this princess, in 1199, that the municipality, or "commune,"
was established. (Arcere, Hist. de la Rochelle, ii., Preuves,
660, 661.) The terms of the charter are vague; but, as
subsequently constituted, the "commune" consisted of one
hundred prominent citizens, designated as "pairs," or peers,
in whom all power was vested. The first member in dignity was
the "maire" or mayor, selected by the Seneschal of Saintonge
from the list of three candidates yearly nominated by his
fellow-members. The historian of the city compares him, for
power and for the sanctity attaching to his person, to the
ancient tribunes of Rome. Next were the twenty-four
"echevins," or aldermen, one-half of whom on alternate years
assisted the mayor in the administration of justice. Last of
all came seventy-five "pairs" having no separate designation,
who took part in the election of the mayor, and voted, on
important occasions, in the "assemblee generale." (See a
historical discussion, Arcere, i. 193-199.)

From King John Lackland, of England, the Rochellois are said
to have received express exemption from the duty of marching
elsewhere in the king's service, without their own consent,
and from admitting into their city any troops from abroad. (P.
S. Callot, La Rochelle protestante, 1863, p. 6.) When, in
1224, after standing a siege of three weeks, La Rochelle fell
into the hands of Louis VIII. of France, its new master
engaged to maintain all its privileges--a promise which was
well observed, for not only did the city lose nothing, but it
actually received new favors at the king's hands. (Arcere, i.
212; Callot, 6.) In 1360, the disasters of the French,
consequent upon the battle of Poitiers, compelled the monarch
to surrender the city of La Rochelle to his captors in order
to regain his liberty. The concession was reluctantly made,
with the most flattering testimony to the past fidelity of the
inhabitants (see letters of John II. of France, to the
Rochellois, Calais, Oct., 1360, Arcere, ii, Preuves, 761), and
it was with still greater reluctance that the latter consented
to carry it into effect. "They made frequent excuses," says
Froissard, "and would not, for upwards of a year, suffer any
Englishman to enter their town. The letters were very
affecting