Chaligny

Chaligny is a common is France, in the Département of Meurthe-et-Moselle, its inhabitants are Chalinéens.

Of a surface of 1.330 ha, including 100 ha in the forest of the Hague, Chaligny is located on a southern full exposed headland, between the Moselle and Madon, at an altitude of 290 meters. It is to 14 km of Nancy and 19 km of Toul.

Economy

The saving in Chaligny is related to what will be, during many centuries, its main activity: culture of the vine, brought to the 3rd century by the Romans. At the end of the 19th century, several consecutive years of bad harvests, then the arrival of will phylloxera little by little convinced Chalinéens to be reconverted into the industry which was then in full rise in the area (factory of New-Houses and spinning mills) and ensured an income fixed and independent of the climatic conditions. Industrialization explodes the population of Chaligny and a third district is created: cities.

The iron ore present on the territory of Chaligny is exploited by with blows during the centuries. Considered at the 12th century, its exploitation is taken again in 1364 per Marie of Luxembourg which is in a disastrous financial position with died of her husband Henri V, count de Vaudémont. It exploits the iron ore then and creates forging mills which will disappear at the beginning of the 16th century. The mines are worked at the 19th and XXe centuries, then definitively closed again in 1965.

Demography

The demography of Chaligny varied according to its economy, but also wars which devastated its territory during centuries. Important agglomeration for the beginning of the 17th century (approximately 700 inhabitants), the most fatal war of all times, that Thirty Years, makes fall its population with 45 inhabitants. It is necessary more than one century so that Chaligny finds the same level of demography. Then, its population grows slowly and decrease a little during the 1870,1914 (90 dead which had been born in Chaligny) and 1945 old wars. In 2005, the population borders the 3.000 inhabitants and should grow with the recent district of the Fund of the Valley (created in 2004) and the creation projects of new allotments.

History

The existence of Chaligny is attested towards 964 where it is known under the name of Chelineium. Its name varies during the centuries to arrive at its final form of Chaligny. A document of 1284 announces that the village is already divided in two parts: the " Mont" and " Val".

At the 12th century, Chaligny is a seigniory depending on the bishop on Metz and data in stronghold with the counts de Vaudémont. In 1345, the suzerainty of the bishop of Metz is transferred to identical to the duke from Lorraine. November 21st, 1562, the seigniory of Chaligny which belongs then to Nicolas de Vaudémont, duke of Mercoeur, is set up in county by the duke of Lorraine. The descent of the counts de Chaligny continues with the women who leave Lorraine. The county is then sold to François de Vaudémont who will become duke of Lorraine in 1624. As from this moment, the fate of Chaligny is that of the duchy of Lorraine.

The castle-fortress of Chaligny is destroyed in 1467 by Rene II of Lorraine, in conflict with Thiébaut III, lord of Chaligny and count de Vaudémont. It will never be rebuilt, but the inhabitants used the stones and certain walls of the castle to build new dwellings. The underground of the castle was filled, and nobody knows any more his site.

The construction of the current church was carried out between 1513 and 1530, on the site of the old church destroyed at the same time as the castle. Former building remain the tower of the bell-tower and the large flattened gate (the stoup of this gate is inaccessible today). The church has a superb stained glass of 1520, as well as a statue of Holy Beard, owner of the minors, dating from the 16th century and superb stone Pieta from the same time. The other statues out of stone or painted and gilded wooden date from the 18th century. The banns of the nave are oldest and date from the 16th century with the names engraved in the name of the first " locataires". The first seven lines are reserved to the men, and the others with the women starting from the 8th line of right-hand side which carries the inscription " round of applause of the femmes".

The church and the houses grouped around the church were registered, by decree of October 29th, 1926, with the inventory of the Historic buildings.

External bonds

Site of the town hall
Chaligny, its history and that of its inhabitants through the centuries, and genealogies of some families
Page of Marco, an inhabitant of Chaligny

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