Membership in the Confederation of the Cinque Ports as a Factor of Urban Community Development in Medieval England

Abstract

The appearance and growth of\xa0an active community in\xa0a\xa0seigneurial town were determined by\xa0several factors, usually connected with its economic development. There were also various external factors that could influence the\xa0process. An important role was played by\xa0the\xa0royal power that, as it is well known, held a\xa0strong position in\xa0England and was disinclined to support towns in\xa0their struggle for self-governance. This article considers one more factor, i.e. the\xa0influence of\xa0town alliances. The\xa0Confederation of\xa0the\xa0Cinque Ports, a\xa0privileged association of\xa0towns of\xa0south-east England that were obliged to serve the\xa0king with their ships, is taken as an\xa0example of\xa0such an\xa0alliance. It\xa0is used to analyse the\xa0influence of\xa0the\xa0Confederation on\xa0the\xa0development of\xa0an\xa0urban community in\xa0a\xa0seigneurial town. The\xa0research mostly focuses on\xa0a\xa0particular type of\xa0mediatised town, the\xa0one under monastic rule. In\xa0the\xa0Cinque Ports, there were seven towns like that, i.e. Brightlingsea, Faversham, Fordwich, Rye, Sandwich, Stonar, and Winchelsea. The\xa0article examines the\xa0causes and the\xa0process of\xa0the\xa0towns’ entry into the\xa0Confederation, their position there, as well as the\xa0influence of\xa0this membership on\xa0their fight against their monastic lords and the\xa0formation of\xa0a\xa0self-governing community. The\xa0policy of\xa0the\xa0Cinque Ports concerning the\xa0seigneurial towns and their interactions with the\xa0lords is also under consideration, which allows the\xa0author to make some conclusions not only about the\xa0development of\xa0the\xa0towns in\xa0question but also about the\xa0nature of\xa0this urban association. The\xa0royal policy towards seigneurial towns also comes into view, as the\xa0ports studied had special obligations towards the\xa0king and, thus, he was more interested in\xa0their affairs. The\xa0study mostly refers to the\xa0documentation of\xa0the\xa0Confederation and the\xa0materials of\xa0the\xa0towns’ archives. Although the\xa0membership of\xa0the\xa0Cinque Ports did not guarantee release from seigneurial power, it still gave the\xa0towns a\xa0basis, even a\xa0legal one, to fight against their monastic lords. The\xa0struggle for their rights led to the\xa0consolidation of\xa0the\xa0townspeople and formation of\xa0an urban community. The\xa0Confederation supported its members morally, politically, and financially in\xa0order to maintain their liberties. However, this was not enough to deliver them from the\xa0monastic lordship, which was only possible with royal support.