La Mothe-en-Bassigny
Encyclopedia
A citadel of the Duchy of Lorraine
, La Mothe-en-Bassigny was meant to repel French
invaders. It was destroyed in 1645 and is now a ruin.
It is situated near Neufchâteau, between the villages of Outremécourt
and Soulaucourt-sur-Mouzon
(Haute-Marne
).
In the 17th century, the Duke of Lorraine Charles IV
lost all his possessions to cardinal Richelieu except La Mothe.
In 1634 the citadel withstood a siege of 141 days before surrendering on 26 July.
Given back to the Duke in 1641, La Mothe was besieged again between 25 July and 30 August 1642. And a third time between December 1642 and May 1643.
Mazarin started another siege on 4 December 1644 and now the exhausted city was forced to surrender on 1 July 1645, after a resistance of 205 days.
Contrary to the agreement, Mazarin destroyed not only the fortifications, but also the entire city.
This period was always a painful memory in Lorraine
. The French authorities were aware of this since, when France
was divided into departments, the border of Haute-Marne
made a strange loop to include "La Mothe". This removed a potentially dangerous symbol from the territory of Lorraine.
The ruins were classified as a "historical monument
" in 1923 and large-scale restoration work was undertaken.
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
, La Mothe-en-Bassigny was meant to repel French
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...
invaders. It was destroyed in 1645 and is now a ruin.
It is situated near Neufchâteau, between the villages of Outremécourt
Outremécourt
Outremécourt is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Haute-Marne department...
and Soulaucourt-sur-Mouzon
Soulaucourt-sur-Mouzon
Soulaucourt-sur-Mouzon is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Haute-Marne department...
(Haute-Marne
Haute-Marne
Haute-Marne is a department in the northeast of France named after the Marne River.-History:Haute-Marne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
).
History
The citadel was founded in 1258, and soon became an important centre for commerce, counting as many as 2000 inhabitants.In the 17th century, the Duke of Lorraine Charles IV
Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine
Charles IV was Duke of Lorraine from 1624 to 1634, when he abdicated under French pressure in favor of his younger brother, and again from 1661 until 1675.- Biography :...
lost all his possessions to cardinal Richelieu except La Mothe.
In 1634 the citadel withstood a siege of 141 days before surrendering on 26 July.
Given back to the Duke in 1641, La Mothe was besieged again between 25 July and 30 August 1642. And a third time between December 1642 and May 1643.
Mazarin started another siege on 4 December 1644 and now the exhausted city was forced to surrender on 1 July 1645, after a resistance of 205 days.
Contrary to the agreement, Mazarin destroyed not only the fortifications, but also the entire city.
This period was always a painful memory in Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
. The French authorities were aware of this since, when 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...
was divided into departments, the border of Haute-Marne
Haute-Marne
Haute-Marne is a department in the northeast of France named after the Marne River.-History:Haute-Marne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
made a strange loop to include "La Mothe". This removed a potentially dangerous symbol from the territory of Lorraine.
The ruins were classified as a "historical monument
Monument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
" in 1923 and large-scale restoration work was undertaken.
Links
- http://alain.j.schneider.free.fr/La_Mothe/La%20Mothe.htm (Francis Montignon)
- http://perso.orange.fr/michel.paris/sitelamothe/
- http://www.anazarian.net/
- Forum about La Mothe en Bassigny : http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/La_Mothe