Capitulary of Quierzy
As Kapitular of Quierzy several Royal Decrees are called, were set in the royal palace Quierzy into force. The best known are from Charles the Bald, one on 14 February 857, which deals with the fight against bandits, and another on 14 June 877, which governs the administration of the kingdom during the absence of the emperor on his second Italian campaign. This last Kapitular is generally meant when the Kapitular of Quierzy is mentioned.
Situation
In this position, he decided to ask for help against Saracen attacks, which Pope John VIII ( 872-882 ) addressed to him to comply, but he met a significant disagreement among his followers. To prepare this Italian campaign Karl has thought it appropriate to establish a national assembly in Quierzy hold to organize the administration of his kingdom during his absence by a Kapitular so that the nobility of his projects also obeyed.
The main points
The Kapitular 14 June 877, the Charles the Bald promulgated in Quierzy, consisted mainly of advice to his son Louis the Stammerer, which the kingdom was entrusted at this time. Not only Charles but also the nobility distrusted Ludwig, and so had to make sure that the son made no decisions during the campaign, Charles wanted to subject himself. Ludwig made rules as a babes, he was regent to the side made - and it was made clear that he was not the automatic successor as Karl still have other options or expect to settle his inheritance ( Ludwig's sons were nearly grown and the queen was pregnant).
Some sections of the Kapitulars go concretely on the intra-family situation, obviously Ludwig behavior to regulate here. So he was told exactly which king palaces he visit and where he which should hunt game; further provisions were intended to hedge Louis stepmother Richildis and his sisters.
The most important in retrospect sections go but to the expectations of the nobility (and their protection against a regent Ludwig), and open to those who would not return alive from the Italian campaign, the prospect that their feud, offices and benefices would be passed on to their sons (although not automatic, but by a new royal investiture ). It is expressly confirmed here that the sub- vassals, so the vassals of his earls, were included in the control with. This part of the Kapitulars is of fundamental importance for the European constitutional history, as it is often considered a key element of feudalism: In fact, the Capitular of Quierzy is a document to the growing acceptance of the heritability of royal fief.
Swell
- Georg Heinrich Pertz (ed.), capitularia regum Francorum, 1835, No 241/ 242 ( capitula proposita et conventus responsa, Capitulare ), pp. 537ff
- Alfred Boretius, Viktor Krause ( ed.): capitularia regum Francorum 2, 1887, reprint 1964, No. 281/282 ( conventus Cariacensis, Capitulare Cariacense, capitula in Excerpta Conventu Cariacensi coram populo LEcta ), pp. 355ff