Le Figaro Bordeaux
This is not a witchcraft grimoire.
Several exceptional documents are currently being brought together in the free exhibition
“Cities in Gironde in the Middle Ages”
, at the Gironde departmental archives, in Bordeaux, until April 7.
Among these numerous works, both surprising and little known to the general public, is a cartulary from Libourne, nicknamed the
“hairy book”
, because of its red and hairy cover.
“Its cover is exceptional because it is made of goat skin which has retained all its hair
,” explains Nathalie Crouzier-Roland, doctor in medieval history and specialist in municipal writing and memorial construction from the 13th to the 15th century. in the towns of Bordeaux.
However,
“this blanket is not original, it dates from the 19th century but it replaced a skin, which was also hairy but black in color”
, which dated from 1619, specifies the researcher.
She adds that this work,
“probably drawn up in 1476”
, would be
“the copy of a previous cartulary drawn up in 1392”
, and was undoubtedly hairy from the Middle Ages.
Also read: The most beautiful manuscripts of the Middle Ages under the eye of scientists
A community monument
Beyond its goatskin cover, Libourne's furry book is also remarkable for its content.
It is a cartulary, that is to say a set of documents being
“not only collections of copies of acts, but which also have a memorial dimension”
, explains Nathalie Crouzier-Roland, who is also a member of the scientific committee for this exhibition, directed by the medievalist Sylvie Faravel.
There we find, for example, the chronicle of Guyenne,
“a mythical text that is absolutely fanciful but which, in substance, corroborates English rights over Guyenne”
.
From this Libourne book, “an attachment to the English crown”
emerges
, because it is from this administration that the Libourne municipal privileges derived.
A true community monument, the Libourne hairy book contains, in addition to these numerous documents useful for the life of the city,
“unusual things”
, which make the city
“represent itself in these pages”
.
For Nathalie Crouzier-Roland,
“it is a building which highlights the life and history of the community”
.
There we find in particular the drafting of the customs of Bordeaux, demonstrating
"the territorialization of Bordeaux law throughout the territory"
, but also other local customs, which means that they were also applied in Libourne at that time.
As part of the exhibition, this furry book is opened on its swearing page, where a crucifixion scene is represented, accompanied by gospels.
Although it is a secular book, it is on this page that the members of the jurade (the ancestor of the municipal council) took their oath to the city by placing their hands.
“All the people who had a role to play in municipal life took an oath on this swearing page”
, explains Nathalie Crouzier-Roland, who specifies that this page is particularly interesting since
“the jurats represented themselves”
.
Indeed,
“the apostle Saint John has a smooth face and the outfit of a jurat, it is a way of representing the civic body within what is most sacred at the time”
.