Les instructions des députés de Douai aux Etats Généraux des Pays-Bas en 1488

Résumé En Fr Nl

The attitude of the city of Douai and the instructions it gave to its representatives at the "Etats Généraux" summoned in Malines from Feb. 24. 1488 onwards to debate on the imprisonment of Maximilian of Austria in Bruges, is an illustration of the principle of an imperative mandate. The deputy was only authorized to yield to the prince's requests which agreed with the powers he had been granted. The Douai deputies were thus given a mandate which considerably limited their power of decision. They always kept their town informed of the debates, and asked them instructions about the attitude they had to assume. On their side, the city authorities of Douai always required from their representatives a strict obedience to the orders they were given. This intransigence delayed the signature of the treaty of alliance which ended the captivity of Maximilian of Austria in Bruges.

The attitude of the city of Douai and the instructions it gave to its representatives at the "Etats Généraux" summoned in Malines from Feb. 24. 1488 onwards to debate on the imprisonment of Maximilian of Austria in Bruges, is an illustration of the principle of an imperative mandate. The deputy was only authorized to yield to the prince's requests which agreed with the powers he had been granted. The Douai deputies were thus given a mandate which considerably limited their power of decision. They always kept their town informed of the debates, and asked them instructions about the attitude they had to assume. On their side, the city authorities of Douai always required from their representatives a strict obedience to the orders they were given. This intransigence delayed the signature of the treaty of alliance which ended the captivity of Maximilian of Austria in Bruges.

De houding van de stad Dowaai en de opdracht die meegegeven werd aan de vertegenwoordigers bij de Staten-Generaal in vergadering te Mechelen vanaf 24 februari 1488 om de hechtenis van Maximiliaan van Oostenrijk te Brugge te bespreken, is een mooi voorbeeld van het imperatieve mandaat. De afgevaardigde kon alleen maar ingaan op de eisen van de prins voor zover zijn opdrachtgevers hem dat toelieten. De afgevaardigden van Dowaai hadden dus slechts een zeer beperkt beslissingsrecht : zij hielden hun opdrachtgevers altijd op de hoogte van de besprekingen en vroegen voortdurend om instructies omtrent de aan te nemen houding. Anderzijds eiste de raad van de stad Dowaai steeds een strikte gehoorzaamheid van zijn afgewaardigden. Deze onverzettelijke houding heeft de ondertekening van het alliantieverdrag dat een einde maakte aan de hechtenis van Maximiliaan van Oostenrijk, vertraagd.