Niderviller

Niderviller is a common French, located in the department of the the Moselle and the area Lorraine.

Geography

History

An old occupation

“The ground of the fining of Niderviller is not other than cold white grounds, which does not produce only with force of amendment” deplores the register of grievances of the locality, in 1789. However the man was always present there. Inhabited as of prehistoric times, as the discoveries testify some to tumuli , of stone axes, the area was occupied towards 1200 before J. - C. by the Gallic people of Médiomatriques: the presence of vast forests, abundant water, a suitable clay already could give rise to the artisanal manufacture of ceramics.

In 52 before J. - C., with Jules César, the Romans take possession of this zone of passage towards the plain of Alsace, by the collar of Saverne, or by taking the road of the south, by Lutzelbourg and the valley of Zorn. They build the “Roman road”, future “road of France”, Metz to Strasbourg, by Marsal, Sarrebourg, Saverne. They ensure the development of our grounds, by building many " villas" , farms often comprising a beautiful dwelling house d' for the owner and the dependences for the slaves.

At the time of the Francs

By the Roman road and by going up the valleys, German, Alamans, then Frank, are introduced into the region from 253, devastate it into 352 and, by the great invasions of 406, cause the collapse of the Roman Empire. They left here the marks of their presence, under the dynasties of Mérovingiens and the Carolingians.

The German ones settle, indeed, in some firm Gallo-Roman, continue the exploitation and thus found of it a good number of our villages. The name of " Niderviller" is undoubtedly related to the existence of one of these " villas" re-occupied, like also that of " Oberviller" , locality destroyed at the time of the Thirty Year old war, and located at the site of the current Esch farm, halfway between Niderviller and Brouderdorff, in top of Schlossberg (of which the name is perhaps attached to a castle of the Middle Ages?).

At the same time, is set up the linguistic border cutting the department of Thionville at Donon. Located very close to this limit of the languages, Niderviller is in the zone thioise: the inhabitants speak there a Germanic dialect, the francic Rhenish one, tinted few Germanic influences. Of this dialect German is resulting - it is thus not the opposite, as it is often believed. In the south of this limit, the zone of Romance language starts where the Lorraine one was spoken, related with French.

In 843, the empire created by Charlemagne is shared between the three grandsons of the emperor. The area falls to Lothaire. The " country of Lothaire" , Lotharingen or Lotharingie, gave the names of Lothringen and Lorraine. Lorraine will be disputed between the two other recipients of the division of Verdun, France in the west and the Germanic one in the east: the latter carries it quickly. In 962, Lorraine is attached for nearly 800 years to the Saint Worsens Romain Germanique, first Reich founded by Othon the Ist empire is divided into seigniories directed by vassal of the emperor which, in their turn, are the suzerains of local lords, the smaller.

Évêché of Metz

Since the end of the Roman Empire, the bishop of Metz imposes his authority on our area. He gives Niderviller in stronghold to the counts de Dabo who are his vassal. (Of this family of Dagsbourg would be resulting Brunon, perhaps born with Dabo, bishop of Toul, future pope Leon IX, whose commemorative vault is drawn up on the rock of Dabo, with the site of the old castle.)

As from 1338, Lutzelbourg take the changing, partially or in a more active way, like direct lords or episcopal baillifs in Sarrebourg. Because since the end of the 12th century, the fate of Niderviller is related to that of the close big city where, in 1225, the bishop of Metz installed a Schaffner , a baillif. But it runs up against the duke of Lorraine whose territories encircle to them his.

Lorraine

The transformations occurred in Sarrebourg, at the end of the Middle Ages, are reflected on Niderviller and thus make pass the area of the suzerainty of the lord-bishop of Metz to the sovereignty of the duke of Lorraine. In 1464, a governor represents this last in Sarrebourg, whereas the episcopal Schaffner remains. In 1562, the bishop gives up his rights definitively. Niderviller is now in Lorraine, for 100 years. The dukes of Lorraine strictly maintain the Catholic religion in the duchy. In 1525, they crushed, in Saverne, the revolted peasants, following preachings of the radical reformer Thomas Münzer; they encircle or repurchase the Protestant localities of the area (Lixheim, Phalsbourg…). To reinforce their authority, they found the villages close to Henridorff (1614), Brouderdorff (1616), Saint-Louis (1629).

The dukes make themselves increasingly independent with regard to their suzerain, the emperor of the Saint Worsens Romain Germanique. However a more powerful adversary is profiled in the west: in 1552, the king of France, Henri II, occupies the Three bishoprices of Metz, Toul and Verdun.

Niderviller belongs to…

Évêché of Metz (the bishop is the lord) 950 to 1225 Count de Dabo is the vassal one Saint Worsens Romain Germanique (1st Reich) 1225 to 1464 Episcopal Baillif of Sarrebourg ( Schaffner ) Saint Worsens 1464 to 1562 Episcopal Baillif of Sarrebourg ( Schaffner ) and governor named by the duke of Lorraine Saint Worsens (-->1542) 1562 to 1661 The duke is the suzerain of the lord 1661 to 1790 General information of the Three bishoprices with Intendant in Metz 1790 to 1871 Department of Meurthe 1871 to 1918 Ground of Empire Reichsland (2nd Reich) 1918 to 1940 Department of the Moselle 1940 to 1944 Westmark (3rd Reich) 1945 with… Department of the Moselle

The Thirty Year old war (1618-1648)

The Thirty Year old war allows France of Louis XIII and Richelieu to occupy Lorraine, directly, or by supporting the Swedes. As from 1633, the French Armies, Swedish, imperial, Lorraine traverse the area, plundering, killing, bringing everywhere desolation, the epidemics, the famines (as engravings of Jacques Callot of Nancy show it: Miseries of war ).

In 1636, the Swedes of Bernard of Saxony-Weimar, stipendiés by Richelieu, besiege and hold to ransom Sarrebourg, and devastate the surroundings. More than 80 villages are completely shaven; some as Oberviller disappear definitively. Whereas one counted there 39 “fires” in 1585, Niderviller will remain empty inhabitants during decades (like besides the close villages: Buhl, Brouderdorff…). The treaties of Westphalia (1648), which finishes the Thirty Year old war, definitively give to France the Three bishoprices and Alsace, but do not put fine at the hostilities in Lorraine.

Fastening in France

It is only into 1661 that this war finishes for Lorraine. By the treaty of Vincennes, the duke Charles IV must yield to France of Louis XIV the " road of Alsace" (from Metz to Strasbourg, by Sarrebourg,), as well as a broad strip of land one half-league, on both sides of this strategic way become " road of France" , if important since the acquisition of Alsace. The French impose the " mile française" (4000m), different from the " mile lorraine" (3000m). They thus annex a width of 1 km on each side of this way. This zone includes/understands 42 villages (of which Réding), but also of the localities located in the vicinity (like Niderviller and Garrebourg) to serve as “villages stages” with the troops, with all the constraints that involved. The road of France constitutes, indeed, a heavy burden for the villages concerned. It should be maintained, from where the multiplication of the drudgeries. The continual passage of troops (wars of Louis XIV and Louis XV) requires residences of stage, but also of the longer parking or winter quarters, in Sarrebourg, Phalsbourg and in the surrounding villages.

To Niderviller, the act of limitation occurs on October 21st, 1661 exactly. The representatives of king de France and the duke of Lorraine, as well as the sworn in geometricians, are on the spot to pose the terminals. A quarrel bursts between the envoy of the duke of Lorraine and the police chief of the king. The first denounces this annexation, since the road does not pass to Niderviller; the second does not take account of the protests of the first and makes carry out the orders. The same evening, at the time of the report of demarcation, one makes sign the two household heads of the village, in fact, Nicolas Parmentier and Michel Hartrich, who lend the oath of fidelity to the king.

Niderviller thus is attached to the kingdom of France and included in the " généralité" of the Three bishoprices, administrative division directed by an intendant residing at Metz. (Nitting, Brouderdorff, Biberkirch, Schneckenbusch remain Lorraine until in 1766, date of the final meeting of the duchy of Lorraine in France.)

Repopulation

The village had particularly suffered during this long period from wars from the 17th century: December 1st, 1691, the report of Bellows, mayor of " Sarbourg" , note that “Niderviller is a fort poor village, the least of prévôté”.

Repopulation is very slow there (much slower than in Buhl): 2 families are installed into 1661,6 into 1692,20 in 1712. These immigrants come by far. According to Robert Boehm, president of the circle of genealogy of Sarrebourg, the village of Niderviller would hold the characteristic owe the essence of his initial revival to the Picardy immigrants. Indeed, in the registers of Buhl, parish on which Niderviller up to 1768 depended, it is question, in 1670, of Jacques Lefevre, of Picardy, and his wife Marie Lambert, Jacques Cadet, of Picardy, and Rosine Pêcheur… (these names are not found today any more). This Picardy influence is noticed until in the architecture of the old typified houses of the locality.

Others arrive from the Tyrol, of Bavaria, of Switzerland. One century later, on the official report of the register of grievances of Niderviller, are quoted of Zugmann, Welsch, Meyer, Seeger, Weber, Schwartz, Krummenacker… and also of the Geoffroy, Loth, Champion, Greffier. The presence of these last French patronyms is probably related to the rise of industries of the locality.

The 18th century

As of the first decades of the 18th century, Niderviller knows, indeed, a true economic boom. Tie profit of an adapted clay, a tilery is created in 1722; a mill exists before 1731; especially the faience manufacture is launched in 1735.

New families of lords appear, who support this rise. Here are Loewenstein or Lauffenstein (1668-1722). From 1750 to 1770, Jean-Louis Beyerlé, director of the currency of Strasbourg, adviser at the Parliament, build a castle, a faience manufacture and the bell-tower of the church; it repairs roads, builds a bridge. In 1770, the count de Custine takes the succession of J. - L. Beyerlé. There always exists, in Niderviller, the " Custine" district; , with the site of the “castle” of Custine (a house of Master); the " street of the château" , before 1900, the current street of Lorraine indicated, before being allotted, after the First World War, with our street of the Vosges. The French revolution puts a term at this dependence seigneuriale.

The Revolution and Empire

At the time of the drafting of the register of grievances of the Third State, on April 6th, 1789, one specifies: “Niderviller, general information and intendance of Metz, subdelegation of Sarrebourg, control of Vic, diocese of Metz, archpriest of Sarrebourg, additional of the parish of Buhl. 108 fires, 671 inhabitants. Lord: Adam-Philippe, count de Custine”. The two representatives of Niderviller are Pierre Gottfroy and Guillaume Greff.Elu appointed of the General states in the bailliage of Metz, the count de Custine represents the nobility in Versailles. Although aristocrat, it is named general in the republican army. Its failure in Mainz is fatal for him: it is guillotine, under Terror, on August 29th, 1793. Its grandson will be a large traveller and will give in a book of the appreciations of an extreme accuracy on Russia during first half of the 19th century. The Revolution is one period great upheavals. Niderviller becomes a commune; it is attached to the canton of Sarrebourg (district, then district of Sarrebourg, under the Consulate), and to the department of Meurthe (chief town: Nancy). Its Dusable priest lends the oath to the Civil Constitution of the clergy… under condition, which creates a difficult climate for the priest and the local managers.

The situation does not improve with Napoleon i who will multiply the wars: young people are engaged in the armies, like “volunteers”, later like “conscripts”… The economic difficulties involve the decline of local industries. The defeats of the emperor see the return of the invasions, in 1814 and 1815: the Allies, whose Russians, besiege Phalsbourg twice. Should be maintained the enemy troops. Last situation described in the novels of Erckmann-Chatrian. Without counting the famine of 1817, due to a very bad harvest.

The 19th century

The end of the Napoleonean wars, in 1815, opens one long period of peace from which our locality will benefit. Sandstone careers develop about 1850. The faience manufacture progresses, favoured by the construction of the railway line Paris-Strasbourg (1851) and the digging of the channel of the Marne in the Rhine (1853-1860). The population increases. But the adventurous policy of Napoleon III brings the war of 1870.

In first line

1870: war and demolished! By the treaty of Frankfurt (1871), Germany annexes Alsace-Lorraine, the Reichsland , which includes the Low-Rhine, Haut-Rhin and the “news” the Moselle: Niderviller, with the district of Sarrebourg (and that theSaline ones) is attached to the Moselle (which loses Briey and Longwy); the remainders of Meurthe and the Moselle form the new department of Meurthe-et-Moselle. Following the annexation with the German Empire, many Natives of the Moselle region leave the area, settle in “France of the Interior” or emigrate in America. Economic progress is prolonged during this German period. Not to lose the French market, the faience manufacture establishes branches elsewhere. Hardly one half-century later, bursts a new war between the same enemies. August 19th, 1914, takes place the battle of Sarrebourg: the French troops take Brouderdorff, but are blocked in front of Niderviller, and finally defeats. The soldiers, enlisted in the German army, die many, in particular on the Russian face. With the armistice of November 11th, 1918, it is the return to France for Alsace-Lorraine: Niderviller remains in the department of the Moselle, with its particular status… But already is built the Maginot line, along the border!

The “hereditary” enemies clash again in 1939. France is overcome in 1940. The Moselle is attached to the Gau Westmark , directed by the Gauleiter Joseph Bürckel. This last follows a brutal policy of germanisation ( Niederweiler ) and of nazification. The young people called with the obligatory military service escape and hide (“unsubmissive people”) or, in front of the threats on their families, become “In spite of us” who will die on the faces of the east, for a cause which is not theirs, or will lead as prisoners of war in the disaster camp of Tambov… For our area, it is the time of rationings (which will still continue after the war)… Niderviller is released on November 22nd, 1944!

After these difficult years, the life takes again its course, and the locality is modernized. The activities thrive: creation, in 1946, of the company of Ludmann fittings, a marble-mason's yard, Center of readjustment to the castle of the Careers. But competition and crises cause a backward flow sensitive of the economy to Niderviller. The realization of an artisanal zone does not fill the employment lost in the ceramics companies and does not erase the fear of unemployment. Will Europe be the way of the future?

Administration

Demography

Places and monuments

Faience manufacture.

Personalities related to the commune

See too

Common of the Moselle

External bonds

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

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