Medieval Sourcebook:
Louis the Pious: Grant of Minting Coins to Abbey of Corvey, 833
The feudal tendency toward local mints and diversity in coinage systems under weak
kings is manifest in this grant by Louis the Pious. In this particular case it was perhaps
an advantage to civilization that Corvey should receive rights of minting since this
monastery performed a useful function as a colonizing center in Germany.
In the name of our Lord God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Louis, by the grace of Divine
Providence, Emperor Augustus.
We wish it to be known to all the faithful of God's Holy Church, both now and in the
future, how we, with God's favor, and with the consent of our faithful people, have
founded the monastery of Corvey in Saxony, with the most devout intention, to the honor of
St. Stephen, the first martyr, and we have granted suitable help out of our charity, in
deserved liberality to the said holy place. Moreover, because that region needed a place
of exchange, we have decreed that public money, issued on our authority, shall always be
used beyond that place, to the profit of those fighting for Christ, seeing that in all
honesty, place and person to the contrary notwithstanding, the holy place possesses all
rights of public taxation there by our authorization; and this additional gift of our
charity shall contribute for all time to the usefulness of that monastery. And in order
that it might keep and hold in perpetual security all the gifts granted by us, we have
decreed that this charter shall be strengthened by the impression of our seal below.
Source.
From: N. Schaten, S.J., ed., Annales Paderbornenses, (Neuhaus, 1693), Vol. I, p.
91; reprinted in Roy C. Cave & Hebert H. Coulson, eds., A Source Book for Medieval
Economic History, (Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1936; reprint ed., New York:
Biblo & Tannen, 1965), pp. 132-133.
Scanned by Jerome S. Arkenberg, Cal. State Fullerton. The text has been modernized by
Prof. Arkenberg.
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© Paul Halsall, October 1998
halsall@murray.fordham.edu
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