Publicity as a Factor in the Formation of City Authority in England in the 14th — 15th Centuries (Based on London)

Abstract

In the 14—15th Centuries the city community of London becomes an active participant in the public socio-political space in England, acting as a new social subject of power relations. The formation of the city community of Freemen took place in the 12—13th Centuries in the context of the institutionalization of social and political processes in London. It is one of the most important characteristics of publicity authority. The city community of Freemen was a social institution consisting exclusively of citizens who were allowed to enjoy city privileges, including the right to participate in city government and the election of city officials. Exactly they were not just included in the publicity space of power, but also became its active actors. Municipal government was in the hands of the Aldermen and elected from among their other officials, including the highest — the Mayor and Sheriffs. The Aldermen constituted the wealthiest and most influential part of the Freemen, and they were part of the merchant top of the livery of the "Twelve Great Livery Companies" of London. The publicity of authority is most clearly manifested in the electoral principles in relation to the highest officials of the city magistrate. The City officials had to act on behalf of the community of citizens within their delegated authority based on the principle of electability. However the principle of electability had limitations that reflected the contradictoriness of the publicity space of authority in the period under review. In electing Aldermen the last and decisive word was actually left to the Aldermen themselves, who in practice elected the Mayor and Sheriffs. The Community of London was removed from the election. Urban uprisings that shook the capital in the 14—15th Centuries and directed against the government are a sign of the expansion of participants in the publicity space of authority. Representatives of the London ruling elite not only had to represent the interests of the Freeman's upper class of the city community, but also acted as a kind of channel of the connection between a certain part of the capital's society and the Royal authority. The Mayor and Sheriffs were elected by the townspeople, though a limited part of them, and from among the townspeople, but at the same time they officially considered as Royal officials. Some of the Aldermen were directly in the service of the King. The King could interfere in the electoral process at any time and remove even the Mayor from his office. Representatives of citizens, all the same Aldermen, took part in the discussion of the most important issues of state life in the Parliament, which is evidence of the expansion of the field for publicity dialogue between the government and society.