Political songs and memories of rebellion in the later medieval Low Countries

Abstract

In the urbanized world of the later medieval Low Countries oral narratives justifying past and contemporary popular rebellions were transmitted both by particular families who had actively engaged in them and within broader artisan milieus. 'Political songs' offer a fascinating insight in the often contradictory transmission of memories of past revolts, civil wars and other conflicts in the medieval Low Countries. The oldest 'historical' or 'political' songs – terms which may be interchangeably used – in Middle Dutch, have simple rhyme schemes and may date from the fourteenth century. Songs were composed and performed, perhaps written down later, then maybe further orally passed on in different social settings, and then again put into writing. Often in the context of wars, civil strife and popular rebellion, political ideas were conceived and spread among groups of people at a higher intensity than was usually the case, and they were also continuously transformed over time, and would cross social boundaries.