Esquerdes
Encyclopedia
Esquerdes is a commune
in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France
.
, on the D211 road. The A26 autoroute passes very close by.
, the Leulène, that ran from Thérouanne
to Sangatte
on the coast. An archaeological survey of 1984 revealed traces of the Neolithic
period (flint
and carved bone) at two sites known as Les Tripoux and Le Paradis.
The private Crèvecoeur farm, near the river, is made up of a number of buildings dating from the fifteenth century that belonged to John de Trémoillepuis and his son, Philippe de Crèvecoeur
, who served under Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy
and Kings Louis XI and Charles VII
. He was appointed Marshall of France in 1483 and changed his surname to that of Esquerdes.
The story of Esquerdes is linked to the development of two major industries of paper
and gunpowder
, which developed from the time of Louis XIV until the 19th century and which led to a large growth in population. In 1790, the town was large enough (with its 500 inhabitants) to be appointed chief town of the canton
. Two hundred years or so later, this figure has more than tripled.
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 Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region 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
A farming village situated 4 miles (6 km) southwest of Saint-OmerSaint-Omer
Saint-Omer , a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area....
, on the D211 road. The A26 autoroute passes very close by.
Etymology
The village name first appears as Squerda in the year 857. Later known as Ekarde and finally as Esquerdes.History
An ancient village, Esquerdes was on the Roman roadRoman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
, the Leulène, that ran from Thérouanne
Thérouanne
Thérouanne is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Thérouanne is located 10 miles southwest of Saint-Omer, on the D157 and D341 road junction.-Population:-History:...
to Sangatte
Sangatte
Sangatte is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department on the northern coast of France on the English Channel.Like many place names in French Flanders, the name is of Flemish origin and means "gap in the sand".-Engineering:...
on the coast. An archaeological survey of 1984 revealed traces of the Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
period (flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
and carved bone) at two sites known as Les Tripoux and Le Paradis.
The private Crèvecoeur farm, near the river, is made up of a number of buildings dating from the fifteenth century that belonged to John de Trémoillepuis and his son, Philippe de Crèvecoeur
Philippe de Crèvecœur d'Esquerdes
Philippe de Crèvecœur, seigneur d'Esquerdes , was a French military and a Marshal of France in 1486.He is also known as Maréchal des Cordes ou Maréchal d'Esquerdes.-Biography:...
, who served under Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy was a title borne by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, a small portion of traditional lands of Burgundians west of river Saône which in 843 was allotted to Charles the Bald's kingdom of West Franks...
and Kings Louis XI and 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 appointed Marshall of France in 1483 and changed his surname to that of Esquerdes.
The story of Esquerdes is linked to the development of two major industries of paper
Stationery
Stationery has historically meant a wide gamut of materials: paper and office supplies, writing implements, greeting cards, glue, pencil case etc.-History of stationery:...
and gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
, which developed from the time of Louis XIV until the 19th century and which led to a large growth in population. In 1790, the town was large enough (with its 500 inhabitants) to be appointed chief town of the canton
Cantons of France
The cantons of France are territorial subdivisions of the French Republic's 342 arrondissements and 101 departments.Apart from their role as organizational units in certain aspects of the administration of public services and justice, the chief purpose of the cantons today is to serve as...
. Two hundred years or so later, this figure has more than tripled.
Population
Places of interest
- The church of St.Martin, dating from the twelfth century.
- The remains of a fifteenth century chateau.
- The old paper millPaper millA paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
, still working in a small capacity. - The gunpowderGunpowderGunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
factory.
Notable people
- Philippe de Crèvecœur d'EsquerdesPhilippe de Crèvecœur d'EsquerdesPhilippe de Crèvecœur, seigneur d'Esquerdes , was a French military and a Marshal of France in 1486.He is also known as Maréchal des Cordes ou Maréchal d'Esquerdes.-Biography:...
(1418–1494), Marshal of France in 1486 and seigneurLordLord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
of the village.