HISTORY AND ROOTS
RETURN
FOR a few
years, many townsmen have come to settle in Belgentier.
This passion is surely due to the quality of vieet to the
quietude of this typical village. But these
Belgentiérois
of adoption, as well as Belgentiérois of stock
know-ilsvraiment the history of their village.
Thus let us make a return in the past to the search of
but-gines and the development of our village during
centuries.
WEAPONS: Mouths with a busy money weasel.
TOPONYM: Belgentier, Belgentiérois, Belcenceig,
Belgenciagus, 1066 Beljecer, 1113 Beaugency, From
Beautiful and People one draws Beau Gentleman.
Name of a man probably Gallic Belgentius.
Aprés the expulsion of Buckwheats of the area of Freinet
in 973, the Viscounts of Marseilles receive counts of
Provence, sounds doubts in reward of the rendered
services, an immense field dony Belgentier forms part.
But this family fills donations the Abbey of Saint-Victor
who illustrates their city.
In 1044, one as of their, Fouque offer to half of
Belgentier, in 1088, another Pierre brings second half.
The existence of this village is during centuries very
peaceful. Two happy events and in addition to sad fort
are only to announce. December 1, 1580, nait
Nicolas-Claude Fabri and Peiresc which will become the
patron of its time, the Attorney General of literature
According to Bayle, very rich indeed he is the friend and
the protecteurde his pars the best scholars of France. It
is interested àtout: the History of Provence, the
genealogy of the noble families, the monuments and
ancient inscriptions, the fossils, geology, the phenomena
volcanic and constitute very significant collections of
medals, objets d'art manuscripts, stones, of
insectes.Lorsqu' it dies, in 1637, lemonde well-read man
of all Europe takes mourning and the reconnaissancedes
erudite is expressed into forty long différentes.On says
that it is him which plants
the first onion of tubéreuseet which imports the medlar
tree in 1632. The king Louis XIV, going in pilgrimage to
Our Dome of-Grace to Cotignac, sleeps in Belgentier on
February 29, 1660
September 8, 1651, a sudden rising of Gapeau removes and
embeds 21 men, 8 women and 15 children. Belgentier counts
approximately 220 inhabitants at the beginning of XlV°
century, 65 in 1471, 942 in 1765 and 1116 en1851.
Of long date, the manufacture of paper is flourishing. An
investigation of 1728 announces the existence of five
mills to paper (beside a mill with oil) and a mill of
flour. At this time, Belgentier is estimated at range of
the flow of its food products, being distant only three
hours of Hyères and de.Toulon.
The Fouchet prefect, in 1805, stresses the importance of
this commune. Oil, the corn and the wine are the
principal productions of its montueux territory.
Tanneries, potteries, paper mills, factories of soap and
cloths occupy these industrieux inhabitants.
In 1892, function two establishments producing of paper
(32 workmen and workers of which 8enfants) one working
leather, 18 people and 2 flour-millings 8 workmen.
A little avant1914, one still notes the presence of a
significant tannery, of two paper mills (employing 26
people and producing 300 kilos per day) stone carriéres
of size. Church
Saint-Benoit and Saint-Barthelemy, built with the XVII.
century, Castle of XVl. century.
Belgentier currently counts 1365 inhabitants.
Friday July
30, 1993
|
If The Chatreuse Were To
Me Contee
RETURN
The village of Belgentier and the chartreuse one of
Montrieux wove insoluble links, result of several
centuries of common history. Belgentiémis have an
emotional feeling for the chartreuse one which made for
the development of the community through the ages. We
will discover gifts a séried' articles, their past.
TOWARDS the end of Xe century, Guillaume de
Provencedécide to finish some with the sarrasine
presence in Provence.
Buckwheats are final lies overcome into 973, at the time
of laprise of their tiny room strengthened dit fraxinet,
in the voisinagede the current village of the
Guard-Freinet.
In reward for its services, the Viscount of Provence,
Guillaume, wire of Arlulfe or Ar
nulfe, receives an immense field of which the area of
Solliès etplus particularly Belgentier.
His/her Fouque son makes gift, in 1044, of half of
Baumette (old name of Belgentier) and
territory of Montrieux, with theSaint-Victor abbey of
Marseilles.
It is with little meadows at the same time that the
command of the Benedictines melts a religious house
to the place to montrieux old man says, on the ground of
Pierre de Saumade, nephew of the Viscount of Marseilles,
Fouque.
The Raymond1 bishops, of Marseilles and Guillaume II, of
Toulon, which were the guards spiritual and feudal of the
house of Montrieux, located at the border of their
respective diocese, solved, in 1117, to make refleurir
the come monastic ones on this corner from Provence,
deremplacer Benedictines by the Carthusian monks.
The convent of the Carthusian monks of Montrieux was the
first which these monks established in Provence.Les
Carthusian monk were of excellent glass-makers and it is
them which imported this know-how in Provence.
En1285, they received del' bishop of Marseilles the
authorization to manufacture glass in the forest of
orvès. The field of the glassmaking, located between
Méounes and Belgentier, is undoubtedly the place where
rose the glass factory.
Thus, thanks to the Carthusian monks, the inhabitants of
Signs, Méounes and Belgentier were useful early of muds
out of glass whereas everywhere else one met only the use
of a coarse pottery, not very different from that from
times néolithiques.Les Carthusian monk brought much to
Belgentiérois.Nous will discover it in unprochain
article.
L.f.
December 7,
1993
|
A Page Of History
RETURN
Between 1597 and 1614, wars of religion and debts
Community ruin the soil
before peace.
The wars
of religion of the second part of XVle century ruined the
country, Solliés besieged and taken with
various recoveries and whose soil was often devastated,
did not escape from this desolation. A deliberator of the
community on May 18, 1597, testifies in his brevity to
this mine: Misery is extreme in the country. The majority
of the poor, weaken and several die. Misery in a country
of which have
the fertility in this area knows of which nousavons known
as the richness " II was necessary that these wars
made evil well so that Solliès arrived from there there!
In 1598, the inhabitants of Pont(Solliès-Pont) repaired
them
vault of Saint-Victor but the prior did not want that the
sacraments there are managed and the people alone who
could not go up to the haute(Solliès-Ville) city could
hear there the single mass which was célébrée.En 1600
there, the consulting municipalaloue 5.000 books for the
repair of the church. The prior enga-
Ge to rebuild the parish church by giving the third of
its annual incomes. It appears, by several délibé-
rations of the consulting, that at that time the church
was in very bad condition. Vingt-sept ecus for price made
of rabillement of the parish church were paid to Honore
Aurange, mason. In this same year, det-
your of the community were of one hundred thousand ecus.
A stop of the Parliament had ordered with the COM-
munautés to release itself within a four years deadline.
One was obliged to resort to the average extreme to
distribute the debts knew the private individuals in
proportion of their goods. Each district owed
payer5.000Uécus, one had to seize the pieces of
furniture, the fruits and to make sell the houses of
much. Never common was réduiteà such an end and however
the lord still claimed right-of-way and of arrérage.La
impotent community to support a lawsuit addressed it to
Mrs. Jeanne Wines, woman dePalaméde of Forbin and thanks
to its benevolent intervention a transaction was signed
on December 17 l600. Peace lasted a few years. The
country had entiérement been submitted to Henri IV and
Provence seemed to live again. Louis de CrilIon, the
comrade in arms of Henri IV, was named gourvernor of
Toulon in 1601; he came only one time and was replaced by
the son of Palamède He, Gaspard of Forbin-Saint-Cannat,
February 24, 1614. The community gave from the command in
its business and created for itself good relations by
gifts. In 1607, mention of an expenditure of ten ecus for
purchase and transport of a wild boar offered to Forbin
Saint-Cannat. In 1607, expenditure of six books for gift
of a hind to the prior of Pignans (brother of the
seigneur), " at the time of its premieremess >.
In 1614, present of a wild boar and capons for a total of
46 pounds to the lord, the marriage of his daughter
L.f.
October 28, 1992
|
| If Sollies Were To Me
Tale from 1619 to 1640,
lawsuit
between villages and devastations of the plague
RETURN
IN 1619, the lawsuits
started again, the borough of the " Bridge >
(Solliès-Bridge), asked for a bank of butchery
and the erection of their vault in parish. It is the
plain which gained the lawsuit, but the
haute(Solliés-Ville) city did not forgive the lord to
have supported the inhabitants of the Bridge.
One needed ten year old meadows to calm the inhabitants
of Solliés-City (one started to call thus the City
Haute.)Auguste de Forbin, bishop of Toulon and brother of
the lord, spent a few days to Solliés
and peace negotiated. The notable ones, May 11, 1628,
agree to go to the lord to present their homma-
ges with the bishop, and to bring present. The consuls
will carry to him one present " up to the value of
40 books.
In 1622, the consulting asks that the prior contribute
for 1500 pounds for the repurchase of the bells. Mr.
Gaspard de Forbin. successor with the priory of Pierre
Teissier, refuses to employ the third of his incomes with
repaired
tions of the church but the Parliament condemns to it.
April 1, 1631, the will of Gaspart de Forbin is received
by Mr. Dudier, notary in Toulon. It recommends to his son
to resist the encroachments of the inhabitants whose
constant object is to decrease the importance of the
seigniory of Solliés and at the same time it advises to
him
to treat with benevolence. Gaspard gave the example and
approached its vassal.
When it mourrut, in 1633, all the community attends its
funeral. By recognition for this
demonstration, by respect with the consultings of his
father. Bernard de Forbin lived as well as possible with
the community and rendered even services to him. An
infinite liking was known to him and of this day the
gifts and the compliments replaced the lawsuits. The
reason for these gifts is indicated: it is the exemption
of housing of the troops. They acted as in a conquered
country. Bernard de Forbin was very influential, it sowed
himself its
vast relations to make good with the country, therefore
its death was a general mourning, its funeral were
celebrated in grandespompes.
THE PLAGUE A TERRIBLE FLEAU
One had however taken precautions, the gates were closed,
one assembled the guard to the high city (Solliés-City)
and with the borough of the Bridge (Solliés-Bridge) and
in July 1640, the borough being invaded by the plague,
the inhabitants of the high city are authorized to make
grind corn with the mill of Mauniers.
But the plague invades them nevertheless. To avoid the
famine, the consulting regulates the distribution of the
bread; the poor accepted white bread with credit and salt
free. The plague lasted more troismois, the majority of
the inhabitants from went away to the wood of Morriéres.
In September, lefléau had disappeared, the expenditure
were considerable, fresh of doctor, drugs, food of the
poor, allowance with
inhabitants, wages of fossoyeursappelés the corbels.
L.f.
January 31,
1994
|
| On The Paths Of The
History
RETURN
December 1, 1580 takes place the birth of Nicolas-Claude
Fabri de Peimsc with Belgentier, in the country house
where its family took refuge to flee the plague which
prevails has Aix
He is the elder son of Reynaud Fabri, lord of Callas, and
Marguerite Bompar. Its family is of Pisane origin but
fixed in Provence since many generations. Peiresc is one
of largest
patrons of his time, one can describe it as humanistic
scientist.
Indeed, it is interested in archaeology, it is a
naturalist, a numismatist and it preserves Trés
significant collection of medals, objets d'art,
manuscripts, stones and insects-II dies out on 24 June
1637, regretted larger of its time.
September 8, 1651 is a disastrous date for the village of
Belgerttier. Indeed, this 8 September, an abrupt flood
devastates all the valley of Gapeau. The files do not
mention what caused this disaster but one thinks of a
cloudburst which fell down suddenly on the région.Le
assessment is eloquent, the parochial registers
belgentiérois mention that 44 people (21 men, including
3 soldiers of the duke of Vendôme, 8 women and 15
children) were embedded.
In l660, the king Louis XIV came to spend one night to
Belgentier. He had initially traversed plusieursrégion
of the South, passed by Aix, visited Sainte-Beaume and
séjouma twelve days with Toulon.Il was accompanied by
mid-
queen-mére, of her brother the duke of Anjou,
Madernoiselle, elder girl of Gaston of Orleans, Mazarin
and the famous musketeers ordered by not less famous
Comminges and D' Artagnan.
The king and his continuation left Toulon and spent the
night from February 19 to Belgentier. The following day,
the king attended the mass, it put at the offering 5
louis of gold being worth 55 pounds, then the troop from
went away in Cotignac in
seen to achieve the pilgrimage that the mother of the
young monarch had promised to make in Notre~Dame Graces.
-
In a forthcoming article, we will see how Belgentiérois
were saved soldiers of the duke of Savoy by the monks of
chartreuse of Montrieux.
L F,
October 30,
1993
|
A 1.000 YEAR OLD PIERRE
RETURN
IN 1937, of the villagers belgentierois made quite
curious discovered, in a stable belonging to
Mr. Deaf Désiré. Indeed, they discovered a stone of
imposing size which seemed corroded
by the years
This stone had been worked but one questioned oneself
with a which aim. The inhabitants found to him
a use, since it was used as a basis for the
reconstitution of the cave of Doors which was consa-
create with Our Lady of the assumption.
Nowadays the old stable yielded the place to a chocolate
factory specialized in the choco-
lats fine, but what the year knows less it is that this
building was the first vault of Belgen-
tier rested by theSaint-Victor abbey of Marseilles
towards Xe century.
The old stone found in the old vault is surely the stone
of furnace bridge of this time,
as well as the fruit of the chance this vestige of last
found its place in the current church.
LF.
November
16, 1993 |
Tell Me The Church
Built
in 1616, our-lady of the Assumption is registered with
the additional inventory of the historic buildings.
RETURN The CHURCH of Belgentier names
Our-Lady of the Assumption. It was built in 1616, the
spur engraved in the stone on the pediment commemorates
the day of sound inauguration.(Nous counted the his to
you.
toric in a preceding article.
Our-lady of the Assumption is registered with the
additional inventory of the historic buildings
It is composed of a central nave with five spans marked
by beams and of two arched sides of edges. The chorus,
with cut sides, is overcome by a remarkable typical
cupola of the rebirth
Italian tile scales. The square bell-tower is capped with
a wrought iron bell-tower of XVl11° Siécle.
The church of Belgentier shelters a movable rich person
coming from Chartreuse de Montrieux. Here
facts: In 1792, the revolution issued the abolition of
all the monastic orders. There was then with
Montrieux 13 fathers and 7frères which had to disperse.
During the days of terror, Dom Bonaventure Wheat, vicar
of the community, was stopped in Nimes by the terrorists
in the achievement of its functions religious, and
guillotiné the following day of Easter 1794. Dom Xavier
Genot, prior, still could
to exert its religious ministry, apart from the convent,
while disguising themselves as a shepherd.
The goods of Chartreuse were put on sale in 1792. After
the dispersion of the monks, the population of the
surroundings was devoted to a true plundering of the
convent and drills neighbors. Some
numbers objet d'art and worship was dispersed >.
One gave to the church of Belgentier: two tables of the
church of the convent, which were placed in the chorus of
the brothers, knowledge: Saint Bruno represented with
knee, arms in cross as in extase, having with its feet
the mitre and the stick and Sainte.Roseline, with knee,
the cuculle filled of pinks and surrounded by several
year-
ges. The church of Belgentier recovered also a pulpit to
be preached, and seven stalls of the choeur.La pulpit was
placed, believes one, in the refectory of the fathers,
for the use of the reader; it is the work of Reboul,
artist me
nuisier of Marseilles to Xvllle century >.
A large crucifix, which was also placed in the refectory
of the fathers is also with our-lady.
November
29, 1993
|
TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS
RETURN
IN FRONT OF the agricultural cooperative belgentiéroise
is a grandecroix iron and cast iron more
commonly called sainte-croix. This religious monument
contains its history. Indeed, at the time of
its construction, a parchment reporting its installation
was rolled in a metal tube and
locked up in the masonry of the piedestal.
Here the plaintext of this message carried out by the
consulting of factory of parish.
The year of grace mill et huit-cent cinquante-huit,
November fourteen, day of the dedication of all the
churches, Pie IX, pope glorieusement reigning.
Inhabitants of the parish of Belgentier wanting to
perpetuate
of the medium of them the memory of the mission preached
by the R.r.p.p. Teissier, Chalvet and Rocipon,
missionnaires of the company of Marie, required
unanimously erection die this cross in the district known
as of Sainte-Croix.
Already, after the mission of 1821, preached by the
Dublieu abbot, missionnaire of Provence, had been set up,
with the same place and on same the piedestal, a cross
drink some with Christ with the church, where it
decorates the furnace bridge known as of Sainte-Croix.
The occasion of the mission of 1858 was too beautiful not
to benefit from it to replace the old cross by a news,
more solid and more durable. A subscription thus was
opened and collected for residence by the care of MISTERS
Graille, priest, Julien, president of the Factory,
Monnier, associated, and of the R-r., P.P.Teissier and
Chalvet missionnaires.. Everywhere they found accomodates
it more benevolent, like also the most generous
eagerness.
November 14 185B, festival of the dedication of all the
churches, day of the Mission closure, in the medium of
the songs of joy, the merry airs of the instrumental
music and a considerable number from run abroad of the
Environnantes parishes, this cross carried triumphs over
it by the men over
parish was solemnly set up and greeted three times with a
unanimous enthusiasm by
cries of: <Jesus Lives! Live its cross...!>
In witness whereof, and, to perpetuate the memory of it
signed: Antoine-Joseph-Henry Jordany, bishop of the
diocese of Frejus and Toulon; Graille
Jean-Baptiste-Joseph, priest of the parish of Belgentier
Arnaud, mayor of Belgentier; Monnier, assistant of the
mayor Julien, president of the fabric committee;
Barbaroux, tré-
sorier; Sumien, Barthélemy, Fautrier, Fabriciens. For
copy certified: J.-b. Graille, priest.
(l) II acted of a consulting charged to manage the parish
in order to leave to the priest the seu-
spiritual occupations.
Monday
November 8, 1993
|
| If Sollies Were To Me
Conte.(continuation)
RETURN
IN février1385, the inhabitants of Solliés profitérent
disorders which followed the death of the Jeanne queen
to increase their frankness and freedoms. The Marie
queen, mother and tutor of Louis It, not only
the villagers do not punish who refused to pay the taxes,
but it granted LP to them, right of àlire
freely and (released and unpunished) two syndics and two
advisers under the condition impuriàtnent of
to be assembled in presence and with the authorization of
the royal Baillif. It granted to them moreover one
annual fair and a weekly market and defended with the
officers of the viguery of Hyéres to upset the
inhabitants of Solliés under pretext of repairs to the
paths.
The Marie queen sold all her rights on Solliés on March
27, 1394 to Jean Gonsalve de Morance, governor military
of Toulon, at the price of six thousand guilders.
Gonsalve de Morance was made represent by a baillif.
The knights had a representative and the viguery of
Hyéres could send officers.
The inhabitants do not obérient with anybody, tired
Gonsalve deprives themselves of the three quarters of the
seigniory in favour of the tale of Provence.
The borough was joined together with the royal field, it
was a great happiness for the population to be
sub-contracts with vexations of the officers of the lord.
This happiness was of short duration, the king yielded
the field, àLouis of Beauvau, wire of the large seneshal
of Provence. It is consternation, one sends deputies in
Aix, but them
judges undergo pressures. Louis de Beauvau, become
grands(néchal of Provence, obliges lesvillageois with
obéri but after him, Jean de Beauvau, his brother, tired
of their resistance, venditses right on Solliés with
Palaméde de Forbin, chair Court of Auditors in Aix
Palaméde Forbin, said the large one, acquires the
seigniory of Solliés like various goods belonging to
Jean de Beauvau for the sum of thirteen thousand
guilders. Palaméde Forbin makes its input in its castrum
of Solliés, April 20 1469.Après the death of king Rene
on July 10, 1480 and that of its Charles nephew of
Avignon, December 11, 1487, the three states, réu-
nis in Aix, states to confirm, ratify and approve the
union of the counties of Provence and Forcalqueiret to
the crown of France. Palaméde, which had negotiated this
meeting, was named governor of Provence by
Louis Xl then disgraced in 1483. Palaméde Forbin died in
1508 at the 78 years age (Mr. Octo-
ve Tessier makes succeed François Palaméde, the family
tree preserved at the house curiale puts between the two
Louis Forbin deceased at Lyon in 1521);dans its will,
this one required of his wife and of her son to make
carry body in Solliés, to be buried there in the
principal church. François Forbin, wire of Palamède,
succeed to him. François Forbin had many lawsuits with
the commu-
nauté: opposition of the lord to the construction of a
path to àpartir of the towards the small valley of ,
construction of mills with oil, payment of the sizes.
The consuls of Solliés offer 11.500 provincial guilders
to him, that is to say 3.000 ecus of gold ground, in
exchange of the grounds gastes and the mills. François
Forbin died in his 73° year, in 1572, in the house
seigneurale of the borough of the Bridge
(Solliés-Bridge).
In 1536, Charles Quint invades Provence, already in 1524,
the connétoble of Bourbon to the service of Spain, had
devastated the VAr and had plundered many localities of
which Solliés. At the time of this second invasion,
Solliés resisted héroiquement but was overcome by the
number of the enemy soldiers.
The second event is happier since it acts of
passage to Solliés de Catherine de Médicis then regent
and of his son Charles IX. LF.
September
19, 1993
|
| The Mystery Of The Spur
RETURN
The current church of Belgentiei was built in 1616. The
faithful ones of the time were very
piles, and at the time of his inauguration nobody wanted
to put the feet the first inside the church.
The problem which seemed insoluble was solved by a
gentleman, who penetrated with interior horse àl' of the
church, without pressing the ground of its feet. Thus the
reassured villagers followed it to celebrate the first
mass of their new team.
To commemorate this event, a spur was engraved on a
stone; nowadays, let us nouspouvons to admire this work
above the gate of input of the church and whose
significance in intrigued more one.
Here is now the mystery
solved.
L.f.
November 7, 1993
|