Discipliner par la grâce. Les lettres de rémission aux gens de guerre dans l’État bourguignon au XVe siècle

Abstract

Prix Herman Diederiks Discipliner par la grâce Les lettres de rémission aux gens de guerre dans l'État bourguignon au XV e siècle Quentin Verreycken 1 Cet article traite de l'usage du droit de grâces par les ducs de Bourgogne au XV e siècle en tant qu'outil disciplinaire. Plus spécifiquement, il s'intéresse aux lettres de rémission accordées aux soldats. En comparant le contenu de ces grâces avec les normes prescrites par la législation militaire, cette recherche envisage la possibilité d'un « gouvernement par la grâce » des armées bourguignonnes. L'incrimination des formes les plus extrêmes de la brutalité militaire, ainsi que les nombreuses grâces délivrées aux combattants qui faisaient un usage modéré et légitime de la violence, suggèrent que les ducs de Bourgogne cherchèrent à promouvoir l'image idéalisée d'un soldat professionnel et obéissant, loyal serviteur de l'État.This article seeks to investigate the use of the power to pardon by the dukes of Burgundy as a disciplinary tool in the fifteenth century. More specifically, it focuses on the remission letters granted to soldiers. By comparing the contents of these pardons with the norms elaborated by the military legislation, this study envisages the possibility of a "government by pardoning" towards the Burgundian armies. The criminalization of the most extreme forms of military brutality, together with the numerous pardons delivered to the combatants who had a moderated and legitimated use of violence, suggest that the dukes tried to promote the idealized image of a professional, obedient soldier, as a loyal servant of the State.

The power to pardon in late medieval and early modern Europe: New perspectives in the history of crime and criminal justice

“…Pardoning meant to designate which category of violence was likely to be pardonable and which was not and therefore encouraged the subjects to adopt better conduct (Gauvard, , , pp. 264–282; Verreycken, ). Even when the monarchs had no limit in their power to pardon, they predominantly remitted crimes that were considered socially acceptable, namely, unpremeditated homicides.…”

“…Finally, it has been argued that the increasing number of pardon letters, especially during a period of judicial coercion, could even have a long-term disciplinary virtue. Pardoning meant to designate which category of violence was likely to be pardonable and which was not and therefore encouraged the subjects to adopt better conduct (Gauvard, 1999(Gauvard, , 2005Verreycken, 2018). Even when the monarchs had no limit in their power to pardon, they predominantly remitted crimes that were considered socially acceptable, namely, unpremeditated homicides.…”

“…175-180), Gauvard (2009), Lacey (2009, Prétou (2010, pp. 196-202), Villalon (2013), Verreycken (2014Verreycken ( , 2018, and Gribit (2016, pp. 46-48, 58-59).…”

‘En nous humblement requerant’: Crime Narrations and Rhetorical Strategies in Late Medieval Pardon Letters

“…Yet in France and the Burgundian Low Countries, noblemen rarely represented more than two percent of the pardon beneficiaries could be favoured by royal or princely mercy. Soldiers, for example, often reached ten to 20 percent of the pardon beneficiaries in periods of intense military activity (Villalon, 2013;Verreycken, 2018a;b).…”