Dear B.
Apart from the multiple meanings of "bajulus" throughout the centuries
(from antiquity to the 18. century; e.g. porter, pedagogue, inspector,
official, even judge - depending from the context), you are primarily
interested in the meaning of this title concerning the monastic environment
of the Loire valley in the 12th century.
A look into the cartulary of Saint-Aubin in Angers gives some information
about "bajulus" (13 occurrences). Here are my conclusions:
* The "bajulus abbatis" is ALWAYS a monk, NEVER a layman.
* Mostly, he is a member of the local nobility.
* He takes part in the most important negotiations of the abbey. So he is
indeed a high-ranking member of the religious order (not of the abbot's
household), belonging as the personal "officer" and delegate of the abbot
to the upper "management" of the abbey.
* Therefore he ranks BELOW the abbot and the priors of the chief abbey, but
ABOVE the priors of the external priories.
* If his name and title are mentioned together with the abbot's, he mostly
appears in the second place. If he is mentioned alone, this is the series:
(abbas), magister prior, prior claustri, subprior, hospiciarius, BAJULUS
(or vice versa: bajulus, hospiciarius), censarius, armarius, cantor,
aculearius...
* He is absolutely NOT a PORTER, even if the job of a porter describes the
basic meaning of "bajulus." Carrying baggage was the job of the "famuli"
or "portarii!"
Two examples from Picard A., Cartulaire du Saint-Aubin, Paris, 1903 (there
are several):
"Hoc viderunt et audierunt: De monachis: Herbertus magister prior, Guarinus
prior claustri, Rainaldus Mendie bajulus, Jaguelinus prior Varenne,
Hylarius hospitiarius, Gaufridus armarius, Hugo prior de Longue; De laicis:
Guillelmus Tua Vacha, Nicholaus Tua Vacha, Benedictus vicarius, Benedictus
corduanarius, Rogerius presbiter, Rainaldus de Salmuro et alii multi..."
Carta 716
"Hoc viderunt et audierunt: Monachi: Rotbertus le Bigot magister prior,
Guarinus Yvonis subprior, Jaguelinus hospiciarius, Johannes Barre bajulus,
Gaufridus censarius, Gaufridus armarius, Rotbertus Cenomannensis, Johannes
cantor, Johannes aculearius, Guillelmus Symia, Fulco de Coldreio; De
famulis nostris: Aufredulus, Galterius de Turre, Petrus pulmentarius et
plures alii..." Carta 744
I hope this helps!
Kind regards!
W. Robl
PS: Going upstream the Loire by a barge was a time-consuming affair then.
The ships often must be pulled upstream by teams of oxen. I think that
abbot Bernard sailed downstream to Nantes, but rode back to Marmoutiers.
|