Riot on Saint Scholastica Day
As a riot on Saint Scholastica Day (English St Scholastica Day riot ) is an armed conflict between students of the University of Oxford and residents of Oxford , which began on February 10, 1355, the day of Saint Scholastica . The unrest, in which more than 90 people were ultimately killed, was sparked by an argument between two students and a landlord. This event is still considered to be the most devastating incident in the tense relationship between citizens and academics . It is also known as the " Great Slaughter ".
background
Medieval universities enjoyed numerous royal or even papal privileges over the centuries , which gave professors and students privileges over city residents. The members of the university were usually not subject to municipal jurisdiction. Often these privileges also affected politics, the trade in goods or social life. It was not uncommon for students and townspeople to clash, especially in the 13th and 14th centuries, and lead to violent or even armed and fatal conflicts. Regardless of the outcome, these conflicts were usually decided in favor of the academies. Often they also led to locals or student groups leaving Oxford and moving to other cities, around 1209 to Cambridge , where the University of Cambridge was founded shortly afterwards . The uprising in Oxford and the consequences that followed are considered to be a historical high point in this typical medieval situation.
course
The argument began at Swindlestock Tavern , a bar in Oxford city center on St Aldate’s , Cornmarket Street , Queen Street and High Street near the Carfax Tower . The two students Walter Spryngeheuse and Roger de Chesterfield complained to the landlord John Croidon or Roger de Croydon about the quality of the wine. After the landlord reacted harshly, the two students finally threw their glasses in his direction and got violent.
The scuffle quickly spread to other visitors to the bar and residents outside the building. A citizen eventually rang the bells of St Martin's Church and a student rang the bells of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin , both with the aim of calling like-minded people to arm. A two-day riot ensued, which was also fueled by frustration and dissatisfaction on both sides - the students complained about high rent and food costs, the citizens defended themselves against the church privileges of the students and their recurring misconduct. After the incident became known, over 2000 men from rural areas outside the city joined the citizens and shouted “Havoc! Havoc! Smyt fast, give gode knocks! ”(In German roughly“ Attack! Attack! Hit fast, hit well! ”). At the same time, over 200 students showed their solidarity with Spryngeheuse and de Chesterfield and attacked the mayor and other citizens.
The city's mayor, John de Bereford, who also owns the property, rode the following day to Woodstock Palace , the then mansion of Woodstock , to meet King Edward III. to ask for support, which was unsuccessful.
The riot ultimately lasted about two or three days, killing 63 students and about 30 citizens, including assaulting , injuring, maiming or killing many inside their homes or colleges . The students were ultimately defeated, which ended the uprising.
consequences
Despite the students' physical defeat, the dispute was made politically by a charter of King Edward III. decided in favor of the university, which from then on received further privileges. On each subsequent anniversary of the uprising, the mayor and councilors had to march through the streets, attend mass , respect university privileges, and pay the university a penny fine for every student killed, a total of 5 shillings and 3 pence . From then on, the university also regulated the local beverage trade and received control over wine, beer and bread production.
The penance did not end until 470 years later when the mayor refused to participate in the process in 1825. Nevertheless, there were further clashes between students and citizens until the 20th century. It was not until 1955 - 600 years after the outbreak of the uprising - that the British Parliament finally overturned the King's decree.
The riot remains one of the most famous incidents in Oxford history to this day.
memory
The original building, in which the tavern has been since 1250, was demolished in 1709 and replaced by at least one new building before the current bank building was erected. Today a memorial stone, which was integrated into the facade to the left of the main entrance, reminds of the tavern. However, it is believed that the basement rooms of the tavern at the time are still below the current building.
St Martin's Church has also been demolished; only the church tower built in the 13th century , whose bells were rung at the beginning of the riot, is still standing today. The university church, built in 1315, is still completely intact.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Chris Koenig: Rioting over wine led to 90 deaths. In: The Oxford Times . August 17, 2011, accessed January 28, 2019 .
- ^ JI Catto (Ed.): The History of the University of Oxford . Volume 1, The Early Oxford Schools. New York: Clarendon Press of Oxford University Press, p. 137: "biggest and bloodiest battle of all between town and gown".
- ↑ a b c d Dave Richardson: Oxford Pubs. Amberley Publishing Ltd. 2015 ( Google Books ).
- ^ A b John Macquarrie: Stubborn Theological Questions. SCM Press 2003, p. 14 ( Google Books ).
- ↑ 10 February 1355: Rivolta di Santa Scholastica a Oxford. In: parmadaily.it. February 10, 2017, accessed January 29, 2019 (Italian).
- ↑ a b c Dominic Selwood: On this day in 1355: University fracas ends with 93 dead and the birth of a 600-year-long tradition. In: The Daily Telegraph . February 10, 2017, accessed January 29, 2019 .
- ^ A b Carol M. Miller: The St. Scholastica Day Riot - Oxford after the Black Death. In: FCH Annals - Journal of the Florida Conference of Historians . 1993, archived from the original on September 19, 2015 ; accessed on March 16, 2019 (English).
- ^ A b Stephanie Jenkins: St Scholastica's Day Riot, Oxford, 1355. In: oxfordhistory.org.uk. September 25, 2018, accessed March 16, 2019 .