Porpoise, punishment and partnership: the meaning of presenting and consuming a marine mammal in late medieval coastal Flanders
Dillen, K. (2022). Porpoise, punishment and partnership: the meaning of presenting and consuming a marine mammal in late medieval coastal Flanders. Urban History 49(3): 568-588. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0963926821000225
In: Urban History. CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS: Cambridge. ISSN 0963-9268, more
Late medieval sources reveal an annual handover of a marine mammal between the council of the small coastal city of Blankenberge and the aldermen of Bruges. The reason for the transfer is not disclosed by the sources, and there is no consensus among historians as to the interpretation of this behaviour. This article explores the role of the presentation and consumption of a porpoise in the relationship between Blankenberge and the nearby medieval metropolis of Bruges. I argue that a porpoise supported the crucial, mutually beneficial ties of solidarity between two communities favouring their position and opportunities in the competitive maritime landscape.
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