Apothecaries and their clients in the State of Burgundy

In 1477, the State of Burgundy from Charles the Bold comprised the Low Countries (including large parts of present-day Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and northern France) as well as the duchy of Burgundy and the counties of Nevers and Burgundy. From 44 towns in the State of Burgundy, their apothecaries have been identified and based on studies on the population in European mediaeval towns, the number of inhabitants per apothecary (= the client-potential) could be established for the years 1400, 1440, 1480, 1520, 1560 and 1600. A distinction among small towns, medium sized and big towns has been made. In towns with less than 2500 inhabitants usually just one apothecary is present. Because of the limited number of potential clients - between 1000 and 2000 - it concerns often a town-apothecary (partly) paid by the magistrate and with additional privileges or a monopolized position. In towns with 5000-25000 inhabitants we see for the 16th century a tendency of a diminishing number of potential clients in time: this forms a strong indication for a growing degree of competition between the apothecaries in the bigger towns. A client-potential of 3500-4000 or higher allowed the apothecary in the territory of Burgundy to be commercially successful in the 15th and 16th century. The clients of the apothecary in this territory consisted of the three classes of the "Ancien Regime" with bishops, abbots, hospitals, churches, Seigniors, Counts, Dukes, courts of the crowned nobility, town magistrates, town garrisons, citizens, plague patients and the poor of the town.