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

Abstract

The appearance and growth of an active community in a seigneurial town were determined by several factors, usually connected with its economic development. There were also various external factors that could influence the process. An important role was played by the royal power that, as it is well known, held a strong position in England and was disinclined to support towns in their struggle for self-governance. This article considers one more factor, i.e. the influence of town alliances. The Confederation of the Cinque Ports, a privileged association of towns of south-east England that were obliged to serve the king with their ships, is taken as an example of such an alliance. It is used to analyse the influence of the Confederation on the development of an urban community in a seigneurial town. The research mostly focuses on a particular type of mediatised town, the one under monastic rule. In the Cinque Ports, there were seven towns like that, i.e. Brightlingsea, Faversham, Fordwich, Rye, Sandwich, Stonar, and Winchelsea. The article examines the causes and the process of the towns’ entry into the Confederation, their position there, as well as the influence of this membership on their fight against their monastic lords and the formation of a self-governing community. The policy of the Cinque Ports concerning the seigneurial towns and their interactions with the lords is also under consideration, which allows the author to make some conclusions not only about the development of the towns in question but also about the nature of this urban association. The royal policy towards seigneurial towns also comes into view, as the ports studied had special obligations towards the king and, thus, he was more interested in their affairs. The study mostly refers to the documentation of the Confederation and the materials of the towns’ archives. Although the membership of the Cinque Ports did not guarantee release from seigneurial power, it still gave the towns a basis, even a legal one, to fight against their monastic lords. The struggle for their rights led to the consolidation of the townspeople and formation of an urban community. The Confederation supported its members morally, politically, and financially in order to maintain their liberties. However, this was not enough to deliver them from the monastic lordship, which was only possible with royal support.