Aubigny-sur-Nère
Encyclopedia
Aubigny-sur-Nère is a commune
in the Cher department in the Centre region
of France
.
and farming surrounding a small light industrial
town, situated in the valley of the river Nère some 30 miles (48.3 km) north of Bourges
at the junction of the D940, D924, D30 and the D923 roads.
times, the commune was established as a royal town in 1189 by Philip II
.
This is the location by which the Duke of Gordon
gets his honorific title, as the Duke of Aubigny
.
In 1419, John Stewart of Darnley
, a junior member of the House of Stuart
, arrived in France with a large contingent of Scottish soldiers, to fight for Charles VII
. He was awarded many titles, among them the Lordship of Aubigny. The family stayed here for 400 years.
and others from the United Kingdom
. The commune is very attached to the Auld Alliance
, due to its 400 years of French-Scottish history and is the only place in France that still celebrates this long association each year, on Bastille Day
.
, Scotland
, United Kingdom
Plopana
, Romania
Oxford, Mississippi
, United States
Vlotho
, Germany
Villeneuve-de-la-Raho
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Cher department in the Centre region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Geography
An area of forestryForestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and farming surrounding a small light industrial
Light industry
Light industry is usually less capital intensive than heavy industry, and is more consumer-oriented than business-oriented...
town, situated in the valley of the river Nère some 30 miles (48.3 km) north of Bourges
Bourges
Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...
at the junction of the D940, D924, D30 and the D923 roads.
History
First known as Albinacum in RomanAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
times, the commune was established as a royal town in 1189 by Philip II
Philip II of France
Philip II Augustus was the King of France from 1180 until his death. A member of the House of Capet, Philip Augustus was born at Gonesse in the Val-d'Oise, the son of Louis VII and his third wife, Adela of Champagne...
.
This is the location by which the Duke of Gordon
Duke of Gordon
The title Duke of Gordon has been created once in the Peerage of Scotland and again in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.The Dukedom, named after the Clan Gordon, was first created for the 4th Marquess of Huntly, who on 3 November 1684 was created Duke of Gordon, Marquess of Huntly, Earl of Huntly...
gets his honorific title, as the Duke of Aubigny
Duke of Aubigny
The Scottish Dukes of Aubigny had their origins in Aubigny-sur-Nère, France, from the 15th century, which was an important honour throughout the Auld Alliance and Ancien Régime...
.
In 1419, John Stewart of Darnley
John Stewart of Darnley
Sir John Stewart of Darnley, 1st Lord of Concressault and 1st Lord of Aubigny, Count of Évreux was a Scottish nobleman and prominent soldier during the Hundred Years War.-Life:...
, a junior member of the House of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
, arrived in France with a large contingent of Scottish soldiers, to fight for Charles VII
Charles VII of France
Charles VII , called the Victorious or the Well-Served , was King of France from 1422 to his death, though he was initially opposed by Henry VI of England, whose Regent, the Duke of Bedford, ruled much of France including the capital, Paris...
. He was awarded many titles, among them the Lordship of Aubigny. The family stayed here for 400 years.
Links with Scotland
Aubigny is a common tourist destination for ScotsScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and others from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The commune is very attached to the Auld Alliance
Auld Alliance
The Auld Alliance was an alliance between the kingdoms of Scotland and France. It played a significant role in the relations between Scotland, France and England from its beginning in 1295 until the 1560 Treaty of Edinburgh. The alliance was renewed by all the French and Scottish monarchs of that...
, due to its 400 years of French-Scottish history and is the only place in France that still celebrates this long association each year, on Bastille Day
Bastille Day
Bastille Day is the name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July of each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale and commonly le quatorze juillet...
.
Population
Places of interest
- The church of St.Martin, dating from the thirteenth century.
- The fifteenth century castle of the Stuarts.
- The sixteenth century chateau de la Verrerie.
- Several sixteenth century houses.
- A tower, one of few remains of the original town fortifications.
- A museumMuseumA museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
dedicated to Marguerite AudouxMarguerite AudouxMarguerite Audoux was a French novelist.- Biography :Marguerite Donquichote, who took her mother's name, Audoux, in 1895, was orphaned by age three, following the death of her mother and abandonment by her father...
, (1863–1937), a writer that lived nearby.
Personalities
- John Stewart, Earl of Buchan (1381–1424)
- Bernard Stewart, Lord of AubignyBernard Stewart, Lord of AubignyBernard Stewart, 4rd Lord of Aubigny was a French soldier, Commander of the Garde Écossaise, and diplomat belonging to the Scottish family of Stewart of Darnley.-Early life:...
(1452–1508) - Robert Stewart, Lord of AubignyRobert Stewart, Lord of AubignyRobert Stewart , Lord of Aubigny, Count of Beaumont-le-Roger, was a French soldier belonging to the family of Stewart of Darnley.Robert was the fourth son of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox and Margaret Montgomerie...
(1470–1544) - Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of PortsmouthLouise de Kérouaille, Duchess of PortsmouthLouise Renée de Penancoët de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth was a mistress of Charles II of England. Through her son by Charles II, Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, she is ancestress of both wives of The Prince of Wales: the late Diana, Princess of Wales, as well as The Duchess of...
and Aubigny (1649–1734) - Théophile MoreuxThéophile Moreux-Life:Moreux was born at Argent-sur-Sauldre, Cher on 20 November 1867.He initiated the Bourges Observatory at the seminary St Célestin at Bourges, where he was a professor of science and mathematics....
, astronomerAstronomerAn astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
, is buried here.
Twin towns
Haddington, East LothianHaddington, East Lothian
The Royal Burgh of Haddington is a town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is the main administrative, cultural and geographical centre for East Lothian, which was known officially as Haddingtonshire before 1921. It lies about east of Edinburgh. The name Haddington is Anglo-Saxon, dating from the 6th...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Plopana
Plopana
Plopana is a commune in Bacău County, Romania. It is composed of nine villages: Budeşti, Dorneni, Fundu Tutovei, Iţcani, Plopana, Rusenii Răzeşti, Rusenii de Sus, Străminoasa and Ţâgâra....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Vlotho
Vlotho
Vlotho is a town in the district of Herford, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Vlotho is located along the Weser river, south of the Wiehengebirge, bordering on the Ravensberger Hügelland in the west, Lipperland in the south, and the Weserbergland in the east...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Villeneuve-de-la-Raho
Villeneuve-de-la-Raho
Villeneuve-de-la-Raho is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...