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The cartulary B of the chapter of Coutances : story of a resurrection

The cartulary B of the chapter of Coutances : story of a resurrection

Fontanel-Deslondes, Julie (Archives départementales du Calvados)

Tabularia « Études », n° 9, (2009)

Abstract

Three cartularies were written by the chapter of Coutances in the XIVth century, as the « mis fortunes of time » had endangered the conservation of the charters. After the disappearance of the cartularies A and C in the early XIXth century, the cartulary B became a true monument in the eyes of the diocesan archivists. It was therefore copied several times. These copies enabled me to edit the cartulary B after its destruction during the bombings of 1944. The cartulary is rather voluminous. It covers a wide chronological period, from the duke William to the XVth century, and a vast geographical area, which also reveals the economic interests of the chapter. Its composition is interesting, especially – by what it says – for the writer’s methodology. We may regret that some charters are fairly stereotypical, but many others will be of special interest to historians.

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