Room party

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A parlor company (also known as a drinking parlor or gentlemen's parlor) has been an association of aristocrats and wealthy citizens since the 14th century with the aim of influencing local politics, closing deals and initiating marriages, and thus a possible form of organization of the patrician society . The name is derived from the original name "Trinkstubengesellschaft". With the emergence of these clubs, it became a trend, especially up the Upper Rhine into northern Switzerland.

Statutory features

There are a few characteristic features of room societies that they have in common despite all regional differences.

One could become a member, or rather “parlor journeyman” upon application, but only through free co-opting of the existing members, i.e. through a unanimous or majority decision of the journeymen. For this, however, several requirements had to be met: often considerable assets, in certain cases belonging to the nobility, in other cases optionally also the status of a lordly civil servant, a municipal official, a clergyman or a member of the other dignitaries; in addition, a one-off, often quite high purchase price in cash or in the form of a valuable cup, which was mostly waived for sons and heirs, but in any case a debut that the newcomer had to provide as a meal or drink for all journeymen.

Membership was hereditary and did not expire upon leaving the community. However, it could be withdrawn if the journeyman persistently did not fulfill his duties. In addition to the immediate payment of the evening bill, this included the punctual payment of an annual fee, which was relatively low and was supposed to cover the running costs (especially the heating of the room). Where the company acquired in later years actually shared assets or property, it was as ganerbschaft , so as heirs, continued.

The "room master" monitored compliance with the room rules. He was responsible for the company's business - on a voluntary basis, of course -, was liable for the inventory and occasionally also for the contribution payments, mainly managed the billing of the colliery and in particular chaired the company, for example when it was in court. In a certain way, the parlor was an unlawful space that was automatically constituted when it was founded. Its members were - as long as they were noble, a matter of course - from guard and compulsory work , but also from duties to the community; the parlor could grant asylum with certain restrictions ; it was forbidden to seize the room ; and, finally, it had jurisdiction, that is, the right to judge internal affairs itself.

Room ability

For membership in a lounge society, the so-called room ability was necessary. Basically all descendants of patricians were houseable. The only way to acquire housekeeping at a later date was to marry someone who was fit for home. However, it was not possible to buy the parlor room. In the course of time, the approval regulations were in some cases tightened even further. Then, for example, only people with civil rights could become members.

Well-known room societies

In a certain way a forerunner of all later room societies is:

  • Brotherhood Richerzeche , Cologne, founded in the 12th century

The most well-known lounge societies existed in the cities of Frankfurt am Main and Lübeck :

Only one of the smaller companies is known today:

See also

Individual evidence

  1. In Colmar 1408, for example, an “old- fashioned ” drinking room Zum Waagkeller is mentioned, but much earlier, in 1303, there was a mansio civitatis with a kind of association statute.
  2. In Frankfurt am Main , the Zum Römer drinking parlor was established in 1357 , which later became part of the Alten Limpurg company .
  3. This does not apply to Frankfurt am Main, where such societies were basically open to all classes, including craftsmen and merchants, up until the 15th century.
  4. Günther Grünsteudel , Günter Hägele, Rudolf Frankenberger (ed.): Augsburger Stadtlexikon. 2nd Edition. Perlach, Augsburg 1998, ISBN 3-922769-28-4 .
  5. ^ City archive Augsburg: The Augsburger Weddings-Gender-Book

literature

  • Erich Bayer, Frank Wende: Dictionary of history. Terms and technical terms (= Kröner's pocket edition. Vol. 289). 5th, redesigned and expanded edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 1995, ISBN 3-520-28905-9 .
  • Albrecht Cordes : parlors and parlor parties. On the village and small-town constitutional history on the Upper Rhine and in Northern Switzerland (= sources and research on agricultural history. Vol. 38). Fischer, Stuttgart / Jena / New York NY 1993, ISBN 3-437-50358-8 (also: Freiburg (Breisgau), Univ., Diss., 1992).
  • Rainer Koch : Basics of bourgeois rule. Constitutional and socio-historical studies on civil society in Frankfurt am Main (1612–1866) (= Frankfurt historical treatises. Vol. 27). Steiner, Wiesbaden 1983, ISBN 3-515-03858-2 (also: Frankfurt am Main, Univ., Habil.-Schr., 1981).