Abstract
Subsidies from Flanders, one of the most economically developed regions in northern Europe, were of great significance for the finances of the dukes of Burgundy. When they wanted to impose any subsidies on Flanders, however, they needed the consent of the Four Members of Flanders: the deputies from three great cities and the rural district of the Franc, which is a castellany. When the first duke, Philip the Bold, could not raise much money from the Members, John the Fearless entered into the fiscal partnership with the Members, who themselves wanted to tax the other Flemish communities, and negotiated with the duke's government to accept their various requests in exchange for their consent to the subsidies. However, the finances of each community had to bear more and more subsidies. Compared to great cities like Bruges, which had various financial resources, the rural district Franc was forced to impose a greater tax on each household in order to collect the amount to be paid as subsidies. The rural inhabitants therefore tried to acquire citizenship of Bruges so that they could avoid being levied by the Franc. This caused much conflict between Bruges and the Franc and changed the state of Flemish society on the local level.
