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Saint-Python
Commune
Aerial shot of Saint-Python in 1984.
Coat of arms
Location of Saint-Python
Saint-Python Show map of France Saint-Python Show map of Hauts-de-France
Coordinates: 50°11′26″N 3°28′57″E / 50.1906°N 3.4825°E / 50.1906; 3.4825Coordinates: 50°11′26″N 3°28′57″E / 50.1906°N 3.4825°E / 50.1906; 3.4825
Country	France
Region	Hauts-de-France
Department	Nord
Arrondissement	Cambrai
Canton	Caudry
Intercommunality	Communauté de communes du Pays solesmois
Government
• Mayor .mw-parser-output .nobold{font-weight:normal} (2014–2020)	Georges Flamengt
Area 1	7.43 km2 (2.87 sq mi)
Population (2015)2	995
• Density	130/km2 (350/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	59541 /59730
Elevation	58–117 m (190–384 ft) (avg. 85 m or 279 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Saint-Python (officially spelt Sainct-Pieton and St-Piton during different periods preceding 1800) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France named after Piatus of Tournai (Saint-Piat). Its inhabitants are called the 'Saint-Piatiens'. They can also be referred to as 'Piatonnais'.

Toponymy

• In 1176, a 'Leprosarium Title of Cambrai' first mentions 'Santus Piatus'.
  


• 
  'Sancto Piato' is found in a letter by Roger de Wavrin, évêque de Cambrai in 1182 and in the 'Communal Charter of Solesmes' in 1202.


• 
  'Python' is a deformation of 'Piatus or Piat'. The church of the commune is also under the name of Saint-Piat also named Piat de Seclin or Piatus of Tournai, thus confirming the origin of the name of the village.^[1]
  

Heraldry

The arms of Saint-Python are blazoned : Ermine, 3 lozenges gules.

History

Chronology

The following chronologically-ordered dates mark the historical events which had the most impact on Saint-Python:

• 
  57 BC: The legions of Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) marched on the Mourmont, a lieu-dit between St-Python and Solesmes to lead the Battle of the Sabis, fought near modern Saulzoir between the Roman Republic and an association of Belgic tribes from northern Gaul (mainly the Nervii). Julius Caesar, commanding the forces, was surprised and nearly defeated. According to Caesar's report: "a combination of determined defence, skilled generalship, and the timely arrival of reinforcements allowed the Romans to turn a strategic defeat into a tactical Victory".^[2]
  


• 
  1074: Saint Lietbertus (Lietbert of Brakel or of Cambrai, de Lessines; ca. 1010–1076) who was bishop of Cambrai (31 March 1051 – 28 September 1076) donated important goods to the Abbaye Saint-André du Cateau in Le Cateau-Cambrésis as well as lands and properties located in Saint-Python.^[3]
  


• 
  1185: Saint-Python (and most importantly its Castle which has belonged to the Cardon Family) was set on fire by Philip I, Count of Flanders (1143 – 1 August 1191) who had succeeded his father Thierry of Alsace. On November 1, 1185, Philip vehemently argued with his brother-in-law Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut (1150 – 17 December 1195) and declared war on him swearing to destroy everything in Hainaut "through steel and fire". To this end, he attracted in his party several powerful princes and lords such as Philip I (German: Philipp von Heinsberg; c. 1130- 13 August 1191) Archbishop of Cologne and Archchancellor of Italy, the Duke of Brabant and his son James of Avesnes, who seemed to have forgotten they all owed the Count of Hainaut.^[4]
  


• 
  April 1263: the foundations of a chapel belonging to Abbaye Saint-André (Sanctus Andreas de Castillo, Le Cateau-Cambrésis).^[5]
  


• 
  On February 24, 1416: The Burgundians are housed in Saint-Python. These supporters of the Duke of Burgundy, John the Fearle t formed after the assassination of Louis I, Duke of Orléans. Their opposition to the Armagnac party, the supporters of Charles, Duke of Orléans, led to the Armagnac–Burgundian Civil Warl ^[6].


• 
  At the end of 1420: Haussy, Vertain and Saulzoir have their defenses reinforced by the Grand bailli du Hainaut.^[7]
  


• 
  1437-1440: The écorcheurs (French: [ekɔʁʃœʁ], lit. "flayers") devastated the country including Saint-Python. These armed bands who desolated France in the reign of Charles VII, stripped their victims of everything as mercenaries without employment since the Treaty of Arras which ended disputes between the Armagnacs and Burgundians in 1435. Rodrigo de Villandrando was known as the "Emperor of Pillagers" (Empereur des Brigands) and "L'Écorcheur".^[8]
  


• 
  1450: As an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, the plague was endemic from 1347 to 1670 in the region which it ravaged. Symptoms included fever, weakness and headache. It struck Saint-Python at least in 1450 and around 1669 (as quoted in Solesmes' Public Registers). In 1676, many deaths seem to be attributable to it (about 4 times the average of the time).
  


• 
  1536: Reconstruction of Saint-Python Church's transept, apse, choir and chancel. .


• 
  1539: Enumeration of 1539: Saint-Python has 46 fires.


• 
  1544: The village seems partially abandoned and some inhabitants take refuge in Cambrai.


• 
  1553: The village is occupied by the French. (Enumeration of Verchain – 1561).


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  Traités du Cateau-Cambrésis (1559) involving St-Python.

  
  
  
  1559: Traités du Cateau-Cambrésis: Peace between Henry II of France and Philip II of Spain.


• 
  1561: Saint-Python is said to have been abandoned for a while following severe lootings. (Enumeration of 1561) Saint-Python has 34 fires.


• 
  On March 23, 1567: Counter-Reformation. Resumption of Valenciennes with the Huguenots by Philip of Noircarmes (c. 1530 – Utrecht, 5 March 1574) was a statesman and soldier from the Habsburg Netherlands in the service of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and Philip II of Spain. He gained notoriety during the suppression of Calvinist insurrections, especially at Valenciennes (1566–1567).


• 
  1576–1595: The Baron of Inchy and then of Balagny-sur-Thérain seized the Cambresis and ransomed the extended area. The baron forced the recipient of public money to give him increasing sums, seized the treasures of churches, traded ceremonial bells for cash, vases, gold ornaments, created new taxes on wine and beer and taxed the convents. Around 1580, the prince of Parma, with a Spanish troop, ravaged the Cambresis and sieged Cambrai by seizing Bouchain and making it a point of support. The Baron of Inchy was assisted by the Duke of Anjou, brother of Henry III. The French became masters of Cambrai, but the Baron of Inchy was killed by a peasant of Pommereuil in 1582. Jean de Balagny, bastard son of the bishop of Valence, who had helped Baron of Inchy became governor of Cambrai. Husband of Renée d'Amboise, he behaved like a dictator and is often considered an adventurer. In 1593, when Henry IV abjured Protestantism, he decided to put himself at the service of the new sovereign. Henry IV entered Cambrai on August 5, 1594 and named him prince of Cambrai. However, the Count de Fuentès besieged Cambrai in August 1595 with the complicity of the Cambrésiens tired of the governor's abuses and seized on October 9, 1596. Balagny was safe, wiped the wrath of Henry IV and plotted again in 1598 to regain his titles. He had lost his wife during the siege of 1596.^[9]
  


• 
  November 1581: Saint-Python is abandoned, the inhabitants take refuge in Valenciennes or Le Quesnoy.


• 
  1598: Edict of Nantes (French: édit de Nantes), signed in April 1598 by King Henry IV of France: free exercise of worship in France.


• 
  1610: Assassination of Henry IV (French: Henri IV, read as Henri-Quatre [ɑ̃ʁi katʁ]; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610).
  


• 
  1613: Beginning of Louis XIII's reign.


• 
  1635: Thirty Years' War beginning. One of the most destructive conflicts in human history.


• 
  On July 7, 1637: Landrecies and Le Cateau taken by the French (Turenne). Saint-Python is declared to have been abandoned after taking Landrecies.

Conquests of Louis XIV (from 1643 to 1715): Kngdom of France in 1643 (territory in light yellow)

• 
  1643: Death of Louis XIII: Regency of his wife Anne of Austria (22 September 1601 – 20 January 1666) and Cardinal Mazarin (14 July 1602 – 9 March 1661).
  

Battle of Rocroi (1643) by Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau.

• 
  On May 19–21, 1643: Battle of Rocroi resulted in the victory of a French army under the Duc d'Enghien against the Spanish Army under General Francisco de Melo only five days after the accession of Louis XIV of France to the throne of France, late in the Thirty Years' War.

• 
  On July 17, 1647: Landrecies is taken over by the Spaniards.


• 
  On August 31, 1651: The French fail the recovery of Le Quesnoy and fall back to Mount Huy and Le Cateau plundering the country.


• 
  On November 7, 1659: The Treaty of the Pyrenees (French: Traité des Pyrénées) was signed on Pheasant Island on 7 November 1659 to end the 1635–1659 war between France and Spain. The kings Louis XIV of France and Philip IV of Spain were represented by their chief ministers, Cardinal Mazarin and Don Luis Méndez de Haro, respectively. It gave to France: Le Quesnoy, Landrecies, Avesnes and their territories. Saint-Python then becomes French (and bordering for about 18 years).


• 
  1661: Beginning of the personal reign of Louis XIV.


• 
  On May 14, 1667: Beginning of the War of Devolution (1667–1668) saw the French armies of Louis XIV overrun the Habsburg-controlled Spanish Netherlands and the Franche-Comté (or Free County of Burgundy), only to be pressured to give most of it back by a Triple Alliance of England, Sweden and the Dutch Republic, in the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.


• 
  1667: In Saint-Python, the precious ceremonial bells are depended to hide them in Valenciennes.


• 
  On May 2, 1668: Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle: France takes over Douai, Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, Lille.


• 
  1673: Beginning of the Franco-Dutch War (1672 – 1678; French: Guerre de Hollande) fought by France, Sweden, Münster, Cologne and England against the Dutch Republic, which was later joined by the Austrian Habsburg lands, Brandenburg-Prussia and Spain to form a Quadruple Alliance.


• 
  March 1675: Saint-Python is obliged to deliver to many cities many carts full of fodder for the king such as in Le Quesnoy, Avesnes-les-Aubert, Fayt, Charleroi, Ors, Philippeville). The cleric who presumably was Jean Legrand went twice to the army when the king was stationed in Montay (then Montay-lez-Chastel en Cambresis) on May 15, 16 and 17, 1675 in order to "fetch back for the conservation of the peasants."
  


• 
  On March 17, 1677: Valenciennes is taken by Louis XIV, Cambrai is also a month later.


• 
  On August 10, 1678: Treaties of Peace of Nijmegen (Traités de Paix de Nimègue)that gives France Valenciennes, Bouchain, Cambrai, Bavay and Maubeuge.


• 
  1695: Introduction of the Capitation of 1695: direct tax proportional to rank (22 ranks). In Saint-Python, the Capitation was as follows: - 1711: 420 French livres 11 sous (sols) (+ 394 livres 7 sols repayments / following the wars). In 1714: 84 French livres. In 1717: 330 French livres "sitting on 76 households". 1718: 376 French livres 4 floors "sitting on 81 households". In 1747: 514 French livres 10 sous (sols) "monnoie de Hainaut".
  


• 
  1697: Treaty of Ryswick.


• 
  1701: Beginning of the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714).

Battle of Malplaquet

• 
  on 11 September 1709: The Battle of Malplaquet which impacted Saint-Python. (Copied content from Battle of Malplaquet; see that page's history for attribution): It was a battle of the War of the Spanish Succession which opposed the Bourbons of France and Spain against an alliance whose major members were the Habsburg Monarchy, the United Provinces, Great Britain and the Kingdom of Prussia.The Dutch-British army (the Dutch forming the vast majority of the troops) and Austrians were led by the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugène of Savoy, while the French were commanded by Marshal Villars and Marshal Boufflers.

• 
  1709–1710: The 'hard Winter' (French: Dur Hiver) : Misery and famine due to war and weather conditions. A terrible cold weather rages from January 6 to mid-February 1709, freezing seeds in the ground and causing for prices to quadruple between January and July 1709 and increasing again until the summer of 1710. On September 11, 1709, the French were defeated by the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugène of Savoy at Malplaquet. Villars, however, inflicted heavy losses on the allies and was able to retire in good order.
  
  


• 
  1710: Introduction of Impôt du dixième (The Tenth): income tax created soon after the Grande famine of 1709to face the costs of the Spanish succession war. There was the tenth land on tenure, one-tenth of offices and rights on revenue from offices and the tenth on industrial and commercial revenues. The administration was powerless to return the tenth on the privileged and to obtain the declarations imposed. The clergy were redeemed by a free gift of 8 million French livres. In Saint-Python, the collectors were Jean Baptiste Saigniez, Jean Claude Bantegnie and Antoine Bleuse with an average of 1.400 French livres from 1743 to 1749. The tenth was abolished in 1717. Following the War of the Polish Succession (1733–35), it was restored in 1733 and lasted until January 1737. He was re-established in August 1741 during the War of the Austrian Succession and abolished again in 1749, when it was replaced by the Twentieth (French: Le Vingtième). In Saint-Python, the collectors for the twentieth were Pierre Fourmont, Jean Desgardins, Antoine Ledieu, Estienne Bantegnie, Jacques Tilmont and Michel Bantegnie with an average of 650 French livres from 1700 to 1748.^[10]
  


• 
  On July 04,1712: Le Quesnoy is taken over by the allies (the Dutch and the English).


• 
  On July 25,1712: The French who went from Montay to Douchy-les-Mines crossed Saint Python.


• 
  July 1712: The Battle of Denain was fought on 24 July 1712, as part of the War of the Spanish Succession. It resulted in a French victory under Marshal Villars against Dutch and Austrian forces under Prince Eugene of Savoy. Valenciennes, Douai, Le Quesnoy are taken over by France. Saint-Python is consequentially impacted.

Paolo de Matteis's Bozzetto: an allegory of the Peace of Utrecht now located in the Museo di Capodimonte.

• 
  April 1713: The Peace of Utrecht (French: Traités d'Utrecht) a series of peace treaties signed by the belligerents in the War of the Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht between April 1713 and February 1715.

• 
  1715: Death of Louis XIV. He had many ailments: for example, symptoms of diabetes, as confirmed in reports of suppurating periostitis in 1678, dental abscesses in 1696, along with recurring boils, fainting spells, gout, dizziness, hot flushes, and headaches. His body was laid to rest in Saint-Denis Basilica outside Paris. It remained there undisturbed for about 80 years, until revolutionaries exhumed and destroyed all of the remains found in the Basilica. Louis XIV's only surviving legitimate grandson, Philip V, was not included in the line of succession due to having renounced the French throne after the war of the Spanish succession, which lasted for 13 years after the death of Charles II of Spain in 1700.


• 
  1723: Smallpox epidemic.


• 
  1742: Undetermined Epidemic.


• 
  1748: The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (Treaty of Aachen) ended the War of the Austrian Succession.
  


• 
  1757: Construction of the current Saint-Python's Church.


• 
  1790: Saint-Python's first municipal election. The first mayor is Charles J. Marlier.
  

Maroilles Abbey (Albums de Croÿ) – Benoît Lempereur.

• 
  1793: Conflicts (The Revolution and the Clergy): Around 1793, Dom Benoît Lempereur (8 December 1747 in Viesly (French Flanders) – 25 October 1797 in Douai) was a former Order of Saint-Benedict prior of Maroilles Abbey who refused the Serment de haine à la royauté passed under the French Directory on March 10, march 1796 because he opposed the French Revolution (1789–1799) for which he was sentenced to be shot dead. He had evangelized many rural parishes including Saint-Python which preserved to this day in his 'Baptism' Registers' the signature of this apostle. Benoît Lempereur and 'Constitutional Catholic Priest of Saint-Python Maroilles and Roussel' (Curé de Saint-Python), Charles Marie Ratte (deceased on January 1, 1799) both had promised not to celebrate 'Sunday', are forced under the pressure of their flock to retract their promise and abandon the Decadi (Culte décadaire) in spite of the obligation given to priests to celebrate the Decadi instead of Sunday. Armed forces and special workers will be sent to Solesmes, Saint-Python and Beaurain at the end of June, 1798, if the inhabitants have not done away with the crosses of the steeples. In the spring of 1798, Claude François Marie Primate (July 26, 1747 in Lyon – October 10, 1816 in Toulouse) who was évêque of Cambrai (1791–1798) undertook a pastoral journey through his diocese. On November 1, he is in Saint-Python where the 'Commissioner of Solesmes' Delsart drew up a report against him under the false pretense that the bells have been sounded for confirmation. He is incarcerated in Valenciennes, released on bail after a few days.^[11]
  


• 
  1832, 1848 and 1866: Cholera caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae raged in Saint-Python.


• 
  Bombing on May 9, 1944: greatly impacted Saint-Python. Copied content from Institution Saint-Michel; see that page's history for attribution: From February to June 1944, the Allies intensified their destructive efforts on roads and rails to isolate the Normandy landings and to dupe the Germans into believing that this landing would take place in the nearer Pas-de-Calais. General Eisenhower encapsulated those successful bombings "as the greatest contribution to the success of Overlord” (June 6, 44). On May 9, 1944; the 416th Bomb Group successfully destroyed the Aarschot railway station between Brussels and Antwerp with several Douglas Boston III Havocs each carrying four 250-kg bombs and the 409th Bomb Group caused death and destruction in Solesmes with the same equipment. On May 9, at around 8:15 am, the air alert loud sirens prompted all children who went to school to go back home and around 10:15, two explosions were heard as four bombs were accidentally detached from the freight deck of an aircraft.. Seventy bombs in total exploded in the city-center killing fifty-eight people including twenty-two children and the destruction of ninety-seven buildings while the wounded were transferred to the hospital of Le Cateau. The American airmen had orders; when they were not carrying out their mission; to drop their bombs on secondary targets. Moreover, at 3500 m altitude the accuracy of a shot was 1 km whick included Saint-Python.

Lords (Seigneuries)

Many different Lords (French: Seigneurs) owned Saint-Python's lands and properties and had administrative power over the town. The following are the Lords of Saint-Python (French: Seigneurs de Saint-Python) chronologically ordered:

• 
  1478 and prior: Les seigneurs De Barbançon:


• 
  1478 - 1513: Nicolas De Werchin (35 years): was born before 1462 and married Yolente De Luxembourg in 1482. He was 'hereditary seneschal' of Hainaut, baron of Cysoing, 'Premier Beer of Flanders, lord of Werchin, Walincourt, Jeumont, Fagnoeulles, the Biez, Templemars, Montreul and La Royère. He had 5 children including Antoine and Pierre and died on July 10, 1513 at the Château Du Biez in Péruwelz and was buried in Roubaix.


• 
  1513 - 1528: Antoine De Werchin (15 years): Son of the preceding who married after the death of his father Marguerite De Luxembourg. He had the same duties and titles as his father. On April 1,1516, he dined at the Château de Verchin, going to Valenciennes, and the next day to Saint-Python. In 1517 he left for Spain where he distinguished himself in tournaments in Zaragoza. He died in 1528 (or 1529) without posterity.


• 
  1528 - 1556: Pierre De Werchin (28 years): born round 1500, brother of the previous one, he also had the same titles to which he added those of his mother who died in 1534. He married Hélène De Vergy, was chamberlain to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and was made prisoner at the Siege of Therouanne then traded for the lord of Fiennes. He was one of the 22 knights of the Order of the Golden Fleece elected by Charles V in Utrecht in 1555 and was governor of Tournai. He had two "sectarians" burned alive. One named Pierre Brusly, one of the best disciples of Calvin, making his sermons at night in hiding and a 'hautlisseur' named Bertrand Le Blas for having sacked the Sacramental bread out of the priest's hands (Le Blas had a fist cut out beforehand as punishment). As a Catholic he was a great enemy of the Calvinists, who in August 1566, 10 years after his death in 1556, profaned his grave and threw his remains in the Scheldt. He had three daughters, Joan, who became a nun at Ath, Charlotte, who became lady of Jeumont, and married Charles, Maximilian De Hennin, and Yolente.^[12]
  


• 
  1556 - 1593: Yolente De Werchin (37 years): married Hugues De Melun on October 3, 1543 and inherited (among others) the Seigneury of Saint-Python. Born around 1520, she died on May 16, 1593 and was buried in Roubaix.


• 
  1593 - 1634: Anne Marie De Melun (41 years): x Lamoral De Ligne.


• 
  1634 - 1641: Albert Henri De Ligne (7 years): x Marie Claire De Nassau.


• 
  1641 - 1679: Claude Lamoral De Ligne (38 years)and his wife Countess Claire Marie of Nassau-Siegen. Claude Lamoral, 3rd Prince of Ligne, Prince of Epinoy, Marquis of Roubaix and Count of Fauquemberg (8 October 1618 – 21 December 1679), was a nobleman from the Spanish Netherlands, a soldier and diplomat in the service of Philip IV of Spain and Charles II of Spain .


• 
  1679 - 1702: Henri Louis Ernest De Ligne (23 years): x Jeanne d'Aragon (assumed).


• 
  1705: Antoine Parisot (11 years):
  


• 
  1716 - 1720: Charles Louis Parisot (4 years): Parisot is a village in Tarn-et-Garonne on the Villefranche-de-Rouergue / Montauban axis. The mystery remains as to how the descendants of these distant lords became lords of Saint-Python. Charles married Marie Catherine De Montmonnier. In late 1715, he sold for 12,000 florins his lordship Blécourt. He had 7 children including four of them who died in the Saint-Python's Castle fire on September 4, 1718. One of his sons who was a squire became the commanding officer of the Régiment de Rochefort while one of his girls married Jean Féry Antoine De Carondelet. On June 30, 1719, he received 160,000 French livres from his sister Marie Catherine Parisot who lived in Saint-Python against an inheritance annuity of 6,400 French livres. On April 20,1720 he sells a stronghold located in St-Python for 6,400 French livres to the Seigneur Delalive. He died on April 26,1745 at Parish St George in Cambrai aged 56 after a lengthy agony. The collective rumour had it that the desperate lord played his castle at a card game and lost it.

• 1720 - 1721: Louis Denis De La Live de Bellegarde (1 year):

de Pollinchove's Cenotaph by Allegrain in Douai (1763).

• 
  1735 - 1756: Charles Joseph De Pollinchove (28 May 1675 in Tournai – 29 November 1756 in Douai) (21 years): was the President of the Parlement de Flandres in Douai. He was squire and later knight then became Seigneur of LaBeuvrière and Saint-Python before ruling over Haussy which he bought from Louis Alexandre Duval (Lord of Sautrecourt) and Marie Jeanne Antoinette Wagret on September 6,1734 for the sum of 30,000 florins. Law graduate, he was named in 1699 magistrate of Tournai member. Son of Jacques-Martin de Pollinchove, he was later proclaimed 'Ordinary Advisor of the King (French: Conseiller Ordinaire du Roi). De Pollinchove (aged 55) married Marie-Madeleine Du Chamge De La Saulderie (aged 27) on January 9, 1730 at the Église Saint-Brice and had two boys and three girls with her from 1732 to 1745. He is known for both the Collégiale Saint-Pierre de Douai and the Hôpital-Général de Douai's respective restorations. Its funerary monument was erected in 1763 by French sculptor Christophe-Gabriel Allegrain in the Collégiale Saint-Pierre de Douai. He was also Charles d'Abancour’s grandfather, who was assassinated in Versailles on the 9^th of September 1792 as the last 'War Minister' named by Louis XVI of France.

• 
  1756 - 1762: Charles Joseph Xavier De Pollinchove (6 years) i n of the preceding Lord of Saint-Python. He was baptized at the Collégiale Saint-Pierre de Douai on July 25,1737. He was made advisor to the Parlement de Flandres on December 12,1757, made Président à mortier on January 4, 1760, Keeper of the Seals of the Chancellery of the said Parliament on June 11,1778 and 1st president on February 13,1780. By letters patent of the king, he was summoned in 1787 to attend the 'Assembly of Notables and was part of the sixth office chaired by Louis François Joseph, Prince of Conti (1 September 1734 – 13 March 1814). By decision of 14 nivôse year 6 of the French Directory, he is deemed 'emigrated', having left France since July 14, 1799. His title of Lord of Saint-Python and properties were confiscated for the benefit of the Republic. He died unmarried on February 21, 1816 in his hôtel particulier located at 'rue de la Ture' in Tournai.

• 
  1762 - 1816: Gaspart Félix Jacques De Pollinchove.(54 years): ^[13]
  

Saint-Python's Church and Townhall.

Mayors (Post-1790 Administration)

Saint-Python's first municipal election.

On February 3, 1790; in front of Pierre J. Blas former mayor gathered together Jean Jacques Bantegnie, Jacques Bizeau, Jean-Jacques Bleuse, Charles Louis Santerre and Jean-Noël Manet échevins in Adrien J. Gabet's home for the "Assembly of Active Citizens of the Parish and Community of St. Python". They chose the three oldest members of the assembly, namely Philippe Bantegny, Jean Baptiste Port and Antoine Forierre. After counting votes, Pierre J. Blas is designated "prendeur" and the elected secretary is Charles J. Marlier. The mayor is then designated "by plurality": Charles J. Marlier. The Following day at 2 a.m. the municipal officers are named: Pierre J. Blas, Nicolas J. Douay, Jean Jacques Bantigny, Jean Noël Manet and Jean François Tondeur. Voters elected Mr Duplessy 'Vicar of St-Python' as public prosecutor, who refused. On the 23rd Etienne Dambrinne was elected prosecutor but was already elected as notable so the function was given to Mr Lernou 'Priest of St-Python'. This first municipal act is written on a sheet of paper from St-Python's paper mill. Indeed, on the left side is found in watermark the word 'MARLIER' (operator of the paper mill and new mayor) and on the right the drawing of three fleurs-de-lis inside a circle.^[14]

Contemporary Mayors

• In March 2001, Georges Flamengt (Socialist Party) was elected mayor of Saint-Python. As of January 2019, Georges Flamengt is till mayor.^[15]
  

Presidential Elections

• 
  2017 French presidential election: with 59.41% of the votes in Saint-Python, Marine Le Pen (National Front) came in first place in the 2nd (final) round. She was ahead of Emmanuel Macron (En Marche!) who receives 40.59% of the votes. At the end of the first round at Saint-Python, Marine Le Pen also came in first place (38.63% of the votes). Out of all voters, 7.21% returned a blank ballot paper. In the first round, Jean-Luc Mélenchon was second (23.41%) followed by Emmanuel Macron (13.88%), François Fillon (12.71%), Benoît Hamon (4.68%), Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (3.34%), Nathalie Arthaud (1.34%), Jean Lassalle (0.84%), François Asselineau (0.67%) Philippe Poutou (0 , 5%) and Jacques Cheminade (0%). The participation rate recorded is 77.73% for this 2nd round in Saint-Python. This represents a decline in turnout of 1.68 points from the first round of the election. For comparison, it is a weaker result than the 2 nd round of the 2012 presidential election (83.49%).^[16]
  


• 
  2012 French presidential election:


• 
  2007 French presidential election:

Saint-Python: Rue de Solesmes (1905)

Geography

The town of Saint-Python is located in the department of Nord part of the Hauts-de-France region. It belongs to the 'district of Cambrai' (19 km) and the 'Canton of Caudry' (11 km). The town is a member of the 'Communauté de communes du Pays Solesmois', which brings together 15 municipalities (Beaurain, Bermerain, Capelle, Escarmain, Haussy, Montrécourt, Romeries, Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon, Saint-Python, Saulzoir, Solesmes, Sommaing, Vendegies-sur-Écaillon, Vertain and Viesly) for a total population of just under 15,000.

Saint-Python Rue de Vertain (1910)

Population & Society

Demographic evolution

The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known through the censuses of the population carried out in the commune since 1793. From 2006, the legal populations of the communes are published annually by Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques. The census is now based on an annual collection of information, successively covering all municipal territories over a period of five years. For municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, a census survey of the whole population is carried out every five years, the legal populations of the intermediate years being estimated by interpolation or extrapolation. For the municipality, the first comprehensive census within the framework of the new system was carried out in 2006. In 2015, the municipality had 995 inhabitants, an increase of 0.4% compared to 2010 (North: +1.1%, France excluding Mayotte: +2.44%).^[17]

2019 Social Housing Project

In January 2019, mayor Georges Flamengt, announced the major works which will begin during the first quarter and will last throughout the year:

• The ‘Haussy Street’ (French: rue d'Haussy) will be totally renovated (burial of networks, sanitation, drinking water connections, lighting, pavement and sidewalks) for a total cost of 1.1 million euros including 350,000 € which will have to be paid by the local tax payers.


• The rehabilitation of the former ‘SASA’ company building to create 22 social housing units which began in November with the clearing and removal of the old site, will continue. These social accommodations costing more than 2 million euros to host families coming from outside Saint-Python will be financed by the Departmental council of Nord but also the local tax payers.^[18]
  

Saint-Python School for Boys (1908).

Education

The town as one public primary school: the 'École maternelle et élémentaire de Saint-Python' located Rue Victor Hugo. It is contractually regulated by the Academy of Lille, a ramification of the French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research. In terms of secondary schooling, most inhabitants opt for either the public 'Collège Antoine de Saint-Exupéry' or the private Catholic 'Institution Saint-Michel' both located in Solesmes.

Places & Monuments

• One of the paths of Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James, Chemins de Compostelle), the via septentriones templi passes through the village coming from Haussy. It goes through the municipal park, then the church, before leaving by meandering in the streets towards Saint-Vaast-en Cambrésis by hiking trails. Several tags are in fact embedded in the tar, plus two labels on the way.^[19]
  

The smaller 'Leterme Castle' (1908).

Saint-Python's Castle

• Saint-Python has two castles: the 'Cardon Castle' referred to as 'Saint-Python's Castle' and the smaller 'Leterme Castle'.


• In 1185, Saint-Python's Castle was set on fire by Philip I, Count of Flanders (1143 – 1 August 1191). On September 28, 2007 the castle which now belongs to the Pavot Family, endured another fire devastating the floors and roofs. He was once again restored the following year.


• Saint-Python's Castle was famously represented on a painting belonging to Valenciennes artist Adrien de Montigny's series ordered by Charles III de Croÿ (Beaumont, Hainaut, 1 July 1560 – Beaumont, 12 January 1612).
  


• Four of Charles Louis Parisot's children died in the Saint-Python's Castle fire on September 4, 1718.


• On November 26, 1817 was bought by Henri Charles Cardon and Antoine Marlière.


• On August 31, 1821 part of the castle is resold after restoration and enlargement for 12.500 Francs to the prefecture to install the horse-riding gendarmerie of Solesmes.

Religion

As of 2019, Saint-Piatiens have always been almost exclusively Christians with a minority of atheists. Few muslim families arrived and settled in the late 2000's and 2010's in Saint-Python and its neighbouring villages.

Curés de Saint-Python

The following chronologically-ordered names were the Curés de Saint-Python (Catholic Priests of Saint-Python):

Saint-Python’s Church indoors (1905).

Calvary of Saint Python (French: Le Calvaire) in 1921 in the state of devastation left after WW1 (1914-1918). This photo is part of an inventory of devastations due to the war. Note: the roof smashed, the Christ is leaning and the vegetation that invades the whole. About Le Calvaire: In 1935, a man shoveled the ground and threw mud onto the face of the Christ. He died 15 days later blocked into a well and died under the ground covered in mud.

• 1496 Guillaume Vuyart


• 
  1502: Jehan Descaillaux.


• 
  ? -1513: Paganus Le Bailly (Chanoine Bontemps).


• 
  1513 - ?: Jean Le Clerc (Chanoine Bontemps) not to be confused with Jean Le Clerc (March 19, 1657 in Geneva – January 8, 1736 in Amsterdam),.


• 
  1534: Nicaise Cocquiel.


• 
  1622 - 1623: Anthoine Dehée: Son of Antoine and Isabeau de Beaucourt. His father was mayeur, censier, dîmeur and miller from Noyelles-sur-Escaut and born around 1561. Antoine Dehée was parish priest referred to under the name of Antoine de Haese by the Canon Bontemps up until April 4, 1623.


• 
  1623 - 1628: Adryen Lemaire.


• 
  1649 - 1652: Pierre Berryer(or Bérurier).


• 
  1656 - 1661: Denis Batta who died on June 16, 1661 in Saint-Python.


• 
  1662 - 1699: Hubert Defossée on died on April 2, 1699. He was popular because he was godfather to four of Saint-Python's children from 1661 to 1670 from 3 different families. His nephew was master Nicolas Drappier chaplain of St-Géry in Valenciennes. He realizes his will on 05.03.1696 in which he asks to be buried in the village cemetery with his sister Jossine Defossée. He left money to his sister Jenne who lived with him and to 3 other sisters (Charité, Marie and Barbe) who lived in Fléquières which is probably his native village.


• 
  1699 - 1703: Jacques de Marc. In the parish registers of St-Python, there is a curious ‘aide mémoire’ by Jacques de Marc describing the Easter ceremonials in use at the time. The drafting of this memento was made between 1693 and 1703. The clerk was Jean Payen, cleric from 1687 to 1710.


• 
  ? - 1709: Pierre Marchand.


• 
  1709 - 1720: Charles Lemaire who later became Curé of Condé-sur-l'Escaut.His sister Catherine Dorothée Lemaire married Jean Charles Cardon who was Saint-Python's mayor at the time on November 28, 1719. His brother was Michel Lemaire.


• 
  1720 - 1724: Daniel Descartes, from Obies – died at 65 years old on 05.05 1743 in Cambrai.


• 
  1725 - 1732: Charles Taffanet from Landrecies – who was from 1716 to 1721 Curé of Romeries. Taffanet, parish priest of Saint-Python appealed to the parliament of Flanders against the award rendered to the bailiwick of Le Quesnoy on February 11, 1732 (prior request on June 2, 1730). He opposed Charles Louis De Parisot, lord of St-Python whose representative is the bailiff modern Me Albert Grandidier. The cause of the lawsuit is that at all times the priests, first administrators of the accounts of churches and the poor, were in the lead. A prerogative that the new bailiff canceled. During the trial, it is claimed that the Sieur Taffanel had lent on April 26 and December 17, 1725 the sum of 124 florins belonging to the church to Jacques Petit and Dominicque Lemoisne. There is therefore a doubt about the interest behind this sum. The outcome of the trial remains unknown. However, on May 23, 1733,Jean François Grau was appointed to replace Charles Tafanet who had 'resigned'.


• 
  1733 - 1742: Jean François Grau from Solre-le-Château – died on July 3, 1742 at 45 years old. His testament was found in Le Quesnoy's tabellion and gives a fairly accurate idea of the culture and standard of living of the priests of the time. In the Testament made on July 1, 1742 while ill in his bed, he leaves to his nephew Jean François Lhuissier (lawyer at the Parliament of Douai) several books (The collection of eloquence consisting of 11 volumes, The works of Granada. The science of eppe and robbe consisting of 4 volumes, Introduction to the practice by Delferriere in 2 volumes, The civil and criminal stil of Gavret). He also leaves to his nephew his silverware (10 culti and 7 forks). The rest of his furniture will be sold to allow donations (50 écus to his servant Catherine Pouillet for her wages and rewards, 60 écus to his nephew Jean Moqueau who is a humanities student in Bavay and the rest for the poors of the parish). In handwritten notes dating from the beginning of the century found in 1995 at Saint-Python's cure, it is written that on the outer wall an inscription states: "pending the great day of the revelations, here before you was buried Master Jean François Grau native of "Solre leChâteau", pastor of this parish, recommendable by his exactitude to fulfill the pastoral duties and by a tenderness so sympathetic towards the poor that he often used his necessary to help them in their misery and has that the price of the furniture he possessed was applied to their needs".
  


• 
  1743 - 1760: Nicolas Mascret from Vaux-Andigny (then named Vaux-en-Arrouaise or Arroise).


• 
  1760 - 1780: Louis Delamotte who died in 1780 at 71 years old.


• 
  1781 - 1791: Antoine Joseph Lernou from Bachant – died on June 12, 1794 in Famars.


• 
  1791 - 1792: Jean Baptiste Laurent born in 1753 in Solesmes, + January 12, 1797.


• 
  1793 - 1794: Antoine Joseph Lernou, death declared as 'déporté'.


• 
  1794 - 1798: Charles Marie Ratte, Curé constitutionnel who died on January 5, 1799.


• 
  1800: Augustin Corduant.


• 
  1800 - 1802:.


• 
  1802: Jean Jacques Buzin from Saint-Vaast, died on May 8, 1803 at 75 years old.


• 
  1803 - 1804: Jean Joseph Porée from Iwuy who later was Curé of Douchy-les-Mines, + 1815.


• 
  1805 - 1808: François Delcroix born in 1760, curé de Douchy-les-Mines in 1802, + 1808.


• 
  1808 - 1818: Jean Baptiste Demarbaix born in 1755 in Bettrechies, + 1818.


• 
  1818 - 1820: Louis Pocquet born in 1760 in Bertincourt, + en 1820.


• 
  1820 - 1834: Jean Baptiste Lemaire born in 1752 in Fontaine-au-Pire, + 1834. He was Albert Lemaire’s brother, dean of Solesmes. He served for 6 months in Houdain Bavai in 1802; as Curate of Bétrechies until 1820 and later Priest of St. Python from 1820 to 1834. He was of great charity and piety. After a fit of apoplexy, he almost became blind, he had to retire in 1832 to his parents' home in Fontaine-au-Pire. His condition was degenerating and he suffered from gangrene, he died on November 20, 1834.


• 
  1832 - 1837: Jean Baptiste Gransart born in 1767 in Cauroir, + 1839.


• 
  1837 - 1878: Henri Jeanleboeuf born in 1803 in Rumegies, + 1878.


• 
  1879 - 1880: Charles Decalonne, before him there was Zinghedauw for a short period.


• 
  1881- 1899: Jean BaptisteLefebvre born in 1842 in Saint-Aubert.


• 
  1900 - 1907: Auguste Degauquier from Lecelles.


• 
  1907 - 1912: Guislain Daix born in 1867 in Haucourt-en-Cambrésis.


• 
  1912 - 1922: Antoine Lefebvre from Ostricourt.


• 
  1922 - 1953: Constant Leleu accidental death in 1953 at 82 years old.


• 
  1953 - 1962: Michel Deleporte died around 2001 in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux.


• 
  1962 - 1965: Gustave Santerre.


• 
  1965 - 1973: Henri Van De Hulsbeek.


• 
  1973: NONE (The parish being served by the priests of Solesmes from then on).^[20]
  

Sports

Cycling

• 
  Saint-Python''s 'Chemin Nungesser located south of the town, is one of the 'secteurs pavés' on the route of the Paris–Roubaix, the one-day professional men's bicycle road race in northern France, starting north of Paris and finishing in Roubaix, at the border with Belgium.

Culs de Caudron

Saint-Python’s ‘Culs de Caudron’ celebrations taking place in September and involving the Géants du Nord has been inscribed by UNESCO on the lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008, originally proclaimed in November 2005 as it is included in the set of folkloric manifestations representing the processional giants and dragons (French: Géants et dragons processionnels) of Belgium and France. Those gigantic figures, incarnating fictitious or real beings, are inherited from medieval rites and are carried or rolled around to dance in the streets during processions or festivals. The ‘Culs de Caudron’ often coincide with a ducasse. ^[21]

International

Cambodia

Citroen C (1928) from Saint-Python in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

As of 2012, a Citroën C4 (1928) car from Saint-Python is still being driven for commercial purposes in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The Citroën C4 model was designed to replace the Citroën Type A 10 hp and Citroën Type B model family cars. The styling was heavily influenced by American counterparts of the same time period. The traditional grill styles of previous Citroën models were abandoned and a sleeker, flatter grill was used.

Conspicuous people affiliated to the commune

• 
  Raymond Poirette (1928–1944): He was born March 16, 1928 in Solesmes and died September 2, 1944 in Saint-Python. He was a French Resistant and was arrested and shot dead at close range at 16 years old while he was handing out leaflets near ‘N° 61 of the Rue d’Haussy’. Solesmes' resistance network was headed by Victor Poirette, Raymond's older brother, and Georges Mailloux. Teenagers then served as liaison agents: Raymond Poirette is among them. Their role was to transport documents, weapons, to transmit orders from one point to another. In addition to his role as liaison officer, Raymond participated in some sabotage operations with the aim of hindering the German retreat. As a tribute to the young resistance fighter, several places bear his name, a street in Solesmes and a school restaurant in Saint-Python.^[22]
  

Extended Trivia

• One can still see old houses including a door on the foundation stone above the entrance, the monogram of Christ I.H.S., and this motto: "Plus penser que dire" (More to think than to say), with the date of 1779.

Bibliography

• Louis Boniface, Etude sur la signification des noms topographiques de l'arrondissement de Cambrai, Valenciennes, Impr. Louis Henry, 1866.

External Links

• Official website


• 
  History Blog dedicated to Saint-Python.


• 
  Saint-Python at the Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques
  

See also

• Communes of the Nord department

References

• INSEE commune file

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint-Python.