Méreau (plural: ''méreaux''; obsolete spelling: ''merel, merelles, marelles, mereaulx'') was a token, most often made of metal but sometimes leather or parchment, used in France during the Late Middle Ages and Reformation.
Its name goes back to la, merere, "to deserve". Méreaux emerged in churches as tokens that entitled clergy to receive certain amount of bread or other food in substantial amounts (part of which was supposed to be later distributed among the poor). In the 15th century there were méreaux of high denominations: 5, 20, 30 and 45
denier
Denier may refer to:
* the French form of ''denarius'' (penny)
** French denier (penny), a type of medieval coin
** Denier (unit), a unit of linear mass density of fibers
** ''Denier'', also ''Denyer'', a French and English surname (probably a m ...
s, and priests could exchange them for real coins.
Méreaux are similar to
Notgeld
''Notgeld'' (German for "emergency money" or "necessity money") refers to money issued by an institution in a time of economic or political crisis. The issuing institution is usually one without official sanction from the central government. This ...
by their function. Later on méreaux came into use by medieval
guild
A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular area. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradesmen belonging to a professional association. They sometimes ...
s and professional corporations until their decline at the end of the 18th century. After abolition of the
Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes () was signed in April 1598 by King Henry IV and granted the Calvinist Protestants of France, also known as Huguenots, substantial rights in the nation, which was in essence completely Catholic. In the edict, Henry aim ...
,
Calvinists
Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...
provided méreaux to their members traveling to other Calvinist communities to distinguish them from Catholic spies. Méreaux entitled their bearers to a
Holy Communion
The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an Ordinance (Christianity), ordinance in others. According to the New Testame ...
and should be collected by the priest serving the Communion.
Collecting méreaux is called ''merellophilia''.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mereau (token)
Medieval currencies
Huguenot history in France
Economic history of France