Baarle-Hertog / Baarle-Nassau; Certificates of 1198
the loan of the seignory of Breda
to Godfried of Schoten
by the Duke of Brabant, Hendrik I.
The first certificate (transcription) (in Latin):
Qualiter Godefridus de Scoten castellum de Breda cum omni allodio, quod tenuit infra locum, qui Haghe dicitur, in manu domini. Henrici ducis ac domine ducisse resignavit.
In nomine sancte et individue Trinitatis.
Ego, Godefridus de Scoten, omnibus impertpetuum.
Notum esse volumus, tam posteris quam presentibus, quod ego, G(odefridus) de Scoten, castellum de Breda cum omni allodio, quod tenui et teneo infra locum, qui Haga dicitur, libere in manu domini ducis Henrici, domine ducisse M(achtildis) et eorum heredis resignavi. Ipsi vero, quia mei predecessores a suis predecessoribus sic tenuerant, idem allodium totaliter in feodum michi contulerunt; et preterea homines advocaciarum suarum ibidem iacencium immo quidquid ibi possidebant, feodis hominum suorum ministerialibus lott. judiciis, que arena vocantur, exceptis. Insuper vero liberum et absolutum prestiti hominium et ipsi certum contra quemlibet michi promeserunt auxilium ubi de iure meo confisus ad diem prefixum vel ad iudicem vocatus venire non recusarem. Uxori mee, si decederum sine herede, in bonis meis eisdem usumfructum recognoverunt.
Ut autem hec rata et in posterum teneantur inconvulsa nostrorum appositione sigillorum munivimus ac confirmare curavimus.
Huic facto interfuerunt testes: Galterus Bertout, Henricus de Cuch, Gerardus de Grimberg, Arnoldus, frater eius, Arnoldus de Diest, Willelmus de Byrbays, Henricus de Haso, Arnoldus de Winsemala, Alardus Rapa, Gosuinus de Hyscha et huius cartule confectores: Gerardus, Reynerus.
The second certificate: (transcription):
Qualifer Godifridus de Scotha recognovit, allodium de Breda esse Henrici ducis Lotharingie, quod habuit infra indaginem, quod Vulgenhaghen dicitur et ab eodem recepit in feodum possidendum.
(H)enricus, Dei gratia dux Lotharingie, notum esse volumus tam futuris quam presentibus, quod Godefridus de Scotha allodium de Breda nostrum esse recognovit et omne allodium, quod habet infra indaginem, quod Vulgenhaghen dicitur, in manus nostras resignavit et a nobis in feodo recepit; preterea venne usque Strine et conductum de Breda. Et insuper quidquid iuris in terra predicta habere debemus, exceptis ministerialibus nostris et feodo ministerialium et hominum nostrorum, ei et heredibus suis in feodo concessimus.
Si vero predictus Godefridus de Scotha absque prole decesserit et uxor sua superstes fuerit, usumfructum in omnibus bonis suis quamdiu vixerit de nostra concessione obtinebit.
Quod si aliquis iniuriam vel gravamen prefato Godefrido vel heredibus suis in predictis bonis inferre voluerit, consilio et auxilio semper ei assistemus.
Ut autem hec rata et inconvulsa permaneant, presentem paginam inpressione sigilli nostri communiri fecimus.
Testes huius facti: Henricus de Kuyc, Arnoldus de Wesemale, Walterus Alph., Alardus Rapa, Walterus Bach, Willelmus de Eekerne.
With these agreements Godfried van Schoten got Breda on loan again from the Duke of Brabant, Hendrik I. Originally Godfried van Schoten considered Breda as his own property (allodium), but with the threat from the north by Count Dirk VII of Holland, he made an agreement with the Duke of Brabant. In this agreement the Duke was re-establish as the owner of Breda, but he gave Breda back in loan to Godfried van Schoten.
Beside this, Breda's territory was enlarged with a large part of the surrounding area. The cultivated areas were excluded from this agreement, because of tax-reasons. The Duke of Brabant received taxes from the farmers on the cultivated parcels. These (cultivated) parcels stayed under the Duke of Brabant and became known as 'Hertog' territory.
Because of these agreements there's in fact a division of the territory of Baarle. The tax-paying parts stayed under the Duke of Brabant (Hertog's territory). The surrounding area came under Breda as part of the loan of Godfried van Schoten. Beside these parts there were also some parts in Baarle belonging to the abbey of Thorn and the abbey of Tongerlo. Generally speaking, Baarle was divided into two parts, one belonging to Breda and one belonging to the Duke (Hertog) of Brabant.
Later on, when Engelbert van Nassau becomes Lord of Breda, the people start talking about Baarle under Nassau and Baarle under Hertog. Later on this was shortened to Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog.
