CITY HALL
- Aristocratic monopoly power -
The present building was erected between 1528 and 1538. However, the construction of this political symbol was the end of an evolution that had already started in the twelfth century. At that time the city of Zoutleeuw was controlled by the dukes of Brabant, locally represented by an official called the ‘mayor’. The mayor shared local authority with the so-called ‘lineages’, the aristocratic families in the city. Officially the city counsil consisted of 7 ‘sheriffs’, ceremonially appointed by the mayor. In the thirteenth and fourteenth century the dukes called several new functions into being to assist the sheriffs in governing the city, namely the ‘jurors’, the ‘city men’ and the ‘deans of the guild’. Their respective jurisdiction was not clearly demarcated, but it seems their authority was primarily administrative and juridically. The exertion of all these functions was the exclusive prerogative of the members of the lineages, so only the absolute elite of urban society was able to participate in politics, supervised by the ducal representative. Regarding medieval city politics as ‘democratic’ is therefore a huge misunderstanding.