Charles and Rebels and Salt

The French word gabelle derives from the Italian gabella, which means "duty." It was a tax applied to agricultural and industrial items, such as bed sheets, wheat, spices, wine...and salt.The crusade against the Albigensians was concluded in 1229 by French King Louis IX, whereupon Louis gained control of the Rhône Estuary in Provence. Situated on the coast of the Mediterranean, it was an ideal place to set up salt-evaporation ponds. Salt was used by everyone everywhere, and producing and controlling the supply was a valuable source of income for the French crown. (The illustration is from this article about those same salt pans still being used today.)When Charles of Anjou became Count of Provence, the salt of the Rhône Estuary came under his control. Upon his return from his brother's Seventh Crusade, he gained a monopoly over salt, and in a few years it provided over 50% of his operating revenue.He also had to deal with some towns that had banded together to oppose his rule,…