Trade Guilds

(French, compagnonnages), associations of apprentices in France.

The trade guilds, most of which were secret, probably arose in the 12th and 13th centuries, when apprentices of a trade united to render mutual aid in journeying around France; they set up hostels, hospitals, and eating houses. From the early 16th century, when the guild structure was breaking down, the trade guilds were transformed into organizations to support the apprentices’ struggle against their master craftsmen. Striving to improve the working conditions of apprentices and raise salaries, they resorted to boycotts of the master craftsmen and to strikes. Under pressure from the guild master craftsmen, the government repeatedly issued bans on the guilds. They were also subjected to persecution from the church, which saw them as a possible center for the spread of heresies. However, the guilds continued to exist until the mid-19th century, gradually being replaced by trade unions.

Associations of apprentices similar to the French trade guilds also existed in other European countries.