Pancartes
Encyclopedia
Pancartes were medieval historical documents, drawn up by a monastery
, that recorded a sequence of gifts to the monastery. They were created in order that the whole group of grants or gifts could be confirmed by the ruler. They are known from Normandy and other northern French regions. Sometimes they were created over a number of years as successive gifts were added to the original document. Generally the various grants were tied together with a narrative, usually quite short, that linked the various gifts to a short history of the religious house. These documents were a frequent product of monastic houses in Normandy
during the early 11th century and afterwards. Normally, they were not a product of the lay administration's chanceries
, but came from ecclesiastical sources.
The historian David Bates
has argued that the term pancartes has been overused in historical studies, pointing out that the strict definition of the term is "a charter which reproduces the text of more than one charter". The important point to Bates is that the document duplicates the original diplomatic
of the copied charter.
Sometimes the pancarte was recopied after a number of additions had been made to the original, and this could occasionally lead to errors in chronology, as the additions to the original might have been made without respect to the actual order of the donations. The historian Marjorie Chibnall
states that the medieval historian Orderic Vitalis
used now lost pancartes of various Norman monastic houses as sources for his historical writings. The surviving pancartes are important not only for their recording of now-lost charters, but also for understanding the history of historical writing
.
The practice of writing pancartes influenced English monasteries, which were in contact with Norman houses after the Norman conquest of England
in 1066. Post-Conquest cartularies, such as Hemming's Cartulary
, bear many similarities to the Norman pancartes. Later, in the reign of King Henry II of England
, the monastic writers Benedict of Peterborough, Roger of Howden, and Ralph Diceto also built on the pancarte when they inserted documents into their narratives, although their connecting stories were much more elaborate than many other pancartes.
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, that recorded a sequence of gifts to the monastery. They were created in order that the whole group of grants or gifts could be confirmed by the ruler. They are known from Normandy and other northern French regions. Sometimes they were created over a number of years as successive gifts were added to the original document. Generally the various grants were tied together with a narrative, usually quite short, that linked the various gifts to a short history of the religious house. These documents were a frequent product of monastic houses in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
during the early 11th century and afterwards. Normally, they were not a product of the lay administration's chanceries
Chancery (medieval office)
Chancery is a general term for a medieval writing office, responsible for the production of official documents. The title of chancellor, for the head of the office, came to be held by important ministers in a number of states, and remains the title of the heads of government in modern Germany,...
, but came from ecclesiastical sources.
The historian David Bates
David Bates (historian)
Professor David Bates is a British historian.He was Professor of Medieval History at the University of Glasgow from 1994 until 2003. He then took up the post of director of the Institute of Historical Research at the University of London between 2003 and 2008, and now holds a chair in Medieval...
has argued that the term pancartes has been overused in historical studies, pointing out that the strict definition of the term is "a charter which reproduces the text of more than one charter". The important point to Bates is that the document duplicates the original diplomatic
Diplomatics
Diplomatics , or Diplomatic , is the study that revolves around documentation. It is a study that focuses on the analysis of document creation, its inner constitutions and form, the means of transmitting information, and the relationship documented facts have with their creator...
of the copied charter.
Sometimes the pancarte was recopied after a number of additions had been made to the original, and this could occasionally lead to errors in chronology, as the additions to the original might have been made without respect to the actual order of the donations. The historian Marjorie Chibnall
Marjorie Chibnall
Marjorie Morgan MacCallum Chibnall is an English historian, medievalist and Latin translator.Born at Atcham in Shropshire in 1915, she is an Emeritus Fellow of Clare Hall, University of Cambridge , and had previously taught at the University of Southampton and the University of Aberdeen as well...
states that the medieval historian Orderic Vitalis
Orderic Vitalis
Orderic Vitalis was an English chronicler of Norman ancestry who wrote one of the great contemporary chronicles of 11th and 12th century Normandy and Anglo-Norman England. The modern biographer of Henry I of England, C...
used now lost pancartes of various Norman monastic houses as sources for his historical writings. The surviving pancartes are important not only for their recording of now-lost charters, but also for understanding the history of historical writing
Historiography
Historiography refers either to the study of the history and methodology of history as a discipline, or to a body of historical work on a specialized topic...
.
The practice of writing pancartes influenced English monasteries, which were in contact with Norman houses after the Norman conquest of England
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
in 1066. Post-Conquest cartularies, such as Hemming's Cartulary
Hemming's Cartulary
Hemming's Cartulary is a manuscript cartulary, or collection of charters and other land records, collected by a monk named Hemming around the time of the Norman Conquest of England. The manuscript comprises two separate cartularies that were made at different times and later bound together. The...
, bear many similarities to the Norman pancartes. Later, in the reign of King Henry II of England
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
, the monastic writers Benedict of Peterborough, Roger of Howden, and Ralph Diceto also built on the pancarte when they inserted documents into their narratives, although their connecting stories were much more elaborate than many other pancartes.