This article explores the relationship between the spatial distribution of elite power and geophysical factors in two regions within the Low Countries between c.1350 – c.1650. It does so through a focus on seigneuries, bundles of territory and rights through which premodern lords and ladies across Europe held jurisdiction and economic prerogatives over local subjects. Historians have often assumed that the uneven distribution of such jurisdictions in different regions was connected to the fertility and commercial potential of the landscape. This article pioneers a structured, transregional approach to test this hypothesis, by quantifying and visualizing the spatial distribution of seigneuries in connection with three geophysical features – soil fertility, proximity to waterways, and relief – within and between two Netherlandish principalities, Guelders and Hainault. Through visualization and quantification of the spatial clustering of seigneuries, the analysis confirms that these institutions gravitated towards areas that were most fertile and commercially viable. In addition, the data suggest a hierarchy in the relative importance of geophysical features. Soil fertility emerges as the prime factor, with relief (Hainault) and waterways (Guelders) as secondary (interdependent) factors.

中文翻译：

---

领主景观：绘制中世纪晚期低地国家的领地管辖区


本文探讨了 1350 年至 1650 年间低地国家两个地区精英权力的空间分布与地球物理因素之间的关系。它通过关注领地、领土和权利来做到这一点，欧洲的前现代领主和女士们通过这些领地和权利对当地臣民拥有管辖权和经济特权。历史学家经常认为，这些司法管辖区在不同地区的分布不均与景观的肥沃和商业潜力有关。本文开创了一种结构化的跨区域方法来检验这一假设，通过量化和可视化与三个地球物理特征（土壤肥力、靠近水道和地势）相关的领地空间分布，在两个荷兰公国 Guelders 和 Hainault 之间。通过对领地的空间聚类进行可视化和量化，分析证实这些机构被吸引到最肥沃和商业可行的地区。此外，数据表明地球物理特征的相对重要性存在层次结构。土壤肥力成为主要因素，地势 （Hainault） 和水道 （Guelders） 是次要（相互依存）因素。