Marie Durand

Marie Durand , born on July 15th, 1711 and deceased in 1776 with the Bouchet-with-Pranles (Ardeche), is a Protestant personality . It is only 18 years old when it is arrested and imprisoned in the Tour of Constancy to Acute-Dead.

Biography

Since the revocation of the edict of Nantes, in 1685, Protestantism is interdict in France. Those which continue to celebrate the worship in secret assemblies are stopped. Marie, resulting from a family from notable of the Vivarais, did not re-examine her mother any more since the four years age. This one was stopped after having received an illicit assembly in her house.

His/her brother, Pierre Durand, are Pasteur and, for this reason, it is continued by the intendant of Bernage which not being able to seize it, is avenged on its family.

Their father Etienne Durand, imprisoned in 1728 with the Extremely of Brescou, close to Agde, entrusts Marie, before leaving, in Matthieu Serres which marries it.

In 1730, the dragons of the king seize Matthieu Serres, who at the height joined Etienne Durand of Brescou, and Marie Durand who is locked up with the Tower of Constancy.

Pierre, thirty years old, is hung on April 22nd, 1732 on the Esplanade of Montpellier. His/her father leaves prison only in 1743.

The captivity of Marie Durand will last 38 years. Locked up with a score of other women of all ages and all conditions, it will live in poverty, the cold, promiscuity. One allots to Marie the word " REGISTER" (to resist in Occitan) engraved in the stone of a curbstone in the center of the common room. To resist, it is what will make Marie Durand throughout his captivity, always refusing to abjure its faith, exhorting his/her partners and writing many letters: letters of petitions or thanks to those which sent helps to the captive ones; letters addressed to Pasteur Paul Rabaut and to his niece, Anne.

In January 1767, prince de Beauveau, governor of Languedoc, visits the Tower, he is revolted by the fate of the still imprisoned women and releases them. A minister of Louis XV tries to be opposed to it, of Beauveau offers his resignation… Fourteen women are released, of which one (Marie Robert) had been locked up 41 years. Marie Durand will be released on April 14th, 1768 and it will have to be waited on December 26th, 1768 so that the two captive last are released.

Marie Durand dies in her native house with Bouchet-of-Pranles in 1776. The museum of there protesting Vivarais is established.

Famous agricultural college (LEGTA) of Nimes-Rodilhan (Gard) bears today the name of Marie Durand, since 2006.

Sources

If Vaunage were told to me… , Idebert Exbrayat, new edition 1992
Marie Durand virtual Museum of French Protestantism.
the museum of the desert. History of Huguenots and Camisards in the Cevennes. Parliament of the desert each first Sunday of September.

External bonds

Marie Durand - Captive of the tower of Constancy, 1715-1768 per Daniel Benoit. 1938. Work on line.
martyrs of Acute-Dead by Charles Bost. 1922. Prisoners and captive Protestant women locked up in the turns of Acute-Dead, and particularly in the tower of Constancy. Work on line.
the Collar of Mouzoulès the episode too little known of the Collar of Mouzoulès which also leads us to Marie

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