The cathedral chapter of St. Maarten at Utrecht before the revolt

The cathedral chapter of Utrecht was by 1500, save for the offices of dean and provost, a largely self-recruiting body of conservative-minded, wealthy and well-connected men, accustomed to playing a leading role in the spiritual and temporal governance of the diocese and prince-bishopric. The transfer of the temporalities of the bishopric to the emperor Charles V in 1528 reduced the temporal role of the Chapter, but did not alter its conservative interpretation of its privileges or the financial and social strength with which to defend them. By 1550 this wealth had underpinned successful opposition to two schemes to encroach on the financial wealth of the Chapter, first by its provost and then by the bishop. The dominant role of the Chapter in the Estates of Utrecht ensured that the latter was in matters of taxation among the most turbulent territories in the Hapsburg Netherlands. The Chapter's links with interested parties in the upper echelons of the bureaucracy in Brussels enabled it to sabotage significantly Philip's scheme of new bishoprics in the Netherlands and so preserve its position. This study argues that while the Chapter successfully defended its interests against the Hapsburg government, its truculent conduct aroused antagonism in the central government towards the provincial Estates of Utrecht. This created tensions which predisposed a sufficient number of the ruling elite in the province, including the First Estate, the clergy, to turn to the prince of Orange and to rebel Holland after 1576 and ultimately to adhere, albeit with reservations, to the Union of Utrecht in 1579.

University of Southampton

Moore, Stuart Francis Campbell

b06b8ecd-5f5d-4bfc-a9aa-5a5afa7bf571

1990

Moore, Stuart Francis Campbell

b06b8ecd-5f5d-4bfc-a9aa-5a5afa7bf571

Moore, Stuart Francis Campbell (1990) The cathedral chapter of St. Maarten at Utrecht before the revolt. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)