Freedom of the City

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Freedom of the City ( French droit de cité ; also known as Key to the City , French Clés de la ville ) is one of the oldest still existing, originally British honorary awards that a citizen of a city in English-speaking countries could receive and can still receive today . The award, which is awarded for life, has special rights associated with it. A person who is awarded the Freedom of the City may call himself a Freeman of the City , even if he is female. In addition, the Freedom of the City is also occasionally awarded military units. These then have the right to march through the city.

history

Honoring Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807–1882) with the Freedom of the City on April 20, 1864
Oil painting by John Gilbert (1817–1897)

Originated in the Kingdom of England in the 13th century, the form, manner and meaning of the award changed into the 21st century today. Originally, with the Freedom of the City, a person was acquitted of serfdom by the Feudal Lord and received, among other things, the rights to earn their own money and own land.

It is believed that the first award of a Freedom of the City was made in London in 1237 . However, there were also duties associated with honoring and granting freedom rights. In London, for example, the Rules for the Conduct of Life and the Declaration of a Freeman of 1738 were mandatory and had to be signed. Both are still valid and oblige, among other things, to obey the king or queen and to prevent damage to the city. On her return from South Africa , for example, the then Princess Elizabeth was granted honorary citizenship of the City of London in June 1947 and that of Edinburgh in July .

The Irish capital Dublin granted a Freeman the right to bring goods into the city through the city gate without customs clearance and, as in London, to take part in the election of the city parliament and mayor . According to the law of 1454, however, the privileged person had to be able to defend the city at all times and be in possession of a helmet , a sword and a bow and arrow .

In London, the status of Freeman of the City was absolutely necessary until 1835 to be able to do business in the city. At the same time, membership in a guild was essential.

With the British colonization of other countries, the tradition of the Freedom of the City was carried into the world. However, with democratization over the past 150 years, privileges have gradually disappeared . But the tradition of honoring and honoring remained.

today

Freedom of the City is still awarded today as an honor for exceptional service in individual cities in the following countries: Australia , Ireland , Canada , New Zealand , Zimbabwe , South Africa , the United Kingdom and the United States of America .

The distinction, which is now awarded as a kind of honorary citizenship , is no longer associated with any special basic rights or privileges , as the original rights are now covered by the basic democratic rights according to the respective constitutions of the respective countries. But there are exceptions: The right, which today seems quite amusing , to drive sheep through the city as Freeman of the City of London , is sometimes still exercised and could become a tourist attraction. The singer of the rock group U2 , Bono (Paul David Hewson), must have set the starting point for such actions in Dublin in 2000, when he immediately implemented his right after receiving the Freedom of the City of Dublin for his musical merits To graze sheep in town.

The City of London , which includes Nelson Mandela , Helmut Kohl , Sir Ian McKellen , Otto Schily and the former Heidelberger , shows that nowadays it is not only citizens of a city that can become Freeman of the City , but also deserving external workers according to the respective city leaders Lord Mayor Beate Weber accepted into the circle of those honored.

Web links

literature

  • Betty R. Masters: The Chamberlain of the City of London, 1237-1987 , Corporation of London, London, 1988.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Freedom of the City . City of London , 2018, accessed April 11, 2018 .
  2. ↑ Translation: Rules for the Conduct of Life
  3. ^ Translation: Declaration of the Free Man
  4. ^ Ceremonial . City of London , 2018, accessed April 11, 2018 .
  5. ^ HM The Queen . (No longer available online.) In: Virtual London . Vip Internet Limited , 2010, archived from the original on January 31, 2010 ; accessed on April 11, 2018 (English, original website no longer available).
  6. ^ Freedom of the City of Dublin Dublin City
  7. ^ Sheep flock driven through city BBC News, June 27, 2006
  8. ^ Sheep march over bridge for money BBC News of September 19, 2008
  9. ↑ Spiegel Online : Belammertes Dublin - Bono on the pasture , March 20, 2000
  10. ^ Ian McKellen given freedom of the City of London . BBC news , October 30, 2014, accessed December 19, 2014 .
  11. ^ City and people . In: City of Heidelberg (ed.): Stadtblatt . Issue No. 17. Heidelberg April 26, 2000 ( online ).