Confrérie des jongleurs et bourgeois d'Arras
Encyclopedia
The Confrérie des jongleurs et bourgeois d'Arras was a fraternity
of jongleurs founded in Arras
in or around 1175. As its name implies, it was intended for jongleurs (not just trouvère
s) and the bourgeoisie
, not just the knight
ly class. It also did not hold poetic contests. In these ways it was distinct from the Puy d'Arras
.
The foundation of the Confrérie is enshrined in legend, according to which two debating jongleurs, unable to settle their differences, were approached by the Virgin Mary, who sent them to Arras, which was under the curse of the plague. There they were to adjudicate their dispute before the bishop in the cathedral of Notre-Dame. Once there, the Virgin again appeared and handed them a candle, the sainte chandelle of tradition, the melted wax from which, mingled with water, was found to heal the wounds of those afflicted with the plague, 144 that first night. In gratitude and out of praise, the jongleurs founded a confrérie to safeguard the candle and celebrate the religious feasts. Shortly thereafter, and quite historically, a tower was built to house the candle, which generated a sizeable profit from pilgrims.
The Confrérie was, at the beginning, a lay religious institute. Its statutes provided for last rites
, funeral services for deceased members, and a common supply of food for poorer members. Open to both men and women, it functioned through membership fees and annual dues. Members had also to swear an oath, after which they could participate in the election of the head confrére and his officers, who monitored members' activities to ensure compliance with the statutes.
The most important document for the history of the Confrérie is the necrology that records the deaths of members from 1194 to 1361. Adam de la Halle
and Jehan Erart
were members.
Fraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
of jongleurs founded in Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
in or around 1175. As its name implies, it was intended for jongleurs (not just trouvère
Trouvère
Trouvère , sometimes spelled trouveur , is the Northern French form of the word trobador . It refers to poet-composers who were roughly contemporary with and influenced by the troubadours but who composed their works in the northern dialects of France...
s) and the bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
, not just the knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ly class. It also did not hold poetic contests. In these ways it was distinct from the Puy d'Arras
Puy d'Arras
The Puy d'Arras, called in its own day the Puy Notre-Dame, was a medieval poetical society formed in Arras for holding contests between trouvères and pour maintenir amour et joie . The term puy is Old French for "place of eminence", from Latin podium...
.
The foundation of the Confrérie is enshrined in legend, according to which two debating jongleurs, unable to settle their differences, were approached by the Virgin Mary, who sent them to Arras, which was under the curse of the plague. There they were to adjudicate their dispute before the bishop in the cathedral of Notre-Dame. Once there, the Virgin again appeared and handed them a candle, the sainte chandelle of tradition, the melted wax from which, mingled with water, was found to heal the wounds of those afflicted with the plague, 144 that first night. In gratitude and out of praise, the jongleurs founded a confrérie to safeguard the candle and celebrate the religious feasts. Shortly thereafter, and quite historically, a tower was built to house the candle, which generated a sizeable profit from pilgrims.
The Confrérie was, at the beginning, a lay religious institute. Its statutes provided for last rites
Last Rites
The Last Rites are the very last prayers and ministrations given to many Christians before death. The last rites go by various names and include different practices in different Christian traditions...
, funeral services for deceased members, and a common supply of food for poorer members. Open to both men and women, it functioned through membership fees and annual dues. Members had also to swear an oath, after which they could participate in the election of the head confrére and his officers, who monitored members' activities to ensure compliance with the statutes.
The most important document for the history of the Confrérie is the necrology that records the deaths of members from 1194 to 1361. Adam de la Halle
Adam de la Halle
Adam de la Halle, also known as Adam le Bossu was a French-born trouvère, poet and musician, whose literary and musical works include chansons and jeux-partis in the style of the trouveres, polyphonic rondel and motets in the style of early liturgical polyphony, and a musical play, "The Play of...
and Jehan Erart
Jehan Erart
Jehan Erart was a trouvère from Arras, particularly noted for his favouring the pastourelle genre. He has left behind eleven pastourelles, ten grand chants, and one serventois....
were members.