Vire
Encyclopedia
Vire is a commune
in the Calvados
department in the Basse-Normandie
region in northwestern France
.
, King of England and Duke of Normandy
, had a redoubt constructed on a rocky hill top, which was surrounded by the Vire river. The redoubt was stoned square at the bottom to assure the defense of the Duchy of Normandy
against any attacks from Brittany
or Maine
.
This stone work would be later, beginning of the 13th century, on the order of Saint Louis
, completed with exterior ramparts. This second precinct however would be finished only at the beginning of the 14th century.
In the old community of Neuville
, north of the territory, the castle of Tracy is the seat of an important manor, Arcisse de Caumont
.
At the end of the Middle Ages, the village prospered; first with leather, and then with textiles During the hundred years war, Vire was plundered in 1368 by large military companies, and delivered to the English in 1418. The English occupation would end in 1450 and would be brutal to the inhabitants. The execution of Hugues Vaux, owner of the largest farm of the village, after refusing to give up his farm to the English sergeant Fields, caused grief and concern amongst the population. Some inhabitants nevertheless benefited from the English occupation. Eugène Vergny, who provided Fields with information about the movement of the French troops, received the property of Vaux after his execution.
During the reign of Louis XIII of France
, because a number of Fortifications of the Middle Ages
served in rebellions by the Huguenots in particular, the castle and it's precinct were dismantled on orders of Richelieu.
During the XIX century, the village did not resist well to the Industrial Revolution
and went into an important recession.
On June 6, 1944 during the Second World War, around 8 PM, like many Normand cities and villages, Vire suffered heavily from the British bombings, and was destroyed at 95%. One of the two target marking flare groups was out of alignment and much of the bombing fell across the town of Vire. The Master Bomber in charge of the operation identified the problem and issued corrections to the incoming aircraft. Much of the bombing from the first wave of aircraft fell across the town of Vire killing many of the inhabitants. It was a distressing night for many families.
The reconstruction after the second world war began in the 1960s.
, South Devon
, United Kingdom since 1972 Santa Fe
, Spain since 1987 Baunatal
, Germany since 1983 Atlacomulco
, Mexico Săcele
, Romania since 2001
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 Calvados
Calvados
The French department of Calvados is part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the English Channel coast...
department in the Basse-Normandie
Basse-Normandie
Lower Normandy is an administrative region of France. It was created in 1956, when the Normandy region was divided into Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy...
region in northwestern 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...
.
History
In 1123, Henri I BeauclercHenry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
, King of England and Duke of Normandy
Duke of Normandy
The Duke of Normandy is the title of the reigning monarch of the British Crown Dependancies of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. The title traces its roots to the Duchy of Normandy . Whether the reigning sovereign is a male or female, they are always titled as the "Duke of...
, had a redoubt constructed on a rocky hill top, which was surrounded by the Vire river. The redoubt was stoned square at the bottom to assure the defense of the Duchy of Normandy
Duchy of Normandy
The Duchy of Normandy stems from various Danish, Norwegian, Hiberno-Norse, Orkney Viking and Anglo-Danish invasions of France in the 9th century...
against any attacks from Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
or Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
.
This stone work would be later, beginning of the 13th century, on the order of Saint Louis
Louis IX of France
Louis IX , commonly Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death. He was also styled Louis II, Count of Artois from 1226 to 1237. Born at Poissy, near Paris, he was an eighth-generation descendant of Hugh Capet, and thus a member of the House of Capet, and the son of Louis VIII and...
, completed with exterior ramparts. This second precinct however would be finished only at the beginning of the 14th century.
In the old community of Neuville
Neuville
-Communes in France:*Neuville, Corrèze, in the Corrèze département*Neuville, Puy-de-Dôme, in the Puy-de-Dôme département*Neuville-au-Bois, in the Somme département*Neuville-au-Cornet, in the Pas-de-Calais département...
, north of the territory, the castle of Tracy is the seat of an important manor, Arcisse de Caumont
Arcisse de Caumont
Arcisse de Caumont was a French historian and archaeologist.-Biography:Arcisse Caumont was born at Bayeux to François de Caumont and Marie-Louise de Mathan Hue. One of his mentors was Charles de Gerville, known, amongst other things, for coining the term "roman". In 1810, he was sent to school at...
.
At the end of the Middle Ages, the village prospered; first with leather, and then with textiles During the hundred years war, Vire was plundered in 1368 by large military companies, and delivered to the English in 1418. The English occupation would end in 1450 and would be brutal to the inhabitants. The execution of Hugues Vaux, owner of the largest farm of the village, after refusing to give up his farm to the English sergeant Fields, caused grief and concern amongst the population. Some inhabitants nevertheless benefited from the English occupation. Eugène Vergny, who provided Fields with information about the movement of the French troops, received the property of Vaux after his execution.
During the reign of Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
, because a number of Fortifications of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
served in rebellions by the Huguenots in particular, the castle and it's precinct were dismantled on orders of Richelieu.
During the XIX century, the village did not resist well to the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
and went into an important recession.
On June 6, 1944 during the Second World War, around 8 PM, like many Normand cities and villages, Vire suffered heavily from the British bombings, and was destroyed at 95%. One of the two target marking flare groups was out of alignment and much of the bombing fell across the town of Vire. The Master Bomber in charge of the operation identified the problem and issued corrections to the incoming aircraft. Much of the bombing from the first wave of aircraft fell across the town of Vire killing many of the inhabitants. It was a distressing night for many families.
The reconstruction after the second world war began in the 1960s.
Population
Communes of the canton include
- VaudryVaudryVaudry is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-External links:*...
- Saint Germain de Tallevende
- [Saint Martin de Tallevende :fr:Saint-Martin-de-Tallevende
Twins
Vire is twinned with: TotnesTotnes
Totnes is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
, South Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, United Kingdom since 1972 Santa Fe
Santa Fe, Granada
Santa Fe is a Spanish municipality in the province of Granada, situated in the Vega de Granada, irrigated by the river Genil.The town was originally built by the Catholic armies besieging Granada after a fire destroyed much of their encampment....
, Spain since 1987 Baunatal
Baunatal
Baunatal is a town in the district of Kassel, in Hesse, Germany. It is a comparatively young town which arose from fusion of the formerly independent municipalities Altenbauna, Altenritte, Großenritte, Guntershausen, Hertingshausen, Kirchbauna and Rengershausen in 1966.-Geographic location:Baunatal...
, Germany since 1983 Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco is a city and municipality located in the northwest of the State of Mexico in central Mexico, 63 km from the state capital of Toluca. The name is derived from the Nahuatl phrase "atlacomulli" which means "where there are wells." The city, with a population of 20,477 is...
, Mexico Săcele
Sacele
Săcele is a city in Braşov County, Romania, in the region of Transylvania, with a population of 29,915 inhabitants in 2002. It is practically adjacent to the city of Braşov, its city centre being situated 15 km away from downtown Braşov.-History:...
, Romania since 2001
Personalities
- Charles-Julien Lioult de ChênedolléCharles-Julien Lioult de ChênedolléCharles-Julien Lioult de Chênedollé , French poet, was born at Vire . His father was a member of the revenue court of Normandy...
- Henry I of EnglandHenry I of EnglandHenry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
- Olivier BasselinOlivier BasselinOlivier Basselin , French poet, was born in the Val-de-Vire in Normandy about the end of the 14th century.He was by occupation a fuller, and tradition still points out the site of his mill...