Grèzes (Lozere)

Geography

The village is established on the Trick of Grèzes, in the past mountain Saint-Frézal, a calcareous piton of 1008 Mr. All the history of the place is associated with the Trick. Grèzes is located near Palhers and of Goudard, and is bordered in the North-East by the Truc of the South. With modern connections, Grèzes is found with ten minutes in the car of Marvejols and highway A75.

History

Neolithic era

The first traces of dwellings on the site of Grèzes go up with the Neolithic average and are in light shift compared to the village. It is indeed on the projecting ledge known as “of the windmill” that archaeological excavations made it possible to update burials going back to {{formatnum: - 6000}}. On Puechs and the Tricks neighborhood one finds traces of use of tools.

The dwellings around the Trick thus remained with the passing of years, also occupying the many caves available in the area.

Gallic period

About sixth century BC, men probably come from the area of Francfort-sur-le-Main settle in this country. This tribe Celte, which will name the Gabales thereafter, will establish one of its villages on the Trick. This one will naturally protect it from the autochtones in the event of quarrel. Gabales will choose Anderitum like capital. The Trick of Grèzes will be an important place of their survival during the wars which shake the Gaulle S until the arrival of the Roman invader. At the top of the Trick a Oppidum dedicated to defense in the event of war is thus built. Close to him, the Trick of Saint-Bonnet (today close to Chirac), will be used as temple to beseech the gods.

But Gabales will fight in vain at the sides of Vercingétorix, they will not succeed in pushing back the troops of César beyond the the Alps, and Gaules will be conquered. Gévaudan will be attached to the Gaulle Narbonnese but Anderitum (also named Gabalum) will remain the capital about it.

Gallo-Roman period

In Gévaudan, the Romans appreciate the presence of the many sources that is on the slopes of the Mont Lozere, towards the Gorges of the Tarn, or with the borders of the Aubrac (Anderitum) or of the Margeride. In Grèzes, then named Gredonense castrum , a fortress came to replace the Gallic oppidum. In lower part of this one (with the current site of the village), the village of Gredone is built during one period of calm.

Gabales are very close to their religions, and the arrival of the Christianisme will be slow at the 3rd century. It is at this period that Austremoine of Clairmont sends Privat in Gévaudan in order to évangéliser the population. Thus Privat becomes the first bishop of Gévaudan.

It is at this period, under Gallien and Valérien, that the Alamans arrive in Gévaudan guided by their Chrocus chief. They then sow terror in all the country, entirely plundering each farm. Gabales take refuge all in the fortress of Grèzes in order to be protected from the enemy troops. The seat will last two years, thus depriving the population of supply. But Gabales resist and do not go.

Learning that the Privat bishop was not with his people, the army of Chrocus leaves to its research. It was indeed withdrawn for a long time in one of the caves of the Mont Mimat which it had arranged like hermitage. Gregoire de Tours teaches us in his Histoire from the Francs that Alamans discover the cave of Privat, and mutilate it to the village of Mimate. Their idea is then to require of Gabales to beseech the safety of their bishop while agreeing to leave the fortress. But Privat refused to deliver its people, or, like itself says it Gregoire de Tours: “Good Pasteur refused to deliver his ewes to the wolves, and one wanted to force it to sacrifice * to the demons”. Exténués, Alamans would have left free Gabales in their promising peace. Gabales can then assist from their bishop, but Privat will succumb to its wounds in the following days.

Early middle ages

The castrum remains a fortified town after the disappearance of the Roman Empire. The castle had been increased with the passing of years, and it seems that he did already only one with the village at the time of Saint Privat.

In 732, the Sarrasin S devastated the country and in 767, Pépin the Brief, which had just destroyed the Aquitanian kingdom of Toulouse, annexed Gévaudan with its grounds. This county passed to his/her son Charles, the future Charlemagne.

Charlemagne reorganizes the country in Pagus , thus is born the Pagus Gabalitanus in other words the “country gabale”. The pagus is divided into eight Vigerie S . Grèzes will be one of them at the sides of Banassac, Miliac, Valdonnez, Chassezac, Vallée of the Tarn, Dèze and French Vallée. The field extends then on the two valleys from the Lot and the Colagne.

At the 9th century, the bishop Frézal de Mende frequently comes ressourcer in the city from Grèzes. After its death, it will be commemorated besides every September 4th (date of its assassination). Besides the Trick of Grèzes will bear very a long time the Holy name of Mountain Frézal.

Under the period of Capétiens Grèzes becomes a Viscount and is thus placed under the aegis of the counts of Gévaudan then bishops of Mende. However in 1266, the bishop Odilon de Mercoeur, gives up with perpetuity the Viscount with Kings de France.

The Middle Ages

The castle will be the witness of the Guerre One hundred Year old, and the reinforcement of the fortifications will not prevent the English from seizing the city. And it is only after the victories of the troops of Bertrand of Guesclin over the grounds of surrounding Peyre, but also the release of Apcher and the Randon, that Grèzes will find its freedom, although strongly weakened.

In fact then the wars of religion will shake the area. Grèzes will be besides one of the many villages plundered by Matthieu Merle, however mandé by the widow of Astorg de Peyre (death the night of the Saint Barthelemy) to avenge her husband for the Catholique strategic S. Lieu in the country, Grèzes will be occupied 7 years lasting by the troops of the captain Huguenot. The fortress will then be destroyed in 1576 in order to drive out the company of Blackbird there. That will not prevent it from conquering Mende the night of Christmas 1579.

Towards 1632, the king Louis XIII orders that one dismantles the castles of Luc, Grèzes and Châteauneuf-with-Randon.

It is right after the destruction of the castle on the Trick, that will be built the still visible castle nowadays.

Revolution

Contemporary period

Heraldic

August 1st

Administration

Demography

See too

Common of Lozere

Sources and references

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