Abstract EN:

This study concerning the provostship's activity in Parisian town planning matters during the XVth century results of the civil decisions of the parliament of Paris. The investigation is based on the "reconstituted file" doctained by gathering the different types of sources found in the various records: "arrêts et juges, plaidoiries, decisions du conseil et accords". During the XVth century, the provostship has been progressively invested which the totality of the town's management. The merchant institution, born in the wealth of the XIIIth century, will have to deal with a war economy. Although she had been created to preserve the merchant class' privileges, her destination will be totally different during the XVth century : the merchant activity being relegated to a position of secondary importance, all efforts are at that moment concentrated on the defense of the town against the English threat. New attributions will appear which are going to change her nature and composition considerably: jurists are largely substituting for the merchants. The study of the litigation concerning town planning matters in which the municipality is involved shows clearly the seizure of the state service on merchant institution. This substitution of personnel testifies in fact a profound transformation of the provostship which will, at the conclusion of that difficult period, become a real town council.