Villefranche
Encyclopedia
Villefranche is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:
Many French towns are called Villefranche , mostly in the south of France (often with the addition of a name specifying the region where it is, to distinguish it from others of the same name). Franqueville or Francheville is more common in the North of France.
This archetype Gazetteer demonstrates an important milestone in the history of the evolution of cities in Europe and in the history of the bourgeoisie.
Franche here means "free"; as the community was a city composed of "bourgeois" who were freed from strict feudal lord of a well and found themselves excluded from certain obligations (in particular fiscal, monetary) which usually applicable to mere "subjects" and the commoners.
This opportunity allowed the bourgeoisie French (and European) to depart from traditional life of the 13th & 14th century, focusing their energies and resources on fostering the development of the banking system, trade, science, etc.
Left with facing their own responsibilities, they began to organize themselves, and the citizenry gradually formed civil society, and developed some spheres of economic, cultural, social and political power.
This gradual emancipation led the bourgeoisie to move further and further in the autonomy and "self-management" (an anachronistic term here), until eventually undermine the very existence of feudalism and the monarchy, and to be swept-up much later in the turmoil of the Revolution of 1789 .
Many French towns are called Villefranche , mostly in the south of France (often with the addition of a name specifying the region where it is, to distinguish it from others of the same name). Franqueville or Francheville is more common in the North of France.
This archetype Gazetteer demonstrates an important milestone in the history of the evolution of cities in Europe and in the history of the bourgeoisie.
Franche here means "free"; as the community was a city composed of "bourgeois" who were freed from strict feudal lord of a well and found themselves excluded from certain obligations (in particular fiscal, monetary) which usually applicable to mere "subjects" and the commoners.
This opportunity allowed the bourgeoisie French (and European) to depart from traditional life of the 13th & 14th century, focusing their energies and resources on fostering the development of the banking system, trade, science, etc.
Left with facing their own responsibilities, they began to organize themselves, and the citizenry gradually formed civil society, and developed some spheres of economic, cultural, social and political power.
This gradual emancipation led the bourgeoisie to move further and further in the autonomy and "self-management" (an anachronistic term here), until eventually undermine the very existence of feudalism and the monarchy, and to be swept-up much later in the turmoil of the Revolution of 1789 .
- Villefranche, GersVillefranche, GersVillefranche is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Population:...
, in the Gers département - Villefranche, YonneVillefranche, YonneVillefranche is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France....
, in the Yonne département - Villefranche-d'AlbigeoisVillefranche-d'AlbigeoisVillefranche-d'Albigeois is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France.-References:*...
, in the Tarn département - Villefranche-d'AllierVillefranche-d'AllierVillefranche-d'Allier is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:-References:*...
, in the Allier département - Villefranche-de-ConflentVillefranche-de-ConflentVillefranche-de-Conflent is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in south of France.-The Capital of Conflent:The original town dates from 1098 and is fortified because of its strategic position in lands that changed hands between French and Spanish occupation.* 1374, Villefranche...
, in the Pyrénées-Orientales département - Villefranche-de-LauragaisVillefranche-de-LauragaisVillefranche-de-Lauragais is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, in the Haute-Garonne département - Villefranche-de-LonchatVillefranche-de-LonchatVillefranche-de-Lonchat is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, in the Dordogne département - Villefranche-de-PanatVillefranche-de-PanatVillefranche-de-Panat is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, in the Aveyron département - Villefranche-de-RouergueVillefranche-de-RouergueVillefranche-de-Rouergue is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-History:At the end of the Albigensian Crusade from the northern "barons" against the southern Occitania on a religious pretext , the Count of Toulouse was defeated and concluded the treaty of Paris in 1229...
, in the Aveyron département - Villefranche-du-PérigordVillefranche-du-PérigordVillefranche-du-Périgord is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, in the Dordogne département - Villefranche-du-QueyranVillefranche-du-QueyranVillefranche-du-Queyran is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in south-western France.-See also:*Communes of the Lot-et-Garonne department...
, in the Lot-et-Garonne département - Villefranche-le-ChâteauVillefranche-le-ChâteauVillefranche-le-Château is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, in the a Drôme département - Villefranche-sur-CherVillefranche-sur-CherVillefranche-sur-Cher is a commune in the Loir-et-Cher department in central France.-See also:*Communes of the Loir-et-Cher department...
, in the Loir-et-Cher département - Villefranche-sur-MerVillefranche-sur-MerVillefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera.-Geography:...
, in the Alpes-Maritimes département - Villefranche-sur-SaôneVillefranche-sur-SaôneVillefranche-sur-Saône is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.It lies 1 mile west of the Saône River, and is around north of Lyon...
, in the Rhône département
See also
- Jacques-Melchior VillefrancheJacques-Melchior VillefrancheJacques-Melchior Villefranche was a French editor, writer, and publicist working for Roman Catholic causes.-Life:...
(1829-1904), French Catholic publicist - Villafranca (disambiguation)Villafranca (disambiguation)-Italy:*Villafranca d'Asti, in the province of Asti*Villafranca di Verona, in the province of Verona*Villafranca in Lunigiana, in the province of Massa-Carrara*Villafranca Padovana, in the province of Padua*Villafranca Piemonte, in the province of Turin...