L'ascens social a la Barcelona del segle XIV vist a través deis promotors de capelles de la Seu i de les grans esglésies parroquials

Abstract

The issue of this article is the patronage or promotion of de chapels in gothic churches as a mean of consolidation of people's social prestige. All along the XIV century the cathedral and the three parishes of Sta. Maria del Mar, Sta. Maria del Pi and Sant Just in Barcelona had been rebuilt. Church authorities had expected that changuig the romanic churches into the the gothic style known today would be slow and expensive, that is why they decided to confer the new chapels to wealthy people who in turn were supposed to give the eclesiastical institution a generous donation. The promotors of these chapels were mostly merchants and royal civil servants who were at that time in the best social position. Most of them belonged to families who had achieved this position in the past, but we have concentrated in those who were the last ones to obtain better standards of social consideration. The monitoring of their social development has been done thoug legal documentation.