Patricians in front of a gate of their town. T he commoners on the other hand, are made up by the big majority of the people. Most of them are artisans, united according to the trade that they practice. The weavers have the biggest representation, about half of all artisans. Flanders' wealth at the end of the 13th century is owed almost exclusively to the wool trade.
English wool is imported in Flanders and is processed by cheap labour forces.
The trade unions of the razors, weavers, fullers and wool dyers are big in numbers, but even here the patricians have more than just a say in their affairs. Not all artisans are poor of course. Some managed to gather a bit of wealth by hard work, but even they are considered half-citizens just like their poor colleagues. They have no part in the town's government and even their rights are limited. Having a strike was forbidden and punished by banning or even death.