Introduction

The city of Dublin has been governed by its own elected representatives since the 12th century. The Dublin City Assembly which flourished during the Middle Ages and survived until 1840, met at the great feasts of Christmas, Easter, Midsummer and Michaelmas for the transaction of business, but extra meetings could be held if necessary. The Mayor presided at meetings of the Assembly, whose members consisted of two sheriffs, 24 aldermen, 48 sheriffs’ peers and 96 representatives of the Dublin trade guilds. The municipal franchise was not democratic in the modern sense, as it was largely confined to members of the trade guilds and to their descendants.

Dublin City Charters 1171 - 1727

The City Archives includes the magnificent series of 102 Charters granted to the city by successive English monarchs. The earliest charter was issued by Henry II in 1171-1172, giving the men of Bristol the right to live in the City of Dublin. Later charters contain grants to the city of rights, privileges and property, and taken together they form the basis of municipal law in Ireland.

Texts of selected charters can be accessed in the 'Calendar of Ancient Records' of Dublin available in the Reading Room.

Guild Records 1192 - 1841

Guilds were mutual benefit associations which flourished in western Europe from the 11th century. The guild system in Dublin was licensed under a charter by Prince John in 1192 and dominated the commercial and political life of the city. There were four types of Guilds: Guild Merchant or Merchant Guild, Craft Guilds or Trade Guilds, Religious Guilds and Military Guilds. Guild membership could be acquired by three means:-

• Service – by completion of an apprenticeship with a guild member
• Birth – obtained by sons of guild members
• Freedom – honorary membership to be conferred on dignatories

Freedom Records 1225 - 1922

The ancient Freedom of Dublin was instituted at the time of the Norman Invasion. The inhabitants of Dublin in the middle ages were either free or non-free. Holders of the freedom of the city were known as ‘Free Citizens’ and were entitled to special trading privileges and the right to vote in parliamentary and municipal elections. In order to qualify for the freedom it was usually necessary to have been born within the city boundaries or ‘franchises’ and to be a member of one of the trade guilds of Dublin. Members of ‘the Irish nation’ were excluded, but in practice many people with Irish surnames succeeded in obtaining the freedom. Under the Penal Laws, Roman Catholics were excluded from the Freedom of Dublin from 1691 until 1793. Under the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1918, the ancient Freedom of Dublin was abolished to make way for a more democratic franchise. Nowadays all inhabitants of the city of Dublin who have reached the age of 18 are entitled to vote in municipal elections. It is possible to trace several generations of old Dublin families through these lists which form a useful source of genealogical research.

Liber Albus or White Book of Dublin (13th – 17th century)

This book contains transcripts of documents in abbreviated Latin, French and old English relating to the administration of Dublin illustrating civic transactions with lands, buildings, mills and water-supplies. It contains one hundred and eleven leaves written on vellum and a translation of its contents is in the 'Calendar of Ancient Records of Dublin' available in the Reading Room.