Chièvres

Chièvres (in Walloon Chieve ) is a French-speaking city of Belgium located in Walloon region in the Province of Hainaut.

Toponymy

The name “Chièvres” is derived from Latin Cervia , i.e. Parc with the stags , or even rather with the hinds. This C-W communication appears towards 869-75.

One finds

later - Scirvia (1093 - 1110);

- Cirvia (1127);

- Cirve (1194, in the charter-law);

- Chilvia (1200) - Chirvia (1210).

“Chievres” is modern. The form appeared in the last quarter of the 16th century, and spread at the 17th century.

Situation

Chièvres is located close to the main road of Ath in Mons; to 7 km of Ath and 20 km of Mons.

Almost plain ground; clay soil. Altitude of 52.2 m to the threshold of the church. Culminating point: 80 m with the hamlet of Vaudignies.

Cours d' water: in north, the Dendre, affluent of the Scheldt; Hunelle and the channel of Ath with Blaton.

History

The site of Chièvres was certainly occupied by the Romans (in particular with the hamlet of Neufville, around the meanness). Indices enable us to think that he was inhabited at the time mérovingienne.

Chièvres is quoted for the first time in Translatio and Miracula S. Marcellini and $petri, of Éginhard (830). The mention " there is found; of Cervo" villa;.

Under Charles the Bald person (869-875), Chièvres enjoyed the right of coinage in the name of the king. One knows at least a coin of a sum of money where one can read the inscription " + CERVIA MONETA" ( moneta was the term used to indicate a city striking currency).

Until the end of the 12th century, Chièvres is a vast domain, property of an important chalk-lining known since at least 936 (Egbert de Chièvres).

The first members of this noble family, probably related to the counts de Hainaut, are badly known.

The last heiress of the family, which is also most known is Eve de Chièvres.

Then, the families De Gavre and De Rumigny présidérent with the destinies of the town of Chièvres. Nicolas de Rumigny, second wire of Hugues de Fagnolles, was lord of Chièvres partly; he was one of the chiefs of the party of the Rounds. He died without posterity, leaving to his ground of Chièvres to his nephew Nicolas the Stammerer. This one sold it to his/her cousin Jean d' Avesnes, count de Hainaut on December 7th, 1289.

Equipped with a " charter-loi" (1194) which grants a privileged legal status to him, Chièvres is from now on a “frank city” of the county of Hainaut. The size of 92 pounds, which was perceived with the Saint-Remy cheese (ler October), remained a long time, at least until the 18th century.

Chièvres will evolve to the urban stage. A market is attested since 1336. A fair with the horses is established in 1363. Between 1366 and 1388, the city receives its first urban enclosure and is defended by a company of principal rafters. New drapery (1389) brings prosperity.

In 1406, Chièvres becomes one of the “good cities” of Hainaut.

It is at this time that the calamities fall down on the city: the plague of 1414, three fires (1439,1459 and 1476). Two thirds of the houses are destroyed, drapery disappears, poverty made its appearance. Chièvres turns over gradually at the rural stage, more especially as Ath polarizes all the economic activity of the time.

In 1440, Antoine de Croy, first chamberlain of the Duc of Burgundy had bought with the Duc of Orleans a half of the town of Chièvres and, in 1473, other half was given to him by the duke of Burgundy. Thus Chièvres entered the house of Croÿ.

The ground of Chièvres passed in the house of Egmont by the marriage, in 1659, of Marie Fernande de Croy, Holy-Waudru chanoiness of , in Mons, with Philippe Lamoral, count d' Egmont, which died in 1682.

Ensuitte this seigniory belonged to the family De Pignatelli, whose member Nicolas Pignatelli had married Marie-Claire Angélique of Egmont.

The many wars of the XVIIe century, with the fires, the requisitions, the contributions of war, the housing of the soldiers, complete to ruin the locality. Its population passes from 1304 inhabitants in 1636 to 858 since 1660. Vauban planned to strengthen it but the project will be never carried out.

In 1789 (French revolution), the seigniory of Chièvres ceased existing and the goods were sold to various private individuals.

The end of the 18th century brings a certain stability. In 1798, the population is of 2 115 inhabitants for a surface of 2 160 ha.

Chièvres is dedicated to agriculture and the breeding and does not carry any more a city but the name, in “consideration of its last fortune” (stopped royal of 1825).

Today, still, small shopping mall, in spite of the presence of the military base of NATO, the economic activity is reduced and points out only slightly the last glory of the city.

Curiosities and museums

the church Saint Martin's day
ramparts and the tower of Gavre
the vault Saint-Jean-Baptist
the Notre-Dame vault of the Fountain
the meanness
the international museum of the air base of Chièvres
the farm of Calbreucq
To Huissignies : the museum of the rural life
With Grosage : the small museum of the bread
To Huissignies : the castle Faintness

Traditions

the crossage with the ton of the Ash Wednesday
the procession of the pilgrim
the ducasse with the berdouille of Huissignies

Personalities

Eve de Chièvres
Gerard the Round
Emilie Dequenne (1981-) Actress, actress. She lived in Vaudignies in the entity of Chièvres

Vaudignies

Vaudignies (in the past: Waudignies, 1290), vulgarly Augenies are a hamlet of Chièvres located on the road active at Saint-Ghislain. Its name could come from: dwelling of Waude or Waudin or also of Waldiniacum , remains of Waldin or Waldiniacas , dwelling of the franc Waldo , just as Waudignies, France, department of North. J.Dewert gives to this word the direction of house of wood . If Vaudignies were already a hamlet of Chièvres before the fusion of the communes, the village became a parish with whole share in 1871.La Saint-Philippe parish was served by the monks about the Prémontrés until 1931.

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