Urban community and aristocratic rule within the medieval urbanisation of selected regions in Central Europe

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This project provides a contribution to the research on medieval processes of urbanisation which developped a particular dynamic since the 12th century and, thus, substantially shaped the appearance of Europe all through modern times. The formation, agglomeration and differentiation of medieval urbanity are examined by means of one primary question: How did the relations and interactions between towns and urban groups, baronial or princely town rulers, their local representatives as well as other social groups (e.g. the regional nobility) materialise? This question is applied to three case studies for the time from 1150 to 1500 AD approximately: the dukes of Braunschweig-Lüneburg, the counts resp. dukes of Württemberg, and the counts of Tirol. The relations to their respective towns are analysed exemplarily and comparatively. Thereby, the spotlight is cast on regions aside the highly urbanised and relatively well examined landscapes of Western and Southern Europe and on phenomenons of limited urban dimension, i.e. on small- to medium-sized towns or even Stadtdörfer (tiny and distinctly rural towns). The research focuses on social interactions, various forms of communication, and on processes of formation of social groups between cooperation and confrontation of communal and feudal structures. Particular attention is directed to urban elites and their function as mediators as well as their interventions between aristocratic rule and urban community. This approach is also reflected in the methodology of this project: historical comparatistics, prosopography, sociability and spatial concepts (urban landscapes, urban networks, central places). Newly tapped archival sources and re-interpreted sources in print constitute the material basis of the project.