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Why did the river-merchants' guild have a monopoly on trade along the Seine?
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Paris
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The river-merchants' guild, known as the marchandise de lâeau, held a monopoly on trade along the Seine because it was granted this "ancient right" by the French crown. In 1171, King Louis VII issued a charter that formally confirmed this privilege for the guild.1
The guildâs influence was deeply tied to the economic development of Paris. In 1141, the crown had sold the city's principal port, located near the modern-day HĂŽtel de Ville, to the marchandise. This acquisition solidified their control over river commerce, and the guild's ship-emblazoned coat of arms eventually became the official symbol of the city of Paris.1