Norman scholars at the University of Paris in the later Middle Ages: A study of educational institutions, demographic representation, and political engagement (c. 1360--c.1430)

This study of Norman scholars at the University of Paris is a contribution to the social history of medieval universities. The overlap of educational, political, and ecclesiastical boundaries in Normandy gave Norman scholars a strong sense of group identity. Drawing on university sources, papal documentation, and records from Norman archives, this study analyzes Norman educational institutions at Paris, the demographic position of Norman scholars within the University, and their connection to important political developments during the period.;The Norman nation (one of four in the faculty of arts) functioned in much the same fashion as its counterparts, integrating scholars into the university community through a network of privileges, statutes, and oaths. Norman colleges, meanwhile, provided a minority of scholars with additional support while imposing additional discipline (chapter 1).;Relative levels of Norman demographic representation peaked in the early fifteenth century as Normans increasingly outnumbered Picards and occasionally rivaled members of the French nation in individual faculties. Meanwhile, Normans were under-represented in faculty leadership, perhaps reflecting concern among other nations over Normans' growing demographic presence and divergent political views (chapter 2). In the later fourteenth century Normans consistently accounted for about one quarter of approved papal supplications from Parisian scholars, but their share increased to 38% in 1403. This shift reflects efforts of the Avignon papacy to win the allegiance of Norman scholars, making it problematic to view supplications in 1403 as representative of university demography (chapter 3).;Norman scholars and Norman prelates were both wary of the Avignon allegiance, so France's ultimate abandonment of the Avignon papacy pleased both groups. However, the beneficial settlement resulting from the Schism privileged royal prerogative over the system of papal provision favored by Norman scholars and the practice of ordinary collation defended by Norman prelates (chapter 4). While sympathetic to the Duke of Burgundy, the primary objective of Norman scholars in the civil strife of the period was the restoration of peace. However, after these efforts failed and civil war gave way to foreign invasion, Norman scholars enjoyed a period of recovery and relative prosperity during the initial period of English occupation (chapter 5).