| Abstract
| - RÉSUMÉ. La violente seconde moitié du XIV e siècle abonde en aventuriers talentueux recherchés par les États en formation et nourris par le désarroi financier des institutions et des particuliers. La petite principauté du Barrois, vassale de la France, voit l’ascension d’un trafiquant, Humbelet de Gondrecourt, qui occupe les plus hautes fonctions possibles : receveur général, maître des Monnaies et du Change, conseiller du comte-duc de Bar, et anobli. Faux-monnayeur, adultère notoire et sans postérité légitime, il parvient pourtant à asseoir la fortune et l’honorabilité de ses bâtards et de ses collatéraux. Au prix fort : malversations, endogamie poussée, clientélisme parfois douteux, investissements multiples (sans équivalents locaux) où les biens aisément transmissibles l’emportent. Avec, pour pancarte majeure d’honorabilité, la fondation de la plus importante chapellenie du Barrois, qui engloutit une bonne partie des biens fonciers accumulés. Sa succession est saisie en 1380, vérifiée, et majoritairement restituée aux héritiers testamentaires ; mais trente ans après, on l’expertisait encore. Sans illusions : la faiblesse des petits États en « ressources humaines » interdit aux princes d’éliminer les serviteurs efficaces.
- ABSTRACT. In the turbulent second half of the XIVth century one finds many talented adventurers who were pursued by the rising nation-states and encouraged by the chaotic financial state of institutions and individuals. It was in the small principality of the Barrois, a vassal of France, that the shady character, Humbelet de Gondrecourt, rose to power. He became a noble and occupied the highest positions : as general receiver, head of the mint and exchange service and counsellor to the Duke of the Bar. Although he was a counterfeiter, a notorious adulterer and had no legitimate heirs, he managed to assure both a generous fortune and respectability for his illegitimate offspring and collaterals. However he achieved his status at the cost of embezzlement, extensive intermarriage, nepotism and multiple investments (without local equivalents), composed largely of easily transmissible holdings. As a cover for his illegal activities he used the respectability he gained from the foundation of the most important chantry in the Barrois, which squandered a large part of the accumulated real estate. His estate was seized in 1380, verified, and for the most part restored to his testamentary heirs ; but thirty years later, the verification was still not finished. But the state had no illusions : the small States’ lack of personnel made it impossible for the princes to wipe out efficient servants.
|
