Baronnie of Castle-Gontier
Baronnie of Castle-Gontier
The baronnie of Castle-Gontier offers this historically interesting characteristic that its northern limit was like undecided between the Maine and the Anjou. The civil authority and feudal of the count d' Anjou had encroached by right of conquest on the territory manceau, before the 11th century, but at one time when the parishes were already made up. Also the bishop of Mans it had maintained its jurisdiction on the extent of its diocese. It is as well, at least, as the Abbé Angot believes duty to include/understand and explain this abnormal phenomenon.
Territory
This mixed territory, angevin with the civilian, manceau from the religious point of view, included/understood: the spring of Thimble, Cosmes, Saint-Gault, Quelaines, Origné, Villiers, Filleted, Wheat-producing, Houssay, Saint-Sulpice, Froidfond, Longuefuye, Genoa, Saint-Aignan-of-Genoa, without counting rights on Entrammes and Bouère in the baronnie of Laval. In addition to these mixed parishes, the baronnie included/understood: Azé, Lord of the manor, Coudray, Bierné, Nickle silver, Daon, Saint-Michel-of-Pretend, Saint-Laurent-of-Mortars, on left bank of the Mayenne, and, on Right Bank: in addition to those already indicated, parishes of Marigné-Peuton, Loigné, Laigné, Bazouges, Saint-Extremely, Ampoigné, Chemazé; and within the current limits of Maine-et-Loire: Hotel trade-with-Flée, Saint-Saver, Brissarthe, Singer, Aviré, Saint-Martin-of-Wood, Querré, Jaille-Yvon, and perhaps Segré where the lords of Castle-Gontier right from the start had rights feudal and to the 13th century, also belonged to the baronnie.The lords of Castle-Gontier did not reserve themselves in the territory which was pledged for them châtellenies where they could raise fortresses which were their field and were used to them as defense for the remainder of their baronnie, as the lords of Laval and Mayenne did it. They were satisfied with the useful possession of the forests of Valle and Flée, part of the Forêt of Bouère, and royalties on the pledged strongholds by them.
The site where the chief town was built, in the center of the conceded territory, had two religious establishments before: a monastery with Azé announced as of the 6th century by Gregoire de Tours, and the Curtis Basilica mentioned at the 10th century, which seem to indicate on this point of the course of Mayenne a attended passage. A way of Castle-Gontier with Lord of the manor is mentioned very in the past. Saint-Denis-in Anjou was affected for a long time with the cathedral of Angers. The priory of Saint-Jean-Baptist of Castle-Gontier had been allotted to Saint-Aubin of Angers by Foulque Nerra, and that of Ménil to the Abbaye of Vendôme by Geoffroy Martel. No abbey was based within the limits of the baronnie, but the barons were interested in the foundations of Roë and Bellebranche.
Family
See also: Family of Castle-Gontier