<論説>ヘントのカルヴァン派独裁 (1577-1584)

Abstract

このテーマは従来あまり人気がない。ヘントのカルヴァン派独裁は―マルクス主義史学は別として―ことにその宗教的過激性の故に大半の史家から冷淡かつ否定的な扱いを受け、一六世紀のネーデルランド反乱中の一エピソードとして片付けられがちである。しかし当独裁は宗教的過激性のみを特微とするものでなく、二つの異質の志向、つまり宗教的ファナティスムと根強い復古志向との合力であった。後者の分力、つまりカール五世治下に失われた中世都市の諸特権・諸制度の復活を一時的にせよ実現せしめた復古志向にむしろ力点を置くことにより、画一化を目差す絶対主義と社団的旧社会秩序を護持せんとする伝統主義との対決を基本矛盾とする当反乱の過程で、同じく伝統主義を標榜しつつもより一層開明的なオランイェ派とさえ対立せざるをえなかったヘント (伝統主義のいわば突出部) の悲劇的役割を明らかにすることが、本稿の目的である。

This subject may have been unpopular with most historians apart from Marxist historiography: up to the present the Calvinist dominion in question has been liable to be treated half-heartedly and negatively, especially on account of its religious radicalism, and estimated shortly as a episode during the Revolt of the Netherlands in the sixteenth century. Characterized by the religious radicalism, however, it was the resultant of two heterogeneous tendencies: religious fanaticism and deepseated intention of restoring the old regime. In this article more stress is laid on the latter component, that is, the intention leading to the temporary yet real restoration of medieval town privileges and institutions forfeited under Charles V. It is our purpose to make clear the tragic role of the town, a sort of projecting part of traditionalism, compelled to be opposed even to Orangists, the same traditionalist but much more enlightened political group, in the process of the Revolt of which the fundamental contradiction consisted in the antagonism between absolutism aiming at unification and traditionalism advocating the cause of old corporative social order.