Bouxières-aux-Dames
Encyclopedia
Bouxières-aux-Dames is a commune
in the Meurthe-et-Moselle
department in north-eastern France
.
Its inhabitants are called Bouxiérois.
and of Meurthe
within its north-north-west. It is located at the north-north-east of Nancy, along the motorway A31. The village is divided into five parts:
The name of Bouxières comes from the Latin word buxus which means boxwood
. The history of Bouxières-aux-Dames is closely related to its abbey
of chanoinesse
s or ladies ("dames" in French), founded by Saint Gauzelin. Issued from a noble Frankish
family, he was a notary of the royal chancellery when King Charles the Simple
made him bishop of Toul. Following a visit to Fleury Abbey
near Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire
he founded in Lorraine the male monastery of Saint-Epvre and the female monastery of Bouxières-aux-Dames. He lived in poverty and died into 962. The legend says that a stag appeared to him indicating where to found the abbey. Later on, to be a chanoinesse, several districts of nobility
will be required.
The treasure of the abbey is kept in Nancy cathedral. It comprises in particular five objects: a chalice
http://www.linternaute.com/sortir/sorties/exposition/france-romane/images/14_4a-Calice-St-Gauzelin.jpg, a patene http://s.tf1.fr/mmdia/i/93/3/2018933_5.jpg, a gospel
book http://www.bouxieres-aux-dames.com/images/St.Gauzelin3.jpg covered with a binding of goldsmithery, a ring of the prelate and a comb
of ivory. Some rare stone remainders are visible on the top of the hill in "rue des chanoinesses" (chanoinesses street). The abbey persisted until 1787 when the chanoinesses who were bored with Bouxières-aux-Dames wanted to take advantage of the city life and settled in Nancy close to Bonsecours. The abbey was used as a stone quarry and was destroyed after French Revolution
. Several houses re-used its stones.
Another significant event in the history of the village is battle of Nancy
, 5 January 1477, where, with its mercenaries, condottiere Campobasso betrayed Charles I, Duke of Burgundy
and massacred on the bridge of Bouxières the remainders of the flying army of the duke of Burgundy. The chroniclers said that frozen Meurthe
was red of blood. Indeed, there were only three bridges on Meurthe at that time in Jarville
, Nancy and Bouxières. The troops of Charles I could not pass on western bank and thus had to remain on eastern bank, while trying to flee towards Metz
, while troops of Rene II
and their allies followed them.
In 1914, the Grand Couronné battle (September 4–13 1914) occurred on the bottom of the hill.
From 1943 to 1947, Marian apparition defrayed the chronicle and divided the parishioners of the village.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Meurthe-et-Moselle
Meurthe-et-Moselle
Meurthe-et-Moselle is a department in the Lorraine region of France, named after the Meurthe and Moselle rivers.- History :Meurthe-et-Moselle was created in 1871 at the end of the Franco-Prussian War from the parts of the former departments of Moselle and Meurthe which remained French...
department in north-eastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Its inhabitants are called Bouxiérois.
Geography
The village is located on the slope of a hill, directed south-north. It overlooks the confluent of MoselleMoselle
Moselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
and of Meurthe
Meurthe
Meurthe is a former département of France. Its préfecture was Nancy. It ceased to exist following the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine by Germany in 1871.-General characteristics:...
within its north-north-west. It is located at the north-north-east of Nancy, along the motorway A31. The village is divided into five parts:
- the top of the village around the remainders of the abbey and the lawn, on the summit part of the hill.
- the heart of the village around the church and the town hall,
- the recent district of Neveaux on the northern side of the hill,
- the district of the Noisetiers in the small valley of the brook of the Moret pond,
- the areas along Meurthe.
History
Buxus
Buxus is a genus of about 70 species in the family Buxaceae. Common names include box or boxwood ....
. The history of Bouxières-aux-Dames is closely related to its abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
of chanoinesse
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s or ladies ("dames" in French), founded by Saint Gauzelin. Issued from a noble Frankish
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
family, he was a notary of the royal chancellery when King Charles the Simple
Charles the Simple
Charles III , called the Simple or the Straightforward , was the undisputed King of France from 898 until 922 and the King of Lotharingia from 911 until 919/23...
made him bishop of Toul. Following a visit to Fleury Abbey
Fleury Abbey
Fleury Abbey in Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire, Loiret, France, founded about 640, is one of the most celebrated Benedictine monasteries of Western Europe, which posseses the relics of St. Benedict of Nursia. Its site on the banks of the Loire has always made it easily accessible from Orléans, a center of...
near Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire
Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire
Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.This town hosts the Abbaye de Fleury, also known as the Abbaye de Saint Benoît . Founded around 630, it is one of the oldest abbeys of the Benedictine rule...
he founded in Lorraine the male monastery of Saint-Epvre and the female monastery of Bouxières-aux-Dames. He lived in poverty and died into 962. The legend says that a stag appeared to him indicating where to found the abbey. Later on, to be a chanoinesse, several districts of nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
will be required.
The treasure of the abbey is kept in Nancy cathedral. It comprises in particular five objects: a chalice
Chalice (cup)
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. In general religious terms, it is intended for drinking during a ceremony.-Christian:...
http://www.linternaute.com/sortir/sorties/exposition/france-romane/images/14_4a-Calice-St-Gauzelin.jpg, a patene http://s.tf1.fr/mmdia/i/93/3/2018933_5.jpg, a gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
book http://www.bouxieres-aux-dames.com/images/St.Gauzelin3.jpg covered with a binding of goldsmithery, a ring of the prelate and a comb
Comb
A comb is a toothed device used in hair care for straightening and cleaning hair or other fibres. Combs are among the oldest tools found by archaeologists...
of ivory. Some rare stone remainders are visible on the top of the hill in "rue des chanoinesses" (chanoinesses street). The abbey persisted until 1787 when the chanoinesses who were bored with Bouxières-aux-Dames wanted to take advantage of the city life and settled in Nancy close to Bonsecours. The abbey was used as a stone quarry and was destroyed after French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. Several houses re-used its stones.
Another significant event in the history of the village is battle of Nancy
Battle of Nancy
The Battle of Nancy was the final and decisive battle of the Burgundian Wars, fought outside the walls of Nancy on 5 January 1477 between Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, and René II, Duke of Lorraine...
, 5 January 1477, where, with its mercenaries, condottiere Campobasso betrayed Charles I, Duke of Burgundy
Charles I, Duke of Burgundy
Charles the Bold , baptised Charles Martin, was Duke of Burgundy from 1467 to 1477...
and massacred on the bridge of Bouxières the remainders of the flying army of the duke of Burgundy. The chroniclers said that frozen Meurthe
Meurthe
Meurthe is a former département of France. Its préfecture was Nancy. It ceased to exist following the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine by Germany in 1871.-General characteristics:...
was red of blood. Indeed, there were only three bridges on Meurthe at that time in Jarville
Jarville-la-Malgrange
Jarville-la-Malgrange is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
, Nancy and Bouxières. The troops of Charles I could not pass on western bank and thus had to remain on eastern bank, while trying to flee towards Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, while troops of Rene II
René II, Duke of Lorraine
René II was Count of Vaudémont from 1470, Duke of Lorraine from 1473, and Duke of Bar from 1483 to 1508. He claimed the crown of the Kingdom of Naples and the County of Provence as the Duke of Calabria 1480–1493 and as King of Naples and Jerusalem 1493–1508...
and their allies followed them.
In 1914, the Grand Couronné battle (September 4–13 1914) occurred on the bottom of the hill.
From 1943 to 1947, Marian apparition defrayed the chronicle and divided the parishioners of the village.
See also
- Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department