Ladurie - Montaillou - Intro and Chap 8 - Reading Notes
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Course
Evidence and Methods
Institution
The University Of York (UOY)
Book
Montaillou
Reading notes and summary of arguments for the Introduction and Chapter 8 of Montaillou by Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie for Evidence and Methods Module - UoY
Evidence and Methods: Culture and Mentality as a Method of Historical Research
Montaillou: Cathars and Catholics in a French Village, 1294-1324 by Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie - Intro (VLE)
References
Footnotes - Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie, Montaillou: Cathars and Catholics in a French Village, 1294-1324,
(London: Scolar, 1978), Introduction.
Bibliography - Le Roy Ladurie, Emmanuel. Montaillou: Cathars and Catholics in a French Village,
1294-1324. London: Scolar, 1978. Introduction.
Notes and Quotes
- ‘there is very little material available that can be considered the direct testimony of peasants
themselves’ - vii
- Idea of who wrote history, and the idea that there is a need to question facts and accounts based on
their author, particularly during periods where there was significant illiteracy and minimal record of the
unfiltered thoughts of ordinary people
- ‘Catharism was based on a distinction between a 'pure' elite on the one hand (perfecti,parfaits,
bonshommes or hiritiques), and on the other hand, the mass of simple believers (credentes). The
parfaits came into their illustrious title after they had been initiated by receiving the Albigensian
sacrament of baptism by book and words (not by water).’ - viii
- ‘Jacques Fournier, the person responsible for our documentary sources, seems to have been born some
time during the decade which began in 1280, at Saverdun in the north of the Comte de Foix, a region
which is now part of Ariege. The precise status of his family is not known, but Fournier himself was of
fairly humble origin’ - xi
- The issue of defining exact provenance becomes increasing prevalent the further back in time you go,
particularly when it comes to documents written by people who were, at least at the time of writing,
of very little contemporary significance. This means that in older texts we have to make some
assumptions about the profile of the author based on inferences from both the text and the smaller
amount of reasonably concrete information that we have about them
- ‘Fournier also became a Cistercian monk. He went north for a while, first as a student, then as a doctor
of the University of Paris. In 1311 he succeeded his uncle as Abbot of Fontfroide. In IJI7, already known
for his learning and severity, he was made Bishop of Pamiers’ - xi
- This demonstrates further the issue of gaining access to accurate sources about the lives of ordinary
people, as we can see here that the details and dates of his life were only accurately reported and
preserved in history after he had become more socially significant
- ‘He was fanatical about detail, and present in person at almost all the sittings of his own court. He
wanted to do, or at least direct, everything himself. He refused to delegate responsibility to his
subordinates, scribes or notaries, as other more negligent Inquisitors often did. So the whole Pamiers
Inquisition Register bears the brand of his constant intervention. This is one of the reasons why it is such
an extraordinary document.’ - xiii
, - This point illustrates the rarity of this type of document, as there were very few cases of such
meticulous recording of history by a single individual, with many historical records from the time
being written by many authors, thus making it more challenging to decipher the motives, actions and
opinions placed behind the document
- ‘The Inquisition court at Pamiers worked for 370 days between I3I8 and I325. These 370 days included
578 interrogations. Of these, 4I8 were examinations of the accused and I60 examinations of witnesses.
In all, these hundreds of sessions dealt with ninety-eight cases. The court set a record for hard work in
I320, with I06 days; it worked ninety-three days in I32I, fifty-five in I323, forty-three in I322, forty-two in
I324, and twenty-two in I325.’ - xiv
- Again, the detailing of this account can be seen as a historical anomaly for the period, particularly
considering the events in question were not of extremely great significance. This makes this a very
important historical source for establishing the nature of society outside of the lives of the upper
educated classes, although it still remains written through the lens of someone in a position of power.
- ‘In only one instance did Jacques Fournier have his victims tortured: this was in the trumped-up case
which French agents made him bring against the lepers, who brought forth wild and absurd confessions
about poisoning wells with powdered toads, etc. In all the other cases which provide the material of this
book, the Bishop confined himself to tracking down real deviants’ - xv
- It is important to consider here that omissions may have been made from this text in order to conceal
the true nature of the religious justice system. By describing one such case of torture, he may be
asserting a truth, but may also be attempting to seem credible whilst hiding other such cases of
torture from his text. There is also a sense that he is attempting to convey a sense of heroism despite
flaw, in order to create the best image of him to be held for posterity
- ‘This document was originally written in three stages. First, at the actual hearing of the interrogation and
deposition, a scribe quickly wrote down a protocol or draft. This scribe was Guillaume Barthe, the
episcopal notary, replaced in cases of absence by one of his colleagues. Then from these hasty notes
the same Guillaume Barthe would compile a minute, written 'in a paper ledger'. This 'was submitted to
the accused, who could have alterations made in it'. Finally, and at leisure, several scribes copied these
'minuted' texts out again on to parchment.’ - xvii
- Although we can view the document as rare in the sense that it seems that the facts were
meticulously recorded by Fournier, it is clear from this description of its final scribing that the process
allowed alterations to be made to the facts of the matter as recorded initially. Whilst it could be
argued that this would allow us to see the perspective of the accused within the article as well, it also
creates complications in identifying the author of any specific passage within the document, thus
making the overall credibility and objectivity of the document questionable
Overview of Points
- Those lower down in society were less likely to have their true opinions passed through history
- Only when one gained social status would they have their life timeline recorded
- Religion played a significant role in the culture, as jurisdiction is a religious institution in this article
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