The history of Monteux
Discover the history of Monteux, from its origins to today, including its Counties of Provence's outbuildings, from Toulouse, and then to the Popes.
The origins of Monteux
Monteux rises at the eastern end of a vast and fertile plain and at the foot of the Plumanel and St-Martin hills, on the left bank of the Auzon torrent, a small town that, because of its position at the foot of these hills, called Montilii Montilium Quasi Montieulus, which means, the place near the Mountain.
The time of its foundation is completely unknown to us. Carpentoracte (today Carpentras) was the capital of the Meminians (Celto-Ligurian peoples) during the Roman Empire. The amenities and the healthiness of this city must have charmed the citizens, either during the Celtic or Roman era, where they established numerous villas there and as far as Monteux. An occupation proved by the discovery of amphora pottery remains on the banks of the Auzon and the remains of a buried farm in Beaulieu. But Monteux will only be recognized in history with the construction of its fortified castle dating from the 11th century. This building was dominated by a large square tower serving as a donjon, called Clementine Tower in honor of Pope Clement V...
At this period, Provence left a world based on the Roman Empire and Frankish royalty, a civilization with Latin references and it asserted itself as an independent principality, experienced the rise and establishment of its aristocracy and witnessed the reorganization of its ecclesiastical structures.
Feudals conflicts
In 1125, Provence was divided into three and the rivalry between these three count families (Count of Forcalquier, Toulouse and Barcelona) continued for more than a century, turning into a real war. Monteux, will belong to the County of Provence. On April 12, 1229, a treaty was signed in Paris, negotiated in Meaux by the Cardinal of Saint-Ange, papal legate, which put an end to the crusade against the Albigensians. Following this treaty, Raymond VII Count of Toulouse, protecting the Albigensians, defeated and had to cede the Comtat to the Holy See.
The land of Venaissin
Five years later, the Count of Toulouse received from Emperor Frederick II the title of Marquis of Provence, which made Toulouse claims extending between Durance and Isère politically coherent. The disappearance of the count and the emperor in 1249 and 1250 facilitated the resurgence of a “land of Venaissin” that the popes, after taking possession of it in 1274, structured into a county... just to impose administrative frameworks developed previously in their lands in Central Italy.
The purchases of seigniories and loyalties, the transfers of domains made by ecclesiastical institutions gave real consistency in a few decades to the territory of the pope, who under John XXII took the title, on the coins minted in Sorgues, of Count of Venaissin. From then on, Monteux was papal property until the end of the 13th century.
In 1253, the brothers Rostaing and Geoffroy de Venasque owned 1/8 of Monteux and Barral des Baux owned 7/8.
In the Footsteps of Clement V, Pope of Avignon
In 1305 Philippe le Bel, taking advantage of the division within the Roman Conclave, had Pope Bertrand de Goth elected, under the name of Clement V. The latter agreed to choose Avignon as his residence. This Pope is sometimes at the Dominican convent in Avignon, sometimes in Malaucène, Sorgues or Monteux, which is his place of rest and vacation. During his free time, he prepared the 8th book of Decretals and the constitution of the Council of Vienna. Under pressure from Philippe le Bel, the latter pronounced the suppression of the Templar Order in 1311.
It was also in the chapel of the Castle of Monteux that on March 21, 1314, Clement V convened a Consistory to publish the Decretals (letters by which the Pope, in response to a request, issued rules in disciplinary or canonical matters).
On 20 April 1314 the Pope died and his remains were brought back to Carpentras for solemn tributes. The Conclave of Cardinals was assembled in the Palace of Carpentras to give a successor to the Sovereign Pontiff. In total disagreement, it took them 2 long months to elect a new Pope. Under the pretext of giving a real burial to the deceased pontiff, the conclave was attacked with the cries of “Patria Venaissini! Death to the Italians! We want a pope! ”.
Those responsible for this coup were Bertrand de Got, lord of Monteux and Raymond Guilhem de Budos, rector of the Comtat, nephews of Clément V. They plundered the city of Carpentras, burned down a number of homes and above all took away the treasures of the Apostolic Chamber and especially took away the treasures of the Apostolic Chamber as well as the personal fortune of Clement V, contained on the ground floor of the Tour of the Castle of Monteux, amounting to 1 million 748 a thousand guilders destined for the crusade. Legend says that the treasure is still in Monteux...
In 1313 the nephew of Clement V bought the possessions of the Baux family in Monteux, the Bishop of Carpentras and Reforciat de Venasque opposed it and protested before the Rector of the Comtat, but without success.
Monteux remained in their possession until January 12, 1320, when the Diocese of Carpentras was dismembered. The Apostolic Chamber acquired the co-seigniories of Monteux. In France, the term mandement or chatellenie referred to as early as the 11th century a new territory that was formed around castles, built by the rural aristocracy following the failure of the central power.
In 1342, it depended entirely on the Holy See. During this period, the Captain-General of the Comtat had Captains and Chatelains under his orders and their salary estimated at 16 guilders per month.
The Fortification of Monteux
As mentioned earlier in 1342, the Holy See having acquired all the manor of Monteux, the castle which, according to historians of Provence, was comparable in its proportions and elegance to the most beautiful mansions in the region. During periods of calm, Monteux thrived, yet the consequences of the Hundred Years' War were being felt.
In Provence, by order of the Dauphin, Arnaud de Cervole known as the archpriest raised several truck companies to pacify Provence. Even in times of peace, these mercenaries group up in clans and bands. Without jobs, without money, traveling the roads, they live in the country to the great fear of the people. These packs of bandits, skinners, and scoundrels are called “Big Companies”, and feared by the little people. In these turbulent periods of history, this phenomenon is taking on alarming proportions. Among these men, we find serfs who rebelled against their suzerain, rowdy peasants reduced to misery, debauched soldiers after the fighting. Brought together into clans, they lived off larceny and plunder of all kinds and when they passed through Avignon, they did not hesitate to ransom the Pope. These mercenary troops crossed the Rhône on July 13, 1357 and did not leave Provence, in which another priest was active (Calagaspacum, Galagaspe), until October 1358.
After this tragic episode, in 1359 Pope Innocent VI (Etienne Aubert) ordered Guillaume de Roffiac, Rector of the Comtat, to have the defenseless towns and villages of the province fortified or to repair the fortifications that already existed. In Monteux, the ramparts surrounded the village, the walls were 10 meters high and surmounted by battlements. There were 6 fortified towers, all surrounded by a ravelin (ditch). Exiting on the right was the Tour des Trouillas, then far away followed one another: the Toll Tower, the Pilon Tower, the Magousel Tower, the Figuière Tower and finally the Faine Tower (to the left of the Porte Neuve)
In 1365: The gates were guarded by dogs and defended by a garrison only during wartime.
The Clementine Tower
1415, a black year for Monteux, the castle was completely destroyed by a fire and of all these magnificences, there is nothing left, not even ruins, except for the Great Tower, which is still visible today.
The Wars of Religion: Assaults, Defense, and Liberation
During the religious wars, Monteux was attacked numerous times; she became involved in conflicts. As soon as the Reformation was implemented, which is a desire to return to the sources of Christianity, the struggles began in Luberon and Aix, many cities were burned and their inhabitants massacred.
In 1560, Charles IX came to the throne and France sank into civil war and the Comtat Venaissin was soon invaded in turn. Monteux, who had sent men to the Catholic army, began to prepare his defense. The fighting multiplied and the cities fell into the hands of the Calvinists. General Serbelloni arrived from Rome to help in the fight. Orange was taken by the heretics and Monteux sent soldiers, but the city was sacked in 1562.
1563 Monteux was under the influence of the Huguenots, after atrocious fighting, the Huguenots finally accepted the amnesty granted by the King on condition that they were not worried about their religion and retired to Provence. Monteux was therefore freed.
Freed but not spared, Monteux was struck numerous times by the plague (1588-1589; 1630), the last epidemic dates from 1721.
The Revolution
After the wars of religion and the plague epidemics, it was time for the revolution where the village served as a camp for the army of Avignon (a fierce supporter of joining France) and Carpentras (loyal to the Pope). It was considered a dormitory and a strategic location by revolutionaries who preferred to rest there and prepare for attacks from the surrounding cities. Thus, in April 1791, Jacques Paulin, a modest craftsman from Monteux, wrote in his diary: “On April 19, 9,000 men arrived (for about 3500 inhabitants) with 12 pieces of cannon, artillery and crews. Everything was housed here in Monteux at the expense of the war.”
These soldiers were commanded by Mathieu Jouve Jourdan, known as Jourdan, known as Jourdan 'Coupe Tête' (1749-1794), leader of the Vaucluse Volunteers who favoured the annexation of Comtat-Venaissin to France. He distinguished himself by his cruelty, setting fire to castles and crops of supporters of the papacy, he climbed to the scaffold on May 27, 1794 (2 months before Robespierre).
From then on, the destiny and policies of Monteux were linked to those of the Comté Communes, its history was in line with that of the other municipalities and was part of the Comtat-Venaissin until the time when he was admitted into the big French family by the decree of September 14, 1791.
