Abstract
The territory of the Burgundian state mostly comprised of two groups of principalities. Indeed, the acquisition of the northern principalities, the Low Countries, where the textile industry and international trading were developed, was crucial for the destiny of the state. But, even in the southern principalities, mainly the two Burgundies (Burgundy and Franche-Comte), where rural economy was dominant, the duke acquired one of the most famous saltworks in Europe, Grande-Saunerie of Salins in Franche-Comte. The possession of this saltworks gradually influenced the economy and politics in the southern principalities. For at that time, the notorious salt tax (gabelle) was introduced in Burgundy on the right bank of the Saone (the border of the kingdom of France). Therefore, the salt warehouses (greniers a sel) as bases for taxation and control of circulation of salt were established by the duke, and the provision of salt became an urgent issue. In this paper, by elucidating when and how Jean Chousat of Poligny (a town in Franche-Comte), who had been an official in the central administration of finance, took up the relatively new chief post of governor of saltworks (pardessus), the author illustrates the importance of the administration of saltworks and salt warehouses in the finance of the state.
