Theologians, Judges, and Artists. Disputes About the Last Confession of Criminals in France, 14th -15th Centuries

The article attempts to highlight the complex of problems associated with the establishment of the right of last confession for criminal offenders in France at the end of the 14th century. The author’s main attention is focused on two works written by French intellectuals: Philippe de Mézières’s Le songe du vieil pelerine (1389) and Jean Gerson’s Requete pour les condamnés à mort (1395/1396). The analysis of the circumstances of the creation of these texts, of their internal structure and the argumentation contained in them allows to answer the question why the proposal of J. Gerson was positively received at the court of Charles VI, while the similar efforts of Ph. de Mézières failed. The author of the article connects this paradox with the political climate in France (primarily at the royal court) that has changed in just a few years, with the reform of the judicial system, which has been going on with more or less success during these years. However, the most significant circumstance, according to the author of the article, was Jean Gerson’s extremely balanced position on the relationship between secular authorities and the Church in such a controversial issue as criminal procedure law. The author also links the changes that took place in the 15th century in the general iconography of French chronicles and historical writings to changes in this area: already in the first half of the century, artists began to regularly depict priests listening to the last confession of criminals in execution scenes. Thus, the article touches on one of the most controversial issues of modern medieval studies - the iconographic turn in the history of law.