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Ville neuve fondée au début du xiie siècle par le comte d’Auvergne, Montferrand obtient la première charte de franchises de la région (c. 1196-1198). L’événement consacre l’autonomie juridique de la communitas et entérine la création de son instance exécutive, le consulat. Dès lors, les Montferrandais ne cessent de mettre en avant les signes qu’ils estiment les plus tangibles de leur existence et qui contribuent à signifier l’identité communale comme le sceau, la cloche et l’arche. L’arca communis paraît, peut-être plus que tout autre attribut, l’incarnation de leur indépendance et bénéficie d’une attention particulière. Dès le milieu du xiiie s. au plus tard, le gouvernement urbain soigne le coffre qui renferme les traces légitimant son existence et son administration, mais aussi les matrices sigillaires, le poinçon pour les métaux précieux ou encore les reliques. Fidèle du pouvoir, l’arche suit les pérégrinations d’un consulat qui, faute de maison commune, est contraint au nomadisme dans la ville. Toutefois, la croissance documentaire qui marque les derniers siècles du Moyen Âge oblige les consuls à modifier leurs pratiques de conservation. La multiplication des contenants impose une sédentarisation des arches communales. Le consulat opte d’abord pour l’aménagement d’une “armoire” au sein de la collégiale Notre-Dame (1409), puis décide de donner de la hauteur à ce qu’il qualifie désormais de “trésor de la ville”. Dès 1496, c’est la tour nord de l’église qui conserve, tels des reliquaires, les coffres de la commune. La pratique répond à un besoin de sécurisation, mais aussi de sanctuarisation de la mémoire collective. En effet, si l’arche est un attribut de gouvernement si important aux yeux de la commune de Montferrand, c’est qu’elle incarne et garantit son existence aux côtés de ses (trop) proches rivales : Clermont, ville épiscopale, et Riom, siège de l’administration capétienne. Montferrand was a new town, founded at the beginning of the xiith century by the count of Auvergne and it was granted its first charter of preferential regional franchises (c. 1196-1198). This event marked the judicial autonomy of the communitas and confirmed the creation of the consulate, its executive body. From then on the Montferrandais never missed a chance to promote the insignia/signs which they felt were the most tangible proof of their existence and which helped to mark their communal identity just like the seal, the bell and the common chest. The arca communis seems perhaps more than any other attribute to be the incarnation of their independence and is worthy of particular attention. At the latest, from the middle of the xiiith c. onwards the urban government took good care of the chest which contained the signs that legitimized its existence and its administration as well as the seal matrices, the hallmark punches for the precious metals and even holy relics. Loyal to the governing power, the chest followed the wanderings of the consulate which, with no residence of its own, was obliged to move about the town. However, the increase in documentation which marks the last centuries of the Middle Ages obliged the consuls to change their conservation practices. The increase in the number of containers obliged the communal chests to settle. The consulate first opted for the installation of a “cupboard” inside the Notre Dame collegiate church (1409) and then decided to give what they now called “the town treasure” a higher profile. From 1496 onwards, like relics, the town’s coffers were kept in the north tower of the church. This practice developed from a need for security but was also in response for a need to sanctuarise collective memory. In fact, if the chest is an attribute of government that is so important in the eyes of the town of Montferrand it is because it embodies and guarantees its existence alongside its (close) rivals: Clermont, seat of the bishop and Riom, seat of the Capet administration. |
