339] THE PLEBISCITE IN ANCIENT AND FEUDAL TIMES 4I 



We have here again the contradistinction of people and 

 nobles in the terms plebes and magnates. The plural plebes 

 is used in mediaeval Latin in the meaning of fideles, qui 

 Episcopo vel Sacerdoti proprio subsunt^^ — the faithful 

 under their Bishop, or their own priest.*° 



In the year 12 14 la ville basse of ^Marseilles recovered its 

 independence from the counts of the Provence and con- 

 stituted itself a republic. La ville haute remained in sub- 

 mission to the bishops and was erected into an episcopal 

 fief by them.^^ Furthermore, the author of the letter, using 

 the term plebium, was chaplain to the son of the King of 

 France, and as an ecclesiastic*^ was likely to refer to the 

 inhabitants of Marseilles, an Episcopal city {civitas)*^ as 

 fideles, or faithful. Using, as he does, the two terms mag- 

 nates and plebes in juxtaposition, his use of the word 

 plebes must, however, imply more than ecclesiastical nota- 

 tion. It seems safe to state that the plebes, as here referred 

 to, are the bourgeoisie. 



The assertion on the part of the plebes and magnates of 

 Marseilles in favor of the House of Toulouse lacks the 

 aspect of spontaneity which a genuine case of self-determi- 

 nation should exhibit. Aside from the indication of in- 

 trigue suggested by the secrecy spoken of by the writer of 

 the letter, the text of the document clearly proves the motive 

 for the assertion. "The comes has done us the greatest 

 good and honor, let us give to him and to his heirs our 

 city in perpetuity. . . ." But even the House of Toulouse 

 could not continue to do the greatest good, for in the fol- 

 lowing year Charles d'Anjou, after a war of eight months, 

 made himself master of the city" and apparently without 

 the consent of the plebs and magnates. 



*•• Du Cange, Plebes. 



♦" Parochus proprius, le ciire propre (Liichaire, p. 4). 



*' Larousse, Grand dictionnaire iiniverscl, Marseille. 



<- " Les cliapelains, le.s officiers ecclesiastiques de la maison du rot 

 ef dcs princes, (lui servent a leurs chapelles " (Littrc, Dictionnaire 

 de la lan^ne fran(,ai.se, Ciiapelain). 



<" See note 34. 



** Larousse, Marseille. 



