5 - Who Founded Durtal? Reconsidering the Evidence

Summary

Did Fulk III Nerra, count of Anjou (ruled 987–1040), establish a fortification at Durtal, as recounted by his grandnephew Count Fulk IV le Réchin (ruled 1067/8–1109)? If so, why is there no other evidence linking Fulk III with the site, and why does another version of events give sole credit to his son Count Geoffrey Martel (ruled 1040–60) for building a castellum there? For over a century, historians have grappled with this conflicting evidence for who founded this Angevin fortification sometime in the eleventh century. Some have opted for one founder over another but have provided no solid basis for their decision. Others have suggested that the conflicting evidence can be reconciled. This study argues that such a reconciliation is not warranted. Rather, given the history and context of our documents, and given what we know about people and events at Durtal, there is good reason to favor one person as the founder of the castellany. More broadly, this investigation of Durtal's origins serves as a case study of how the reconstruction of documents in the context of those who used them and the events they describe can help resolve long contested technical issues.

Regardless of who first built it, even the casual modern observer can quickly appreciate why Durtal (about 30 km ENE of Angers) would be an obvious place to situate a medieval fortification.