LOCAL OFFICIALS OF ENGLISH TOWNS DURING THE REIGN OF HENRY VI (ON THE EXAMPLE OF SOUTHAMPTON)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17072/2219-3111-2026-2-71-88Keywords:
officials, England, town, Henry VI, Middle Ages, SouthamptonAbstract
This article examines the composition of civic officials in English towns during the reign of Henry VI, using Southampton as a case study. The author draws on both openly accessible written sources and the scholarly works of Russian and foreign historians. After analyzing legislative and documentary sources—including deeds, acts, and charters—the author concludes that all official positions in the English medieval town can be divided into two broad categories: primary and secondary. The first group, according to the author, comprised individuals who performed the most essential functions in regulating urban life, participated in the selection of other officials, and bore greater responsibility for their actions. The second group included positions that were often nominal or ceremonial in nature. These could be held either by persons already occupying primary offices or by other qualified individuals. The article also notes that eligibility for a given position depended on the candidate's qualifications and status. For instance, to become a mayor, one had to meet a certain income requirement, whereas the town clerk had to be a literate and competent person. In conclusion, the author states that most officials from both groups were accountable only to the Common Council. Although the king had the power to interfere in the internal affairs of the late-medieval English town, such interference was rare and occurred only when the monarch acted as the supreme judge in particularly major disputes.References
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