I wish I knew more about medieval cities, because when I look at scenes like this I don’t understand them. The buildings are narrow but tall – and that suggests to me that land was expensive so they wanted to keep the footprint small but then build vertically. But they are all quite different in structure and design. How did this come about? Was there a time when there were a few houses here but gaps between the houses that were later filled? How exactly did this row of houses develop?
Well, I did what anyone today would do and I asked ChatGPT. We actually had a wonderful conversation about this, and I learned a lot. Here are the key points:
1. Early control
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In the early Middle Ages, Strasbourg (then called Argentoratum) was under the authority of the Prince-Bishop of Strasbourg.
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The bishop controlled justice, taxes, and military defenses.
2. Growing independence
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By the 12th century, the city was wealthy (Rhine trade hub, fairs, cathedral works).
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The burghers and guilds grew stronger and wanted more self-rule.
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Tensions flared between bishop and citizens, especially over taxation and rights.
3. The turning point (Battle of Hausbergen, 1262)
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The bishop tried to reassert power militarily.
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The citizens formed a militia and, backed by guilds, defeated the bishop’s army at the Battle of Hausbergen (March 1262).
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After this, the bishop lost his temporal power inside the city.
4. Imperial confirmation
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The Holy Roman Emperor (who loved having cities directly under him, bypassing local lords) recognized Strasbourg as a Free Imperial City.
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That meant Strasbourg answered only to the Emperor, not to the bishop or any duke.
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The city council (Rat) took over government, dominated by guilds and patrician families.
5. Aftermath
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Strasbourg thrived as a self-governing city-state: managing its laws, minting coins, raising militias.
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It stayed a Free Imperial City until 1681, when Louis XIV of France seized it and integrated it into France.
I did not know about this Battle of Hausbergen – since one of my passions is photography in Alsace, I will have to check this out one day!
But getting back to the houses . . . the Stadtrat would sell parcels of land, and naturally parcels of land close to the rivers and canals had a premium and so were quite narrow – hence what you see in the picture above!