Languedoc Seals - Personal, Municipal and Ecclesiastical
Seals (Fr Sceaux).
|
A common way to proclaim the authenticity of a document
in the Middle Ages was to attach a seal to it. Medieval
seals were images carved into a matrix which, when
pressed into a substance like warm wax, left behind
a counter image of the picture on the seal. The image,
usually with a legend written around it in Latin,
identified the author of the document and was intended
to prevent people from forging or tampering with official
correspondence.
In an age when illiterate people needed to transact
business, seals allowed people to declare their consent
to an agreement even when they were unable to sign
their own names.
For much of the early Middle Ages the use of seals
was restricted to kings and popes. Many of these seals
featured a head-portrait, often in a style emulating
Imperial Roman and Byzantine seals and coinage. These
evolved around 1000 A.D. into portraits featuring
a seated monarch bearing indicators of his power (swords,
scepters, orbs).
|
|
|
  In
the tenth century the use of seals spread to princes and,
later, to bishops, with other ecclesiastical officials adopting
seals in the twelfth century, with each rank adapting its
own form of dignity-portrait. Many towns and monastic houses
adopted the hagiological type of seal-design, featuring
the patron saint in a full-length portrait. Two other kinds
of seal-design that emerged in this period were the topographical
type (featuring building portraits) and the cartographical
type (featuring the plan of the town). These two types were
frequently used by corporate entities such as monastic houses
and towns. Two final kinds of seals frequently employed
in the High and Late Middle Ages are the equestrian type
(which may be civilian or military) and armorial seals,
generally used only by the secular
Seals provide important tools for research in the history
of the Middle Ages.
Personal Seals
Along with coins, they provide the most important source
of official portraits of rulers. The style and associations
of such portraits and the insignia and attributes associated
with the effigies are often our most important source of
knowledge for how these rulers wanted to be seen by their
subjects, and by their neighbors and rivals.
Personal seal of Bertrand II, Count of Forcalquier.
Reverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: St4512 bis
Date: 1168
Location: Forcalquier
Size: 57 mm
Description: Figure seated on a column, facing left
but looking forwards, playing a stringed viol-like
musical instrument in his left hand with a bow in
his right.
Transcription: s[igillum] betrand[i] comitis forchalchaniensis
(The Seal of Bertrand Count of Forcalquier)
|
|
|
Personal Seal of Marguerite of Provence, wife of
Saint Louis, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D154
Date: 1294
Location: Paris
Size: 80 mm
Description: Queen standing, viewed from the front,
crowned, in robe and mantle, holding a fleur de lis
in the right hand (refpresenting France), framed in
a gothic niche on two columns; with an angel's head
sustaining the pedastal;
Appended to a 1294 charter by which the queen gave
the Ursulines of Paris a house next to their convent
Transcription: margarete dei gratia francorum reg[ine]
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Personal seal of Raimond-Bérenger, Count
of Provence, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D1106
Date: 1234
Location: Provence
Size: 87 mm
Description: Equestrian in profile to the left,
holding a sword and a shield;
Appended to an April 1234 letter of the count of
Provence to the king of France regarding the castle
of Tarascon
Transcription: sigillum ra[im]vndi berengeri
 Reference:
Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux. Paris
: H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Personal seal of Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse,
Reverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D744 bis
Date: 1218
Location: Toulouse
Size: 80 mm
Description: Count on horseback, turning toward the
left, lance at ready, the cross of Toulouse on his
shield and his horse's cloth; to the right of his
head, a star; to the left, a crescent moon;
Appended to the April 1228 treaty of Paris between
the Count and King Louis IX of France (St. Louis)
Transcription: sigillum raimundi dei gracia [c]omitis
tholose (Seal of Raymond by the Grace of God Count
of Toulouse)
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
 Click
on the following link for more on Raymond
VII of Toulouse
Click on the following link for more on The
House of Toulouse
Click on the following link for more on The
Arms of Raymond VII of Toulouse
Click on the following link for more on The
Cross of Toulouse
|
|
|
Personal Seal of Roger IV of Foix, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D664
Date: 1241
Location: Foix
Size: 60 mm
Description: Equestrian with the arms of Foix, to
the left of a shield with three lozenges in in chief;
Appended to an hommage of Roger of Foix to the king
of France
Transcription: sigillum rogerii de fuxo (Seal of
Roger of Foix)
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
 Click
on the following link for more on Roger
IV
of Foix
Click on the following link for more on The
House of Foix
Click on the following link for more on The
arms of Foix
|
|
|
Personal Seal of Roger IV, Count of Foix, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D663A
Date: 1241
Location: Foix
Size: 75 mm
Description: Knight facing left, in armor with sword
raised; horse in armor, springing;
Appended to an hommage of the count to the king of
France
Transcription: s[igillum] r... fuxi eguile comitis
c..gri..ni
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
Click
on the following link for more on Roger
IV
of Foix
Click on the following link for more on The
House of Foix
Click on the following link for more on The
arms of Foix
|
|
|
Personal First Seal of King Louis IX of France (Saint
Louis), Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D41
Date: 1240
Location: Paris
Size: 80 mm
Description: Image of majesty; appended to the 1240
charter of the dower of the queen Blanche
Transcription: ludovicus d[e]i gra[cia] f[r]ancorum
rex (Louis by the Grace of God King of France)
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
 Click
on the following link for more on King
Louis IX of France
Click on the following link for more on The
House of France
Click on the following link for more on The
Arms of France
|
|
|
Personal Seal of Simon IV de Montfort, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D708
Date: 1211
Location: Southwestern France
Size: mm
Description: Horseman riding to hunt, with horn raised
and hound alongside, image of rose behind
Transcription: sigill[um] simonis de monteforti (Seal
of Simon de Montfort)
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868
 Click
on the following link for more on Simon
de Montfort
Click on the following link for more on The
Arms of Simon de Montfort
|
|
|
Personal Seal of Raymond Trencavel II (1204-1263),
Viscount of Béziers, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D760
Date: 1247
Location: Languedoc
Size: 80 mm
Description: Equestrian in profile to the left, holding
in the left hand a sword;
Appended to an act of April 1247 ceding his lordship
over Béziers and Carcassonne to Louis IX, Saint
Louis. A year later his seal was broken, signifying
his total loss of power to the French King.
Transcription: s[igillum] sinditvelli vicecomiti[s]
biterensis et d[omini carcasson]e
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
 Click
on the following link for more on Raymond
Trencavel II, Viscount of Béziers
Click on the following link for more on The
House of Trencavel
Click on the following link for more on The
Arms of Raymond II of Beziers
|
|
|
Personal Seal of Raymond Trencavel II (1204-1263),
Viscount of Béziers, Reverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D760 bis
Date: 1247
Location: Languedoc
Size: 80 mm
Description: Equestrian in profile to the left, holding
in the left hand a mace;
Appended to an act of April 1247 ceding his lordship
over Béziers and Carcassonne to Louis IX, Saint
Louis. A year later his seal was broken, signifying
his total loss of power to the French King.
Transcription: s[igillum sinditvelli] vicecomiti[s]
biterensis et domini carcas[s]one
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
Click
on the following link for more on Raymond
Trencavel II, Viscount of Béziers
Click on the following link for more on The
House of Trencavel
Click on the following link for more on The
Arms of Raymond II of Beziers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Municipal Seals and other Corporate Seals
The seals of corporations (such as towns, universities,
and guilds) reveal what their governing bodies saw
as most important, and the changes of general design
tell us about their relationship to the milieu in
which they functioned. They often show the town
itself, some of its important buildings, its ruler
or patron saint.
|
Seal of the Crafts of Arles, reverse
Holding Institution: Archives Nationales (Paris),
Catalog number: D5919 bis
Date: 18th C
Location: Arles
Size: 78 mm
Guild seal of the Crafts of Arles
Description: Fortified city flying two banners with
the image of an eagle
Transcription: s[igillum] vrbs arelatensis est hostibvs
hostis et ensis
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal of Alès, Obverse
Holding Institution: Archives Nationales (Paris),
Catalog number: D5607
Date: 1303
Location: Languedoc
Size: 35 mm
Description: A wing;
Appended to an act of July 1303: adherence to the
case of Boniface VIII
Transcription: Sigillum consvlvm de alesto
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal of Avignon
First Common Seal of Avignon, Obverse
Holding Institution: Archives Nationales (Paris),
Catalog number: D5499
Date: 1226-1234
Location: Avignon
Size: 43 mm
Description: A bridge of five arches spanning a river;
a crenellated fortress with three gates and two towers;
in the center, a lantern-tower surmounted by a cupola
with a cross;
Appended to several acts: May 1226, promise of the
Podestas of Avignon to return to the Count of Toulouse
Beaucaire and the Venaissin; March 1234, sale by the
syndics of Avignon of the house of the Friars Minor
(Franciscans) situated in the parish of Saint-Pierre
Transcription: sigillum comunis avinionensis
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal of Béziers
First Seal of Béziers, Obverse
Holding Institution: Archives Nationales (Paris),
Catalog number: D5614
Date: 1226
Location: Béziers
Size: 74 mm
Description: Knight on horseback wearing a conical
hemlet, a mail coat, a sword in its scabbard, a lance
with pennant in its rest, his shield and the horse's
covering bearing arms;
Apended to an act of April 1226: promise of the inhabitants
of Béziers to obey the king and the legate
in the matter of the Albigenses
Transcription: [...] comune civi[tatis biterr]icensiu[m...]
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal of Castres
First Seal of Castres, Obverse
Holding Institution: Archives Nationales (Paris),
Catalog number: D5628
Date: 13th C
Location: Languedoc
Size: 55 mm
Description: Fortified city; a defensive wall with
two closed gates; behind, a triangular belfry and
a square tower with two bays, on either side of a
dome with a cross;
Appended to an act of the 13th century, year unspecified:
promise of the city of Castres to obey the king and
the pope in the case of the Albigenses.
Transcription: [...c]omunie ville castre[n]sis
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal of Castres
First Seal of Castres, reverse
Holding Institution: Archives Nationales (Paris),
Catalog number: D5628 bis
Date: 13th C
Location: Languedoc
Size: 55 mm
Description: Saint Vincent, haloed, seated, viewed
from the front, in chasuble, right hand raised in
benediction and left hand holding a Greek cross; between
the moon and the sun (or stars ?);
Appended to an act of the 13th century, year unspecified:
promise of the city of Castres to obey the king and
the pope in the case of the Albigenses
Transcription: s[igillum] beati vincencii d[e] cast[ris]
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal of Castres
Second Seal of Castres, reverse
Holding Institution: Archives Nationales (Paris),
Catalog number: D5629 bis
Date: 1303
Location: Languedoc
Size: 61 mm
Description: Saint Vincent, half-length, coming out
of a shrine decorated with nine arches, wearing a
toque, dressed in a close-fitting tunic, a rod with
a crucifix in the left hand, the right hand raised;
appended to an act of July 1303: adherence to the
case of Boniface VIII
Transcription: ymago corporis..... [vin]centii
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal of Castres
Second Seal of Castres, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris), Catalog number: D5629
Date: 1303
Location: Languedoc
Size: 61 mm
Description: Church viewed in profile, with a belfry
at the end and a lantern tower of three storeys at
the center; appended to an act of July 1303: adherence
to the case of Boniface VIII
Transcription: sigillum un[iversitati]s burgi castren[sis]
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal of Marseille
Grand Seal of Marseille, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: St4503
Date: 1243
Location: Marseille
Size: 81 mm
Description: Saint Victor on his horse, haloed, holding
a sword and a shield with a cross, crushing the Tarasque;
appended to an act of June 1243: oath prepared by
the people of Marseille to observe the peace treaty
between themselves and Raymond Beranger V
Transcription: massili[am] vere victor cives q[ue]
tue[re]
Reference: Bedos, Brigitte. Corpus des sceaux français
du moyen age. Paris : The Archives : [Diffusé
par La Documentation Française], 1980-.
|
|
|
Municipal seal of Marseille
Grand Seal of Marseille, reverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: St4503 bis
Date: 1243
Location: Marseille
Size: 81 mm
Description: Fortified city at the edge of the sea;
crenellated fortification with three gates; in the
interior, three towers, crenellated and pierced by
windows;
Appended to an act of June 1243: oath prepared by
the people of Marseille to observe the peace treaty
between themselves and Raymond Beranger V
Transcription: actib[us] immensis urbis fvlget massiliensis
Reference: Bedos, Brigitte. Corpus des sceaux français
du moyen age. Paris : The Archives : [Diffusé
par La Documentation Française], 1980-.
|
|
|
MunicipalSeal of Montsalve, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris),
Catalog number: D5466
Date: 1308
Location: Auvergne
Size: 50 mm
Description: Chevronny mountain with a tree;
Appended to an act of April 1308: nomination by the
consuls of Montsalvy of their proxies to the assembly
of 1308 regarding the matter of the Templars
[legend missing]
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal Seal of Narbonne
Second Seal of the City of Narbonne, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris),
Catalog number: D5651
Date: 1231-1243
Location: Languedoc
Size: 70 mm
Description: Virgin haloed, seated and viewed from
the front, holding the Infant, also haloed and holding
a cross;
Appended to several acts: December 1231: transcription
by a notary public of Narbonne of letters of 28 April
1222 by which the legate of the Pope, Conrad, bishop
of Porto, excommunicated the inhabitants of the surrounding
villages who had damaged cultivated lands of the city
during the war of Jesus Christ; April 1243: oath of
fidelity to the king by the consuls and inhabitants
of Narbonne
Transcription: [si]gillum pacis civium narbonen[sium]
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal Seal of Narbonne
Second Seal of the City of Narbonne, reverse
Archives Nationales (Paris),
Catalog number: D5651 bis
Date: 1231-1243
Location: Narbonne
Size: 70 mm
Description: Paschal lamb, haloed, with a cross;
transcription by a notary public of Narbonne of letters
of 28 April 1222 by which the legate of the Pope,
Conrad, bishop of Porto, excommunicated the inhabitants
of the surrounding villages who had damaged cultivated
lands of the city during the war of Jesus Christ;
April 1243: oath of fidelity to the king by the consuls
and inhabitants of Narbonne
Transcription: [...] qui tollis peccata mundi dona
nobis [p]ac[em]
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal of Nîmes
Second Seal of the City of Nîmes, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris),
Catalog number: D5658
Date: 1303
Location: Nîmes
Size: 62 mm
Description: Four figures standing, dressed in tunics
and surcoats, with caps, three facing front and the
right figure in profile;
Appended to an act of July 1303: adherence to the
case of Boniface VIII
Transcription: [si]gillum consulum civitatis n[em]aus[i]
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal of Pamiers
First Seal of Pamiers, reverse
Archives Nationales (Paris),
Catalog number: D5554 bis
Date: 1267
Location: Southwestern France
Size: 78 mm
Description: Head and arm of a man coming out of
a boat on the waves; a crossed mast without sails
but flying a banner; on each tip of the boat, a bird
(life of St. Antoninus);
Appended to an act of August 1267: procuration agreement
of the inhabitants of Pamiers to treat for peace with
the king of France
Transcription: signum passionis sancti antonini
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal of Penne-d'Agenais
Seal of Penne-d'Agenais, reverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D5571 bis
Date: 1754
Location: Guyenne
Size: 65 mm
Description: Toulouse cross;
Appended to an act of March 1244: promise of the
consuls and inhabitants of Penne-d'Agenais to preserve
the peace established between the king and the Count
of Toulouse
Transcription: sigillum concilii penne ave
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal Puylaurens
Second Seal of Puylaurens, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D5666
Date: 14th C
Location: Languedoc
Size: 55 mm
Description: Hill planted with a laurel; detached
seal
Transcription: s[igillum] consulum castri po[dii
laur]encii
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal Seal of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D5852
Date: 1303-1308
Location: Auvergne
Size: 83 mm
Description: longitudinal view of a church, a bell
tower with a cross and three windows over the door
of the transept and a nave with three windows and
a porch; in the field, the sun and a fleur de lis;
appended to several acts: a July 1303 adherence to
the case of Boniface VIII; nomination by the consuls
of Saint-Antonin of their deputies to the assembly
of 1308 regarding the affair of the Templars
Transcription: s[igillum] comunis consilii ville
nobilis vallis
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal Toulouse
Third Grand Seal of Toulouse, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D5682
Date: 1243
Location: Toulouse
Size: 85 mm
Description: On the left, a crenellated castle with
three towers (representing the Chateau Narbonais);
on the right, a façade with two gates, an open
gallery of four storeys surmounted by a cross and
flanked by two small towers with crosses (representing
the Jacobin church);
Appended to an act of February 1243: solemn oath
of the consuls of Toulouse to observe the peace settled
between Louis IX King of France and Raymond VII, Count
of Toulouse
Transcription: ...consulum vi[ll]e tolos[e...]
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal seal of Toulouse
Fourth Grand Seal of Toulouse, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D5683
Date: 1303
Location: Toulouse
Size: 85 mm
Description: On the left, a fortified castle with
three crenellated towers; on the right, a façade
with two gates, an open gallery of four storeys surmounted
by a cross, slightly smaller than the façade
in D5682;
Appended to an act of August 1303: adherence to the
case of Boniface VIII
Transcription: s[igillum] c[onsu]lum urbis tolo[se...]
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
Municipal Seal of Vierzon, Obverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D5471
Date: 1308
Location: Southwestern France
Size: 45 mm
Description: Quartered shield; appended to an act
of May 1308: nomination by the commune of Vierzon
of their proxies at the assemblyof 1308 regarding
the matter of the Templars
Transcription: [...]ni virsione[...]
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ecclesiastical seals
Ecclesiastical seals are a useful source of informaion
about the ways in which abbots and bishops saw their
relationship to their line managers, and how religious
corporations saw their relationship to their patrons
(earthly or heavenly). These patrons were represented
in increasingly complex arrangements over time.
|
Ecclesiastical seal of the Chapter of St-Trophime
of Arles, reverse
Archives Nationales (Paris)
Catalog number: D7104 bis
Date: 1214
Location: Arles
Size: 40 mm
Description: Façade of a church; appended
to an act of February 1214
Transcription: ecclesia s[an]c[t]i trophimi
Reference: Douët-d'Arcq, L. Collection de sceaux.
Paris : H. Plon, 1863-1868.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More
about French Seals from http://nd.edu/~medvllib/seals/
|
|
