Hierarchy is shown through the range of foods purchased, and through the seating plans preserved in the St Sebastian's guild accounts.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (York) > History (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 20 Jul 2013 00:07 |
Last Modified: | 16 Oct 2024 12:17 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmedhist.2010.12.008 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.jmedhist.2010.12.008 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:75053 |