Meet the Middle Ages
BackCitizens
There were all sorts of people in the town, rich merchants as well as poor beggars. In order to become a citizen, one had to be a merchant or craftsman with a workshop and a town-house of one ´s own. In addition, two townsmen had to testify that one was reliable and trustworthy. The citizens were allowed to become members of the Town Council and to speak at public meetings. They also paid tax to the town. Normally only men could become citizens. Sometimes, though, women became citizens, for example widows taking over their husbands’ workshops.
Most people in town were not citizens. They were servants, assistants, maids, house-keepers and apprentices, as well as day-workers and beggars. Monks and members of the Church - the Clergy - were not citizens either.