The subject of my dissertation is The City Council of Lille from 1750 to 1774. First, Il will talk about the history of Lille in the modern era. Then, Il will present the city of Lille in the eighteenth century. Finally, I will talk about the municipal power in the city of Lille.
In early modern times the city of Lille is in the Netherlands who became Spanish after the Pragmatic Sanction of 1549. In the sixteenth century, the city suffered wars of religion and the plague. In 1667, the city is besieged by Vauban and became French in 1668 by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. Vauban was appointed governor of Lille.
During the war of Spanish succession, Lille is besieged by John Churchill, 1rst Duke of Marlborough. Lille garrison, commanded by Marshal Boufflers, capitulates. The city is occupied for 5 years by troops of the European coalition and is returned to France at the treaty of Utrecht of April 1713.
Lille in the eighteenth century is regarded as “The Paris of the Netherlands”. In 1714, a passenger said “It is the capital of French Flanders”. Many descriptions dating from the eighteenth century glorify the city. For example, Abbe Expilly, in his “dictionary of Gauls”: “This city, big, strong, beautiful and rich”. He described the citadel and the district created by Vauban. He appreciates the City Hall. The city of Lille has a population of about sixty thousand inhabitants in the eighteenth century which there are exactly sixty four thousand four hundred thirty nine in year seventeen forty-nine.
They are divided into seven parishes: Saint-Etienne, Saint-Maurice, Sainte-Catherine, Saint-Sauveur, Saint-André, Saint-Pierre et La Madeleine. It is strongly affected by poverty. Approximately one third of the population is considered poor. In seventeen forty-three opens hospital general for assistance to the poor.
The monarchy is present in the city one side by the governor general. It governs the Flanders and Hainaut. An intendant is also present. It has the primary function of maintaining order and bringing in money in the generality of Lille.
The main institution of local government to Lille is the City council, called Magistrat. It possesses administrative, financial and judicial powers. The magistrate is mainly composed of noble and merchants. It meets several times a month (there are seventy eight meetings for the year seventeen fifty). It mentioned issues such as public works (for example, in seventeen fifty-three to be building a new channel for Deûle which give rise to many decisions), the assistance to the poor, the guilds, welcoming personalities and taxes. These decisions are then listed in records arranged chronologically. In good condition, it is these records which are the main source of my dissertation.
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