The Caquins of Brittany, (also French: Cacous Breton: Kakouz, French: Caqueux,[1] French: Caquets,[2] and French: Caquous) were groups of inhabitants who worked as coopers and ropemakers,[3] subjected to exclusion in their villages located in Brittany, between the thirteenth century and modern times.[3]
It is believed that the exclusion of the Caquins was based on the fear of leprosy, where Caquin rope makers were believed to be descendants of lepers and could spread leprosy. This potential leprous origin as well as their treatment, until the eighteenth century, mean they are often compared to the Cagots of southwestern France and northern Spain, or the French: crétins des Alpes of the Swiss Alps, there is however no mention of physical or mental particularities specific to the Caquins.
The Caquins were subjected to a variety of laws restricting their actions in society, this included restricting what work they could undertake, any while they could own land they were prohibited from building.[4]
On 12 February 1425, John V, Duke of Brittany in his constitutions forbade the Caquins to engage in trade and demanded their separation from others. However, on 16 April 1447, the duke allowed the Caquins to take leased land in the bishopric of Vannes, as well as elsewhere.[5] On 18 December 1456, Peter II, Duke of Brittany, issued a long ordinance on French: fouages (the tax paid by each French: feu), where he declared that the Caquins were exempted from this tax.
There were also various religious restrictions imposed on the Caquins, such as having to enter churches through special doors separate from other congregants.
"German: Man kennt sie in Bretagne unter der Benennung von Cacous oder Caqueux. Man findet sie in Aunis, vorzüglich auf der Insel Maillezais, so wie auch in La Rochelle, wo sie Coliberts gennent werden. In Guyenne und Gascogne in der Nähe von Bordeaux erscheinen sie unter dem Namen der Cahets, und halten sich in den unbewohnbarsten Morästen, Sümpfen und Heiden auf. In den beyden Navarren heissen sie Caffos, Cagotes, Agotes." ["They are known in Brittany under the name of Cacous or Caqueux. They can be found in Aunis, especially on the island of Maillezais, as well as in La Rochelle, where they are called Coliberts. In Guyenne and Gascogne, near Bordeaux, they appear under the name of the Cahets, and can be found in the most uninhabitable swamps, swamps and heaths. In the two Navarres they are called Caffos, Cagotes, Agotes."]
"German: Es fragt sich 2) gehören die Caquets oder Caqueux in Bretagne und die Cagots in Bearn, so wie Cassos in Navarra zu einem und demselben Geschlechte? Wir glauben die Frage mit Ramond bejahen zu können. Die grosse Verwandtschaft der Namen, die Ähnlichkeit ihres Zustandes, die aller Orten gleiche Verachtung, und derselbe Geist, der aus allen Verordnungen in Betreff ihrer herverleuchtet scheinen diess zu beweisen." ["The question arises 2) ''Do the caquets or caqueux in Brittany and the cagots in Bearn, like the cassos in Navarre, belong to one and the same family?'' We think we can answer the question with ''[[Louis Ramond de Carbonnières|Ramond]] in the affirmative. The close affinity of names, the similarity of their condition, the same contempt in all places, and the same spirit emanating from all the ordinances concerning them, seem to prove this."]