Mairé-Levescault
Encyclopedia
Mairé-Levescaultt is a commune
in the Deux-Sèvres
department in western France
.
(Junien), the patron saint
of Poitou
ploughmen. He was born in the year AD 500 or AD 501 in the area of "Briosso" (now called Briançais) on an estate named "Champagné" which still exists close to the village of Mairé
in the commune of Perigné
, Deux-Sèvres, and was educated by his parents who were Gallo-Roman nobility.
Although his name is undoubtedly of Pagan
origin, coming from the Roman gods Juno
/Jupiter, he was dedicated to the service of God from his earliest childhood and was instructed in all the sacred
and human sciences which were taught at that time.
Nothing else is known about his early life but we re-encounter Junien as a young man living as a hermit in a place called Bois Trappeau in the commune of Ardilleux
in Deux-Sèvres.
In 559, King Clotaire I
made him a gift of land on which to found a monastery
dedicated to the rule of Saint Benoît. This isolated place evoked memories of his childhood home and Junien named it "Mariacus" - subsequently "Mairé". The "L'Evescault" was added after a great religious festival in Poitiers
to which Junien was invited by Queen Radagonde who raised him to the same rank as the other bishop
s or "Les Evêques" who were present. Hence the name Mairé-L'Evescault.
The monastery
was partially destroyed during the wars of Pepin the Short and Charlemagne
and was finally demolished during the French Revolution
, the stone being re-used for local construction and the lands reverting to their farming origins.
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 Deux-Sèvres
Deux-Sèvres
Deux-Sèvres is a French département. Deux-Sèvres literally means "two Sèvres": the Sèvre Nantaise and the Sèvre Niortaise are two rivers which have their sources in the department.-History:...
department in western 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...
.
History
The history and derivation of the name of Mairé-L'Evescault are closely linked to that of Saint JunianJunian of Mairé
Saint Junian was a 6th century Christian hermit and abbot. He was the founder of Mairé, or Mariacum, Abbey in Poitou, France. He was born at the beginning of the 6th century, at Brioux near Champagné-le-Sec....
(Junien), the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Poitou
Poitou
Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers.The region of Poitou was called Thifalia in the sixth century....
ploughmen. He was born in the year AD 500 or AD 501 in the area of "Briosso" (now called Briançais) on an estate named "Champagné" which still exists close to the village of Mairé
Mairé
Mairé is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France.-Demographics:-References:*...
in the commune of Perigné
Périgné
Périgné is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in western France.-References:*...
, Deux-Sèvres, and was educated by his parents who were Gallo-Roman nobility.
Although his name is undoubtedly of Pagan
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
origin, coming from the Roman gods Juno
Hera
Hera was the wife and one of three sisters of Zeus in the Olympian pantheon of Greek mythology and religion. Her chief function was as the goddess of women and marriage. Her counterpart in the religion of ancient Rome was Juno. The cow and the peacock were sacred to her...
/Jupiter, he was dedicated to the service of God from his earliest childhood and was instructed in all the sacred
Sacred
Holiness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy or sacred...
and human sciences which were taught at that time.
Nothing else is known about his early life but we re-encounter Junien as a young man living as a hermit in a place called Bois Trappeau in the commune of Ardilleux
Ardilleux
Ardilleux is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France.-References:*...
in Deux-Sèvres.
In 559, King Clotaire I
Clotaire I
Chlothar I , called the Old , King of the Franks, was one of the four sons of Clovis. He was born circa 497, in Soissons .-Life:...
made him a gift of land on which to found a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
dedicated to the rule of Saint Benoît. This isolated place evoked memories of his childhood home and Junien named it "Mariacus" - subsequently "Mairé". The "L'Evescault" was added after a great religious festival in Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
to which Junien was invited by Queen Radagonde who raised him to the same rank as the other bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s or "Les Evêques" who were present. Hence the name Mairé-L'Evescault.
The monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
was partially destroyed during the wars of Pepin the Short and Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
and was finally demolished during the 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...
, the stone being re-used for local construction and the lands reverting to their farming origins.