Château de Faucigny
Fortified castle in France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Château de Faucigny is a former fortified castle dating from the 11th century, the ruins of which stand in the commune of Faucigny in the department of Haute-Savoie, within the Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes region. It was the original seat of the lords of Faucigny, who controlled the Arve Valley, and later became the center of a châtellenie from their disappearance, from the 13th to the 16th century.
FranceFormer provinces of the Duchy of Savoy: Faucigny
Region: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department: Haute-Savoie
Municipality: Faucigny
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| Location | Country: France Former provinces of the Duchy of Savoy: Faucigny Region: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Department: Haute-Savoie Municipality: Faucigny |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 46°06′57.91″N 6°21′28.66″E[1] |
| Type | Castle |
| Beginning date | 11th century |
| Purpose | Original: Seigneurial residence Current: Community of municipalities of the four rivers |
Location
The remains of the Château de Faucigny are located in the commune of Faucigny in the Haute-Savoie department, on a dolomitic limestone outcrop at an elevation of 706 meters. The site overlooks the Arve Valley and the commune of Contamine-sur-Arve by more than 250 meters.[2]
History
The castle, the original seat of the House of Faucigny, probably already existed around 930, although it is not explicitly recorded until 1119.[3][4][5] According to historian Nicolas Carrier, it constituted the core of the family's authority.[6]
The lords of Faucigny remained at the site until the early 13th century. Around 1200, Aymon II of Faucigny left the ancestral castle and established his residence at the Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses, which occupied a more central position within the family's domains.[7][8]
As the seat of a châtellenie, the site lost prominence in 1251 with the establishment of Bonneville and its new castle,[9] although it remained the center of a seigneury.
It passed to the House of Savoy in 1262.[4] In her will, Agnès of Faucigny left the castle to her husband, Peter of Savoy, whom she had married in February 1234. The site was thereafter occupied by a garrison commanded by a seneschal selected from the House of Faucigny–Lucinge. In the peace treaty of August 1308 between the Count of Savoy and Béatrice, known as the "Grande Dauphine," the castles of Faucigny, Bonne, Monthoux, Bonneville, Châtelet-de-Credo, Alinge-le-Vieux, and Lullin, along with their mandements and jurisdictions, were confirmed as fiefs of the Count of Savoy.[10]
At the beginning of the 14th century, the castle was administered by a châtelain. Families holding this office included, in addition to the Lucinge, the La Fléchère, Menthon, and Moyron families.[11]
Under the apanage of the Genevois-Nemours in the 16th century, the site was used as a prison and, after being abandoned, had fallen into ruin by the mid-16th century.[9] The Barnabites purchased the castle and its mandement from Victor Amadeus II in 1699.[8][7] By 1738, it was described as completely ruined, although the main structure was still standing,[7] and during the occupation of the Duchy of Savoy by French Revolutionary troops, it was used as a stone quarry for building materials.[7]
Under the Sardinian monarchy, the surrounding land and the castle ruins were purchased by a deputy named Bastian. The cross erected at the end of the rocky spur dates from the 17th century and is attributed to one of his descendants.[11]
Description
The castle consisted of two successive enclosures. The first, or lower enclosure, surrounded the plain castle. Bordered by ditches, it enclosed the village of Faucigny. Access was defended by a fortified gate flanked by two square towers, later converted into dwellings. The gate was equipped with a portcullis, the groove of which remains visible, and a drawbridge.[2]
The second, or upper enclosure, contained on its northern side a Romanesque square keep measuring 9.50 meters per side, with angle buttresses, which was demolished in 1891.[4] Owing to its small dimensions, it resembled the Bergfrieden commonly found in imperial territories and in southern France. Its stones were reused in the construction of the presbytery. A residential building was attached to the keep, and at its far end stood a tower known as the "Queen's Tower." These structures appear to be the oldest parts of the castle, built of small ashlar and probably dating from the 11th century.[4] A description indicates that this residence contained large rooms, kitchens with ample light, stables, and a storeroom.[2]
Châtellenie of Faucigny
When the Faucigny family settled in Châtillon, the Château de Faucigny was placed under the authority of a seneschal and later a châtelain.[7]
Organization
According to local historian Lucien Guy, the Château de Faucigny was the residence of the seneschal of Faucigny.[7] It later became the center of a châtellenie, or mandement,[7][12] established from the 13th century. At the end of the 12th century,[13] the Faucigny region was organized around nine châtellenies,[Note 1] with Faucigny ranked fifth in order of precedence, according to the old inventory of the titles of Faucigny (1431), as cited by Canon Jean-Louis Grillet.[14][12]
During the Delphinal period (1342–1343), Faucigny was organized around fifteen châtellenies, including Faucigny.[15]
| Commune | Name | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Faucigny | Château de Faucigny | castle |
| Fillinges | Château de Couvette | castle |
| Fillinges | Maison forte de Chillaz | fortified house |
| Fillinges | Maison forte de Fillinges | fortified house |
| Fillinges | Maison forte de Bouger | fortified house |
| Saint-Jean-de-Tholome | Grand Château | castle |
| Saint-Jeoire | Château Cornu | fortified house |
| Saint-Jeoire | Château de Beauregard | fortified house |
| Saint-Jeoire | Château de Cormand | castle |
| Saint-Jeoire | Maison forte de la Ravoire | fortified house |
| Saint-Jeoire | Maison forte de Saint-Jeoire | fortified house |
| Saint-Jeoire | Maison forte de Turchon | fortified house |
| La Tour | La Tour | other |
During the early 14th century, the barony of Faucigny was reorganized into seventeen châtellenies.[17]
Seneschals, then châtelains
The office of seneschal of Faucigny remained with the Lucinge family.[7][18] The seneschal, a knight dependent on the lord of Faucigny, held the position as a fief[19] and occupied the highest rank among the officers of the lord's household,[18] serving as a lieutenant or commander-in-chief, according to Canon Jean-Marie Lavorel (1846–1926).[20]
In the County of Savoy, the châtelain was an "officer appointed for a fixed term, revocable and removable."[21][22] He was responsible for managing the châtellenie or mandement, collecting the domain's fiscal revenues, and maintaining the castle.[23] The châtelain was sometimes assisted by a financial receiver, who drafted the "final version of the annual report submitted by the châtelain or his lieutenant."[24]
Faucigny Administration[7]
Administration under Savoyard control, then definitively Savoyard[7][25]
Administration of the apanage of Genevois (1514–1659) Châtelains and Fermiers[27]
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