INDEX:
1. Philip II confirms Arthur's grant of the seneschalship of Maine
and Anjou to William des Roches, May 1199 (click here)
2. Philip II confirms Arthur's grant of several castles to Juhel II
of Mayenne, May 1199 (click here)
3. Philip II defines the rights of William des Roches as seneschal
of Maine, Anjou, and the Touraine, August 1204 (click
here)
4. Philip II rewards supporters of Arthur by granting them fiefs, 1206
(click here)
4. Philip Augustus alters the title and honors of William des Roches,
January 1207 (click here)
5. Philip Augustus grants a fief to an Angevin, 1213 (click
here)
Background: King Richard I had died on April 6, 1199, and the succession to the Angevin Empire was briefly contested between Richard's nephew, Arthur (son of Richard's brother Geoffrey), and Richard's brother, John. As we know, John ultimately prevailed, giving rise to dark rumors that John had had his nephew Arthur murdered. This unsettled moment proved a perfect opportunity for King Philip II Augustus of France, who for long had wished to dismember the vast set of holdings that made up the Angevin Empire. In 1199, therefore, Philip lent his support to Arthur. Among the more visible components of that support was Philip's willingness to publicly support Arthur's acts. In the charters I have translated here, the immediate context is the struggle for the barons of the key provinces of Anjou and Maine, which lay between two of the biggest and most important blocs of Angevin fiefs (ie., between Normandy and Aquitaine). William des Roches was a local lord who made his name and fortune by serving Henry II; Arthur, wishing William's support in Anjou, was therefore quick to confirm William as the seneschal of the royal estates in Maine, Anjou, and the Touraine (keep in mind that the Angevin kings were also counts of Anjou and counts of Maine; their holdings in these regions were substantial). In the first act below, Philip Augustus confirms this grant. Likewise, Arthur had attempted to win the support of another of the most powerful barons of Maine, Juhel of Mayenne. By offering Juhel the castles of Ambrieres, Gorron, Chatillon-sur-Colmont, and La Chartre, Arthur was making a symbolic gesture by restoring to Juhel's control castles that he and his ancestors had vainly claimed from the Angevin monarchy for over 60 years. Philip Augustus' motive in issuing these confirmations was undoubtedly to try to swing these key barons of Western France into his camp. And, as events proved over the next five years, his efforts were not in vain; both William des Roches and Juhel of Mayenne proved reluctant vassals of King John and eager to turn to the lordship of the king of France. The third document reflects Philip's victory over John; in 1204, William des Roches was still a trustworthy vassal, but the king made it clear that he was not to be an independent power in the West. The 1204 act clearly defined the scope of the seneschal's powers. Note in particular Philip's insistence that he retain full rights over all fortifications; this seems to suggest that in 1204 Philip may not have been sure that his victory over the Angevins was permanent.
TEXT:
Charter concerning the Seneschalship of Anjou
Philip by the grace of God King of the French. Let all to whom the present letters come know that our friend and vassal Arthur, duke of Brittany, Count of Anjou, and Earl of Richmond, gave William des Roches and his heirs in fief and in heredity, in return for the faithful service which William rendered to him, the seneschalship of Anjou and Maine, and on top of this, Mayet with all its appurtenances and the wood of Bersay with its appurtenances. We, moreover, at the request of the said Arthur, confirmed this donation with our seal and, whatever shall occur, we guarantee all these things to the aforesaid William. Done at Montlandon, in the year of the lord 1199, in the month of May.
Source: Recueil des actes de Philippe Auguste, vol. 2,
pp. 156-157, act no. 608. Translated from the Latin by Richard Barton.
TEXT:
Charter concerning Juhel de Mayenne
Philip, etc. Let it be known, etc. that just as our friend and vassal Arthur, duke of Brittany, count of Anjou and of Richmond, restored the castles of Gorron, Ambrieres, Chateauneuf-sur-Colmont, and La Chartre fully and freely, with all castellaniis and all appurtenance, and the forest of Fossa Lovein which is known to pertain to the castlery of Ernee, to our beloved Juhel of Mayenne and his heirs, and [just as he] conceded this and confirmed it in perpetuity with his seal, we, at the petition of the same Arthur, commanded the aforesaid things to be confirmed by the authority of our seal to the same Juhel and his heirs. Done at Montlandon, in the year of the Lord 1199, in the month of May.
SOURCE: Recueil des actes de Philippe Auguste, vol. 2, p. 155, act no. 607. Translated from the Latin by Richard Barton.
3. Philip Augustus Defines
the Rights of William des Roches as Seneschal of Anjou, Maine, and the
Touraine, August 1204
TEXT:
In the name of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, Amen. Philip, by the
grace of God, King of the French. Let everyone, both present and
future, know that these are the rights that William des Roches, seneschal
of Anjou, shall have in the seneschalcy of Anjou, the Touraine, and Maine.
He shall take nothing from our seigneurial revenues of Anjou, the Touraine,
and Maine; but the same seneschal shall have from the provosts and the
provostships one mark of silver of Tours for every 50 pounds that the provosts
pay for their provostships. If we sell our woods, he shall have nothing
from the sale of our woods. Besides this, he will have no custom
in our forests. And if we should levy an aid [demandam] or a tax
[tailliam] on the Christians or the Jews of the seneschalcy of Anjou, the
Touraine and Maine, that aid shall be collected for our use by the hand
of the aforesaid seneschal through legitimate accounts and records; but
the seneschal shall have nothing from the aid or tax. And concerning
everything else, both fines and revenues or service which are rendered
to the seneschal, we will receive two parts and the seneschal the third
part. Moreover it is understood that the aforesaid seneschal will
not be able to lay claim to the guardianship of our castles and fortifications
either through a fief or through custom; and if by chance we or someone
from our party has handed over any castle or fortification to the guardianship
of the same seneschal, the seneschal shall deliver to us and our heirs,
or to a credible messenger bearing our letters patent to this effect, the
castles and fortifications, undamaged, whenever we or our heir shall request
it. The said seneschal swore to preserve all these things in good
faith to us and our heirs in perpetuity. And we received the same
seneschal into liege homage concerning these matters, just as was said,
so that the same seneschal and his heirs by his affianced wife will hold
all these [rights] from us and our heirs in liege homage, just as was said.
So that it might obtain perpetual strength, we confirmed the present page
with the authority of our seal and by the royal signature below.
Done at Poitiers, in the the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 1204, in the twenty-fifth year of our reign, with those present in our palace whose names and signs are found below.
No dapifer.
Sign of Guy the Butler
Sign of Matthew the Chamberlain
Sign of Drogo the constable
Done while the chancellorship was vacant.
SOURCE: Recueil des actes de Philippe Auguste, vol. 2,
pp. 407-409, act no. 829. Translated from the Latin by Richard Barton.
In the name [of the Holy and Individual Trinity], etc. Let all know, both those present and those to come, that in consideration of the estate given to them by Arthur, [formerly duke of Brittany], we have given and conceded Beaufort and all its appurtenances to our beloved and faithful Adam, viscount of Melun, to Simon de Poissy, and to Jean Briard Beauf to be held in fief and liege homage. It ought to be held by them and by the heirs given to them by their wives in return for the service which that land owes according to the usage and customs of Anjou. Nevertheless, if they should manage to lose the said estate of Beaufort with its appurtenances, we shall be held to make no restitution to them outside the county of Anjou. So that this may obtain, etc. Done in the year of the lord 1206, [in the] 28th [year] of our reign. Given with the chancellorship vacant by the hand of brother Warin.
Source: Recueil des actes de Philippe Auguste, v. 3, p. 3, no.
960. Translated from the Latin by Richard Barton.
Philip, etc. Let it be known, etc. that we want and conceded that our friend and vassal William des Roches, seneschal of Anjou, shall hold for as long as it pleases us Anjou and Baugé with their appurtenances, as well as all things there which he was holding on the last Christmas Eve. And we retain Tours and the entire Touraine with its seneschalcy, and Chinon with its provostship and seneschalcy, and Bourgeuil and Loudun with their provostship, seneschalcy and appurtenances, and Saumur with its provostship. And if we should take Anjou, Baugé, their appurtenances, and those things which we gave to him back into our hand whensoever it shall please us to do so, we will restore to him his seneschalcy [of Anjou] just as he used to possess it. So that this may be fixed and stable, etc. Done at Paris, in the year of the Word 1206, in the month of January [ie., January 1207].
Source: Recueil des Actes de Philippe Auguste, v. 3, pp. 5-6,
no. 963. Translated from the Latin by Richard Barton.
Text:
Charter of Herbert Turpin, knight, namely:
Let it be known, etc. that we gave to Herbert Turpin, knight, the land
which used to belong to Herbert Borz and which is called Legarz [ie. "Gâts"]
and is near Baugé, in fief and in liege homage. We wish that
the said Herbert hold the said land just as he is currently holding it,
namely as a fief and in liege homage from us for the service which the
land owes according to the usage and customs of Anjou. Done at Paris,
in the year of the Lord 1213, in the 34th year of our reign.
Source: Recueil des Actes de Philippe Auguste, v. 3, no. 1297,
p. 434. Translated from the Latin by Richard Barton.