Jacob van Zuden and the Early Fourteenth-Century Expansion of the Hospitallers in the Bishopric of Utrecht

Abstract

The protagonist in this paper is Jacob van Zuden, commander of the Hospitaller convent of Utrecht in the first two decades of the fourteenth century. During his administration six new dependent Hospitaller houses were founded in the bishopric of Utrecht, the most important of which was the convent of Haarlem. The question addressed here is how this impressive expansion was realized in a period when the military orders had come under severe criticism. The answer is sought in analysing the role of Van Zuden in the setting up of the various preceptories. He was not a rich patron by himself but, having been appointed papal collector and administrator of crusade money, he could make use of the crusade enthusiasm that appears to have been still vivid in the northern Low Countries after 1291. He also seems to have gathered some capital in his additional function as auxiliary bishop to the bishop of Utrecht. More important though were his activities as councillor and creditor of three major territorial lords. He performed some administration tasks for the count of Holland and loaned him, as well as the prince-bishop of Utrecht and the count of Guelders, substantial sums of money. As he was rewarded with both interest and favors, he turned these towards his own projects, manipulating the situation in a way as to please all parties.