The ‘Petit Thalamus’ of Montpellier. Moving mirror of an urban political Identity

Abstract

The Petit Thalamus of Montpellier contains the oldest urban chronicle ever written in a vernacular language in Western Europe and this chronicle, whose oldest versions are dating from the beginning of the 13th century, is the conscious work of a consulate that accomplishes a flashback on its origins. Then, it does not simply record the history of Montpellier: by forging a common memory, it creates the town as a universitas and plays a decisive role in the emergence of an urban consciousness. In addition to the common walls, which realised the physical unity of Montpellier, the Petit Thalamus, by contributing to the mental unity of the citizens, has been one of the most important pieces in the creation of the town, whose importance is equal to the great seal of the consulate. Thus, it is a keystone in the construction of this fragile balance that represents a medieval town.