testamentary practices at the comital court in flanders and hainaut charters initially constituted simpleproanimaalms, and the second charter contained only a brief stipulation about the count’s preferred burial place, they both stipulate what was to happen if the ruler would die, or how (some of) his possessions were to be distributed for the redemption of his soul.5 Yet, charters are not the only sources that refer to inheritance practices at court. When Count Philip of Alsace died in 1191, he was succeeded by his sister Margaret (d. 1194) and her husband BaldwinV, count of Hainaut (d. 1195). In 1195/1196, Gilbert of Mons, Baldwin’s chancellor, wrote his famous Chronicle. Since he belonged to the intimate circle of the comital family, Gilbert was well informed about life at court. Among other narratives, included are details of the circumstances in which Count Baldwin and Countess Margaret died, as well as the clauses of their wills and bequests.6 Each of these bequests was recorded in a separate sealed charter, some of which are still preserved today.7 Another type of what we can describe as ‘proto-testamentary practices’ was the establishment of obit masses in religious institutions, which became increasingly common among territorial rulers, clergy, noblemen, and burghers in the Low Countries from the late twelfth century onwards.8 In 1201, for instance, shortly before his departure to the East, Count Baldwin VI/IXfinalised a statute for the serfs belonging to the chapter of Sainte-Waudru in Mons and bestowed various rights upon this institution, including the allocation of prebends to celebrate an an448 5 Bougard 2005, pp. 485–494. 6 Vanderkindere 1904, transl. into English by Napran 2005, chap. 213, 215, 225–253.In chapter 242, Gilbert explicitly narrates that ‘In his testament arranged during his illness, the lord count [BaldwinV/VIII] freely restored to the church of Maubeuge a certain forest near Maubeuge (…)’... ‘The count confirmed this for the church in writing and with his seal’. An actual testament of Count BaldwinV/VIII has not survived (deperditum: DiBe ID5397). 7 Series of original charters (all dated 1194) in which Countess Margaret makes bequests using the words concessi et in testamento meo legavi: DiBeID317, 320, 322, and 2256. 8 Obit masses were celebrated to commemorate the death anniversary of (the family of) its founder. Cárcel Ortí 1994, p.109, n.437. Among other proanimaalms and grants of rights, in his Chronicle Gilbert mentions multiple obiit masses established by Count Baldwin V/VIII a few years prior to his death, several of which were recorded in the form of a separate sealed chirograph. Some examples: Vanderkindere 1904, transl. Napran 2005, chap. 234, 235, 237, 238, 240, 241, 247, 251.
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