The Rolls of Oléron: Eleanor of Aquitaine and the First Maritime Laws of Northwestern Europe (c. 1160 CE)
The island of Oléron, located off the western coast of France near La Rochelle, had long been a center of maritime activity. Historically part of the Vacetae Insulae or Vacetian Islands (along with Ré), it was likely settled or controlled by the Basques (Gascons) by the 7th and 8th centuries, as attested in the Cosmographia【Collins, 1988】.
By the 12th century, Oléron had become home to one of the most powerful seamen’s guilds in the Atlantic, and it was here, around 1160, that Eleanor of Aquitaine issued the Rolls of Oléron, the first recorded maritime laws of northwestern Europe.
Origins and Influences of the Rolls of Oléron
- The Rolls of Oléron were based on the Lex Rhodia, a set of ancient maritime laws that had governed Mediterranean commerce since before the time of Christ.
- Eleanor of Aquitaine likely became familiar with these laws during her time in the Holy Land, when she accompanied her first husband, King Louis VII of France, on the Second Crusade (1147–1149).
- While in the East, she may have learned of the Maritime Assizes of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which were modeled on the Lex Rhodia and had been adopted by King Baldwin III of Jerusalem.
- Upon her return to Aquitaine and as Duchess of Aquitaine and Queen of England (after marrying Henry II in 1152), Eleanor saw the need for codified maritime laws to regulate Atlantic and English Channel trade.
The Content and Impact of the Rolls of Oléron
- The Rolls provided guidelines for maritime trade, shipowners, and seafarers, covering topics such as:
- The responsibilities of ship captains and crews.
- Compensation for lost or damaged cargo.
- The treatment of sailors and liability for negligence.
- They were widely adopted by maritime courts in France, England, and the Low Countries, becoming the foundation of medieval admiralty law in the Atlantic world.
- England’s later Black Book of the Admiralty (14th century) drew directly from the Rolls of Oléron, and their influence persisted in European maritime law for centuries.
Legacy of the Rolls of Oléron
- The first formal admiralty laws in northwestern Europe, the Rolls helped standardize maritime commerce at a time when the Atlantic trade network was expanding.
- They established Oléron’s reputation as a leading maritime judicial center, reinforcing the power of its seamen’s guild.
- Eleanor of Aquitaine’s role in their promulgation highlights her far-reaching influence as a ruler, bringing legal and commercial advancements to her domains.
Through the Rolls of Oléron, Eleanor of Aquitaine laid the groundwork for modern maritime law, ensuring her lasting impact not only in medieval European politics but also in global trade and navigation.
