Cartulaire de Saint-Vincent de Macon: Connu Sous le Nom de Livre Enchaine

Edited by Marie Camille Ragut (1797-1870), long-serving archivist in the library of Macon in Bourgogne, this cartulary is a collection of local records detailing day-to-day life in medieval France. This version was published in 1864 following Ragut’s discovery of an authentic copy in the Macon archives, the original long since destroyed in religious riots. The book contains 633 charters that span a period of six centuries, including records on the topography, customs, people, and the rise of the feudal system in Macon. Dating from 593 to 1220, the ancient documents are reproduced in their original Latin and are supplemented with French annotations. Ragut’s meticulous editorial additions contextualize the medieval documents, particularly her comprehensive introduction which situates the records within a more general history of the region. Detailed and fascinating, this cartulary provides an invaluable insight into the local history of the Maconnais district.