In thinking about Sarum as originally presented, and Sarum as it is now (where it clearly isn't the trading hub of the County, given that it is not a Market Town and provides none of the bonuses associated with large markets) I've come to realise the exact role of market towns in facilitating trade is unclear to me.

My best guess is that the fundamental distinguishing feature is that a Market Town has a continually operating market, whereas other towns and villages may only have a market once a week or once a month.

What do BoE and BoW says Market towns are?




In thinking about Sarum as originally presented, and Sarum as it is now (where it clearly isn't the trading hub of the County, given that it is not a Market Town and provides none of the bonuses associated with large markets) I've come to realise the exact role of market towns in facilitating trade is unclear to me.

My best guess is that the fundamental distinguishing feature is that a Market Town has a continually operating market, whereas other towns and villages may only have a market once a week or once a month.

The entry in Book of the Warlord indicates that:

Market Towns have obtained a charter for special rights from the king. Market Towns are where
merchants set up shop and visiting traders can come to sell their wares. Importantly, they pay taxes
only to the king. Each Market Town has its own royal bailiff to collect it, and he pays it to the sheriff.
Importantly, Market Towns must pay in coinage. Some have their own mint to make coins. All
Market Towns are walled.

Market Towns are almost always outside of a baron’s jurisdiction. They are all under royal protection, and warlords are not responsible for fortifying or garrisoning them. During the Anarchy Period these towns must seek a protector, usually the strongest local warlord.

It then goes on to discuss the effect that they have on the economy and, of course, explains the benefits you get if there is a market town in your hundred. However, it never specifies exactly what these "special rights" are or why they result in traders setting up shop there and not two miles down the road.

My own cursory research indicates that Market Towns didn't have markets every day, so my initial theory appears to be wrong. My next theory is that it's actually illegal to have any market outside a market town, but this seems a bit extreme.

Thank you for providing the quote
Providing Information
I try not to repeat too much information in each book, although this is not possible when the same subject appears in two books because it is important to me that all the information needed is in each book.
Neither BoE or BoW seemed to need that data since lords don't have any power over market towns
However, it does appear in Book of Uther
So here is an excerpt from that book
First, under Commerce and Trade it says
Trade means international trade; bringing in good from foreign lands, and sending good back to them. All such business is overseen by the king. (Income from internal trade is covered by the taxes, etc.)
Most of the information you want comes from here:
Market Town (Liber Burgus)
A market town has a royally-sanctioned market that collects local goods for resale, and also sells specialty goods from nearby. Once a year it sponsors a great fair, to which people come from the whole region. These are called the “liberties of Market and Fair.”
All market towns residents have free tenure, which means they are not ordinary villain tenants, but burgesses (more or less “citizens of the settlement.”) Such a town is sometimes called liber burgus, or “free town.” The burgesses are “free” only in comparison to their neighbor villeins and serfs. Burgesses never have to do duty for their lord, but still have similar duties in the hundred, shire and church; and to their town now as well.
The burgesses pay their collective fee farm to a resident royal bailiff, who is locally responsible to enforce the law, oversee all collections, and seek violators of the law.
These rights basically allow the town members to recirculate their profits to the town’s own benefit, improving itself, and to be assured of paying the same fixed ferm amount each year to the king, but otherwise being free from his outside interference.
Only royally sanctioned markets obtain this additional freedom. The process requires the members of a seigniorial town getting burgage status from its lord (for a price), and then petition the king (and pay a fee), and acquire the status. During this process the seigniorial lord essentially gives away part of his holding to the king to become a market. However, he doesn’t lose because the benefits of having a market town far outweigh the few libra that he might get as seigniorial lord. More products are available, and close by for him and his tenants. This savings is expressed as positive income to the landholders. Lords also typically own buildings in the towns, haws they are called; and collect more rent from a market town than a village.

Note that the Castle of the Rock doesn't need its own market town since Wyler River Town is right outside it gates.

Thanks Greg.

Your willingness to post excerpts from upcoming products in direct response to questions is greatly appreciated.

I may have a few more questions after I get my hands on the Book of Uther, but I've got a much better handle on the whole thing now.

Greg I have a question when will the Book of Uther be available?

As a rule we cannot commit to specific dates, but we think this fall is a realistic expectation as of this writing.


T.