Esparron (VAr)

Geography

History

The development of Esparron follows a traditional diagram located for many provençaux villages.

the human presence is attested as of the prehistoric time in the valley of Vances (energy of Rians with Saint Martin's day).

Divers camps celto-Ligurians crowned the neighbouring hills: in Montmajour, Artigues like on the commune of Saint Martin's day.

Comes Roman colonization. The valley of Vances is near the way connecting Aix-en-Provence to Riez. A villa settles then with the accesses of the current site of the vault of Revest. The vault contains two inscriptions of the first centuries after J. - C.

On the site of the villa is created a monastery. This monastery is devastated by the pagan ones say the texts of the 11th century. They are undoubtedly the invasions sarrasines. Around the year millet, it is rebuilt, at the time of the release of Provence of the yoke Moor.

One at that time attends a deep movement of creation of strong points, refuges on the heights. First mention of the " castrum of Sparrone " go back to 1025. Esparron is then divided in two seigniories: a stronghold ecclesiastical around the Notre-Dame monastery, pertaining to Saint-Victor of Marseilles, and a laic seigniory belonging to Geoffroy de Rians and his Hugues brother of the Beams.

During the 11th century, the monastery receives a certain number of donations which are sometimes renderings. One has indeed, evil to release well the Church of the supervision of the laic ones. In 1177, to consolidate their seigniory which represents approximately one the third of the arable lands, the monks make come the inhabitants from Revest, a villa located between Esparron and Rians. One second community of inhabitants of this fact is founded in Esparron at the sides of the castrum. The texts mention it under the name of " Bastida Sparroni ". It is the time of emergence of the country houses, intercalated grouped habitats. Same time dates creation from the country house of the Provost on the territory of Barjols and that of the country house of Pontevès on that of Pontevès.

At the beginning of the 14th century, the population of Esparron can be estimated according to tax documents at 240 inhabitants. That of Revest with approximately 50 inhabitants.

This area is very strongly reached by the Great Plague of 1348. The Valley of Rians loses between 50 and 30% of its population. The figures border 40% for the small human units. Revest disappears shortly after. In the first quarter of the 15th century, the church is in ruin and unused; the place is since uninhabited. Esparron felt also hard the shock. In 1471, one counted nothing any more but 70 inhabitants.

But the demographic recovery is not long in being done day. And it is fulgurating since one counts nearly 400 inhabitants in 1518. The transactions repeated between lords and community attest some. It is necessary to regulate the conflicts of use of space. Because, with depopulation, the lords developed the ovine breeding considerably, benefitting from the abandoned grounds. Esparron and the villages around are places of wintering of important herds. One counts more than 7000 gathered heads with Esparron in 1425. With the return of the men, the requirements out of ground increase. The parish church is too small, in bad condition. One thinks in 1546 of increasing it.

At the beginning of the 11th century, we know Geoffroy de Rians and Hugues of the Beams. Then the stronghold passes to the family of the Viscounts of Esparron, allied with that of the Viscounts of Marseilles. At the 14th century, it is had per half by the Viscounts and Esparron. Half of Esparron passes to Esclapon in 1367 then to Arcussia in 1466. Other half is, after transmission by marriage and sale, repurchased by Charles d' Arcussia with his various owners in the years 1610. Arcussia repurchase the ecclesiastical seigniory in the chapter of Grignan in 1673.

the family of Arcussia preserves Esparron of 1466 to 1758. Originating in the kingdom of Naples, its members filled of high positions. One as of the their order the fleet of Frederic Barberousse. François and his Jacques son are successively secretaries of the Jeanne queen who to thank them gives to Jacques the ground of Tourves. His/her Jean son marries in 1377 a niece of Elzéar Saint.

About 1547 is born Charles d' Arcussia. He was 1st Consul of Aix and prosecutor-born Country of Provence in 1596 and 1619. Deputy of the town of Aix to the States of Provence in 1597. Large amateur of hunting for the falcon, it left three principal works on the fauconnery:

- The first, dedicated to Henri IV in 1598 and whose following editions will be dedicated to Louis XIII who named Charles d' Arcussia, ordinary gentleman of the room of the King. It is the technical part. - The second, dedicated to monseigneur of Squirrel fur, Minister of Justice, contains the Conference of the Falconers or accounts of hunting. - The third, writing at the end of its days in the form of letters full with considerations morals and Christian feelings. Here an extract of most known of its letters: " I formerly learned from a good old man and able hunter that the men of our age (septuagénaires) must have on them three things: - The first, small a clock sounding; - The second, a mirror; - And the third, a chain. The first to count the hours and to employ well; the other, to see the change and the decline which is in us; the third, to raise our spirit and to remember us our end, since in this screw we do nothing but pass ".

If Charles d' Arcussia were particularly qualified for hunting for the Falcon, there was another art where it excelled. Indeed from its marriage with Marguerite de Forbin were born fifteen boys and seven girls. One cannot conclude on Charles d' Arcussia without quoting his role in the day of Esparron in 1591. We are in full war of religion. Without entering in detail of the operations, it should be stressed that it strongly helped the royal troops to take Esparron fallen to the hands from the Members of a league who did not want to recognize for king Henri IV not yet converted.

the generations of Arcussia follow one another until the last of the name: Charles Joseph who sells in 1758 the ground of Esparron to Jospeh François de Lordonné for the sum of 300000 pounds (namely that one day of operation cost 1 book). 68000 pounds are paid cash. 102000 pounds are given in the form of three capital to revenue of 5% on the States of Provence. The 130000 remaining ones will be versed only after the death of the salesman and his wife. Only interest will be charged meanwhile.

With Lordonné, it is a family of lawyers which enters in Esparron. A family connected with members of the Court of Auditors then to members of the Parliament of Aix. By her marriage with Angelica of Vacon, the sister of the bishop of Apt, Joseph François de Lordonné becomes indeed son-in-law, nephew, cousin and brother-in-law of Advisers to the Accounts. With the following generation, Louis François is to advise at the Court of Auditors in 1750. And Catherine, her sister, marries Pierre Symphorien Pazéry de Thorame, Conseiller at the Parliament, lord of Pourcieux which rebuilt the castle of Pourcieux. Jospeh Hilarion de Lordoné, grandson of the purchaser of Esparron, as for him, enters to the Parliament in 1781. It is thus a family of noblesse de robe which lives in Esparron at the end of the 18th century.

the 1200 hectares which represented the seigniory, the castle, the various country houses thus cost Lordoné 300000 pounds. It is difficult to specify from which a similar sum comes. It seems that Lordoné collected part of the succession of Cymon. Also part of that of Vacon. Two families are the branch connected in Lordoné fall out of stopper rod about 1750-1760. Vacon were owners from a field in Marseilles which will become the street Vacon. Perhaps Lordoné they carried out part of these goods. In any case, if the financial position of Lordoné appears comfortable at the time of the purchase of Esparron, it will still improve by the marriage of Louis François Antoine with Therese Madeleine Allègre. Girl of a trader Marseillais, it brings a dowry of 151.000 books to him, summons very important if one compares it with the dowries given in many other families of the nobility of Provence.

Lordoné did not only acquire Esparron. They made important installations there. It is them which built the principal wing, or all at least, completely refitted it with the last style on the basis of the infrastructure of the old castle. This old castle with the paces of fortress, little known, which at the times of disorders increases its capacity of defense, such about 1374, moment when the community of the inhabitants proposes to contribute for the 2/3 to the construction of two turns, in exchange of the refuge in the event of war. This old castle appears in a transaction of 1508 in two quasi-ruined parts, separated by a free space where one must build a prison in the shape of turn. This old castle, certainly refitted by Arcussia with the wire of times, counts a western wing dating from the 16th century. In second half of the 18th century, it was arranged by Lordoné. If outside is very sober, all the efforts are related to the interior. At the ground floor, parts of reception; on the floor, served by a gallery decorated with the portraits of the ancestors, a series of apartments with their room, their cabinet, the bulge, the room or domestic, the whole decorated with gypseries. These installations indicate a new design of the habitat in the search of a greater intimacy, of a greater autonomy, without however breaking with the coexistence necessary of the generations. This coexistence is envisaged in the marriage contracts. The father of Louis François Antoine de Lordoné promises to place and nourish in his house the engaged couples while paying annually with the Allègre young lady, 1200 pounds for his clothes and amusements, and 2000 pounds with his son. The case of insupport is also envisaged. Then, the pension will be increased to 8000 pounds. One will live in a very autonomous way, but always under the same roof. The fitting of interior space aces its multiple apartments testifies to the complexity of the structure of the family which rebuilds and lives the castle of Esparron.

Comes the Revolution. Joseph Francois, the purchaser, died in 1780. One year after dies are wire Louis François Antoine. Joseph Hilarion Mathieu, his grandson dies in 1790 to 33 years. They are thus the women who will live the revolution with Esparron, and in particular Therese Madeleine Allègre. His/her beautiful daughter being minor, it is thus it which becomes tutor of its Cécile little girl, born in 1789. She sees it having her little girl decreased. In spite of a firm management, it was obliged to spend nearly 300000 pounds to pay interests or revenues which had by her son or with his daughter-in-law, for repairs with the various properties and the patriotic contributions which were heavy during the Revolution. Therese Madeleine Allègre was worried at the autumn 1792 and in April 1793. Indeed, it had to ensure its peace, to pay all that one asked him. The gate of the castle was demolished as well as the armorial bearings. Its nephews by alliance, children of Catherine de Lordoné and Pierre Symphorien Pazéry de Thorame, both priests having refused to lend oath to the civil Constitution of the Clergy, were immolés in Paris with the Carmelite friars, on September 2nd, 1792.

In 1810, Cécile de Lordoné married Antoine Marie Louis de Sinéty, major of the royal volunteers, resulting from a family originating in Apt, of which the members were used in the army for the 18th century. It introduced into the area the culture of the sainfoin, the mulberry tree and the breeding of worms with silk. They had six children of which a priest and a nun.

Their sons Alphonse Marie, count de Sinéty, married in 1836, Marie Sophie d' Espagnet, and was general adviser of the VAr and mayor of Esparron. With its death, the property was shared between his/her four daughters.

the junior, Georges, partly reconstituted it thanks to a legacy of his/her uncle Augustin d' Espagnet. Civil engineer of the Mines, it made of Esparron his main home and devoted himself to the development of the field. It was necessary afterwards, will phylloxera it, to reconstitute the vineyard. It undertook experiments of grafting on American levels. It will try out various type of vines with the concern of making benefit from its discoveries, the inhabitants of Esparron. He had married Elisabeth de Lyle Taulane.

His/her niece by alliance, Germaine de Jerphanion, took again Esparron in 1918.

Administration

Demography

Places and monuments

Personalities related to the commune

Honorat Rambaud (1516-1586)

See too

Common of the VAr

External bonds

Esparron on the site of the national geographical Institute
Esparron on the site of INSEE
Esparron on the site of Quid
Localization of Esparron on a chart of France and communes bordering
Plane on Esparron on Mapquest

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