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The ''Cagots'' () were a persecuted minority found in the west of France and northern Spain: the
Navarre Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...
se
Pyrenees The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to C ...
,
Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...
provinces,
Béarn The Béarn (; ; oc, Bearn or ''Biarn''; eu, Bearno or ''Biarno''; or ''Bearnia'') is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Bas ...
,
Aragón Aragon ( , ; Spanish and an, Aragón ; ca, Aragó ) is an autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces (from north to sout ...
,
Gascony Gascony (; french: Gascogne ; oc, Gasconha ; eu, Gaskoinia) was a province of the southwestern Kingdom of France that succeeded the Duchy of Gascony (602–1453). From the 17th century until the French Revolution (1789–1799), it was part o ...
and
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...
. Evidence of the group exists as far back as 1000 CE.


Name


Etymology

The origins of both the term (and , , , etc.) and the Cagots themselves are uncertain. It has been suggested that they were descendants of the
Visigoths The Visigoths (; la, Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, Wisi) were an early Germanic people who, along with the Ostrogoths, constituted the two major political entities of the Goths within the Roman Empire in late antiquity, or what is ...
defeated by
Clovis I Clovis ( la, Chlodovechus; reconstructed Frankish: ; – 27 November 511) was the first king of the Franks to unite all of the Frankish tribes under one ruler, changing the form of leadership from a group of petty kings to rule by a single kin ...
at the
Battle of Vouillé The Battle of Vouillé (from Latin ''Campus Vogladensis'') was fought in the northern marches of Visigothic territory, at Vouillé, near Poitiers (Gaul), in the spring of 507 between the Franks, commanded by Clovis, and the Visigoths, command ...
,: "" Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_'' Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans">Antoine_Court_de_Gébelin">Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans''_and_cites_the_
Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans">Antoine_Court_de_Gébelin">Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans''_and_cites_the_Battle_of_Orleans_(463)">battle_of_463,_in_which_they_were_defeated_with_the_Visigoths._'' Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans">Antoine_Court_de_Gébelin">Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans''_and_cites_the_Battle_of_Orleans_(463)">battle_of_463,_in_which_they_were_defeated_with_the_Visigoths._''Pierre_de_Marca">Marca_Marca_may_refer_to: _Places *_Marca,_Sălaj,_a_commune_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_Marca,_a_tributary_of_the_Barcău_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_an_alternative_name_for_Merca,_Somalia *__Marca_District,_in_the_province_Recuay,_Peru *_Marçà,_a_vil_...
''_regards_them_as_the_remains_of_the_'' Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans">Antoine_Court_de_Gébelin">Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans''_and_cites_the_Battle_of_Orleans_(463)">battle_of_463,_in_which_they_were_defeated_with_the_Visigoths._''Pierre_de_Marca">Marca_Marca_may_refer_to: _Places *_Marca,_Sălaj,_a_commune_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_Marca,_a_tributary_of_the_Barcău_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_an_alternative_name_for_Merca,_Somalia *__Marca_District,_in_the_province_Recuay,_Peru *_Marçà,_a_vil_...
''_regards_them_as_the_remains_of_the_''Saracens">Sarazans''_defeated_by_'' Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans">Antoine_Court_de_Gébelin">Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans''_and_cites_the_Battle_of_Orleans_(463)">battle_of_463,_in_which_they_were_defeated_with_the_Visigoths._''Pierre_de_Marca">Marca_Marca_may_refer_to: _Places *_Marca,_Sălaj,_a_commune_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_Marca,_a_tributary_of_the_Barcău_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_an_alternative_name_for_Merca,_Somalia *__Marca_District,_in_the_province_Recuay,_Peru *_Marçà,_a_vil_...
''_regards_them_as_the_remains_of_the_''Saracens">Sarazans''_defeated_by_''Charles_Martel">Carl_Martel''_led_by_the_''
Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans">Antoine_Court_de_Gébelin">Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans''_and_cites_the_Battle_of_Orleans_(463)">battle_of_463,_in_which_they_were_defeated_with_the_Visigoths._''Pierre_de_Marca">Marca_Marca_may_refer_to: _Places *_Marca,_Sălaj,_a_commune_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_Marca,_a_tributary_of_the_Barcău_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_an_alternative_name_for_Merca,_Somalia *__Marca_District,_in_the_province_Recuay,_Peru *_Marçà,_a_vil_...
''_regards_them_as_the_remains_of_the_''Saracens">Sarazans''_defeated_by_''Charles_Martel">Carl_Martel''_led_by_the_''Abd_al-Rahman_I">Abdalrahman''._'' Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans">Antoine_Court_de_Gébelin">Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans''_and_cites_the_Battle_of_Orleans_(463)">battle_of_463,_in_which_they_were_defeated_with_the_Visigoths._''Pierre_de_Marca">Marca_Marca_may_refer_to: _Places *_Marca,_Sălaj,_a_commune_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_Marca,_a_tributary_of_the_Barcău_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_an_alternative_name_for_Merca,_Somalia *__Marca_District,_in_the_province_Recuay,_Peru *_Marçà,_a_vil_...
''_regards_them_as_the_remains_of_the_''Saracens">Sarazans''_defeated_by_''Charles_Martel">Carl_Martel''_led_by_the_''Abd_al-Rahman_I">Abdalrahman''._''Louis_Ramond_de_Carbonnières">Ramond_Ramond_is_a_surname,_and_may_refer_to: *Louis_Ramond_de_Carbonnières_(1755–1827),_French_politician,_geologist_and_botanist,_who_gave_his_name_to_the_Société_Ramond *Pierre_Ramond_ Pierre_Ramond_(;_born_31_January_1943)_is_distinguished_profess_...
''_in_his_''Journey_to_the_Pyrenees''_derives_them_from_the_Arian-minded_peoples_who,_under_the_'' Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans">Antoine_Court_de_Gébelin">Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans''_and_cites_the_Battle_of_Orleans_(463)">battle_of_463,_in_which_they_were_defeated_with_the_Visigoths._''Pierre_de_Marca">Marca_Marca_may_refer_to: _Places *_Marca,_Sălaj,_a_commune_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_Marca,_a_tributary_of_the_Barcău_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_an_alternative_name_for_Merca,_Somalia *__Marca_District,_in_the_province_Recuay,_Peru *_Marçà,_a_vil_...
''_regards_them_as_the_remains_of_the_''Saracens">Sarazans''_defeated_by_''Charles_Martel">Carl_Martel''_led_by_the_''Abd_al-Rahman_I">Abdalrahman''._''Louis_Ramond_de_Carbonnières">Ramond_Ramond_is_a_surname,_and_may_refer_to: *Louis_Ramond_de_Carbonnières_(1755–1827),_French_politician,_geologist_and_botanist,_who_gave_his_name_to_the_Société_Ramond *Pierre_Ramond_ Pierre_Ramond_(;_born_31_January_1943)_is_distinguished_profess_...
''_in_his_''Journey_to_the_Pyrenees''_derives_them_from_the_Arian-minded_peoples_who,_under_the_''Clovis_I">Clodoveus''_in_the_year_507_at_'' Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans">Antoine_Court_de_Gébelin">Court_de_Gebelin''_in_his__chooses_the_''Alans''_and_cites_the_Battle_of_Orleans_(463)">battle_of_463,_in_which_they_were_defeated_with_the_Visigoths._''Pierre_de_Marca">Marca_Marca_may_refer_to: _Places *_Marca,_Sălaj,_a_commune_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_Marca,_a_tributary_of_the_Barcău_in_Sălaj_County,_Romania *_an_alternative_name_for_Merca,_Somalia *__Marca_District,_in_the_province_Recuay,_Peru *_Marçà,_a_vil_...
''_regards_them_as_the_remains_of_the_''Saracens">Sarazans''_defeated_by_''Charles_Martel">Carl_Martel''_led_by_the_''Abd_al-Rahman_I">Abdalrahman''._''Louis_Ramond_de_Carbonnières">Ramond_Ramond_is_a_surname,_and_may_refer_to: *Louis_Ramond_de_Carbonnières_(1755–1827),_French_politician,_geologist_and_botanist,_who_gave_his_name_to_the_Société_Ramond *Pierre_Ramond_ Pierre_Ramond_(;_born_31_January_1943)_is_distinguished_profess_...
''_in_his_''Journey_to_the_Pyrenees''_derives_them_from_the_Arian-minded_peoples_who,_under_the_''Clovis_I">Clodoveus''_in_the_year_507_at_''Vouillé,_Vienne">Vouglé''_(''in_Campo''_or_''Campania_Vocladensi'')_under_the_leadership_of_''Alaric_II.html" ;"title="Vouillé,_Vienne.html" ;"title="Clovis_I.html" ;"title="Louis_Ramond_de_Carbonnières.html" "title="Abd_al-Rahman_I.html" ;"title="Charles_Martel.html" ;"title="Saracens.html" ;"title="Pierre_de_Marca.html" "title="Battle_of_Orleans_(463).html" ;"title="Alans.html" ;"title="Antoine Court de Gébelin">Court de Gebelin'' in his chooses the ''Alans">Antoine Court de Gébelin">Court de Gebelin'' in his chooses the ''Alans'' and cites the Battle of Orleans (463)">battle of 463, in which they were defeated with the Visigoths. ''Pierre de Marca">Marca Marca may refer to: Places * Marca, Sălaj, a commune in Sălaj County, Romania * Marca, a tributary of the Barcău in Sălaj County, Romania * an alternative name for Merca, Somalia * Marca District, in the province Recuay, Peru * Marçà, a vil ...
'' regards them as the remains of the ''Saracens">Sarazans'' defeated by ''Charles Martel">Carl Martel'' led by the ''Abd al-Rahman I">Abdalrahman''. ''Louis Ramond de Carbonnières">Ramond Ramond is a surname, and may refer to: *Louis Ramond de Carbonnières (1755–1827), French politician, geologist and botanist, who gave his name to the Société Ramond *Pierre Ramond Pierre Ramond (; born 31 January 1943) is distinguished profess ...
'' in his ''Journey to the Pyrenees'' derives them from the Arian-minded peoples who, under the ''Clovis I">Clodoveus'' in the year 507 at ''Vouillé, Vienne">Vouglé'' (''in Campo'' or ''Campania Vocladensi'') under the leadership of ''Alaric II">Alaric'', beaten, scattered, abused ten miles from ''Poitiers'', and treated with equal bitterness and contempt by the inhabitants of the ''Loire'' and the ''Sèvre Niortaise, Sévre'' the mouths of these two rivers were driven. Who is right here must first be decided later, and before this can happen, the matter must be examined more closely."] and that the name derives from ("dog") and the
Old Occitan Old Occitan ( oc, occitan ancian, label=Occitan language, Modern Occitan, ca, occità antic), also called Old Provençal, was the earliest form of the Occitano-Romance languages, as attested in writings dating from the eighth through the fourteen ...
for
Goth A Goth is a member of the Goths, a group of East Germanic tribes. Two major political entities of the Goths were: *Visigoths, prominent in Spanish history *Ostrogoths, prominent in Italian history Goth or Goths may also refer to: * Goth (surname) ...
around the
6th century The 6th century is the period from 501 through 600 in line with the Julian calendar. In the West, the century marks the end of Classical Antiquity and the beginning of the Middle Ages. The collapse of the Western Roman Empire late in the previous c ...
. Yet in opposition to this etymology is the fact that the word is first found in this form no earlier than the year 1542. Seventeenth century French historian
Pierre de Marca Pierre de Marca (24 January 1594 – 29 June 1662) was a French bishop and historian, born at Gan in Béarn of a family distinguished in the magistracy. His family was known among judicial circles in the 16th century, and maintained the ...
, in his , propounds the reverse – that the word signifies "hunters of the Goths", and that the Cagots were descendants of the
Saracen upright 1.5, Late 15th-century German woodcut depicting Saracens Saracen ( ) was a term used in the early centuries, both in Greek and Latin writings, to refer to the people who lived in and near what was designated by the Romans as Arabia Pe ...
s and
Moors The term Moor, derived from the ancient Mauri, is an exonym first used by Christian Europeans to designate the Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb, the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily and Malta during the Middle Ages. Moors are not a distinct or ...
of
Al-Andalus Al-Andalus DIN 31635, translit. ; an, al-Andalus; ast, al-Ándalus; eu, al-Andalus; ber, ⴰⵏⴷⴰⵍⵓⵙ, label=Berber languages, Berber, translit=Andalus; ca, al-Àndalus; gl, al-Andalus; oc, Al Andalús; pt, al-Ândalus; es, ...
(or even
Jews Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
) after their defeat by
Charles Martel Charles Martel ( – 22 October 741) was a Frankish political and military leader who, as Duke and Prince of the Franks and Mayor of the Palace, was the de facto ruler of Francia from 718 until his death. He was a son of the Frankish statesma ...
, although this proposal was comprehensively refuted by the
Prior Prior (or prioress) is an ecclesiastical title for a superior in some religious orders. The word is derived from the Latin for "earlier" or "first". Its earlier generic usage referred to any monastic superior. In abbeys, a prior would be l ...
of
Livorno Livorno () is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 158,493 residents in December 2017. It is traditionally known in English as Leghorn (pronou ...
, Abbot as early as 1754.
Antoine Court de Gébelin Antoine Court, who named himself Antoine Court de Gébelin (Nîmes, 25 January 1725 At Google Books.Paris, 10 May 1784), was a former Protestant pastor, born in Nîmes, who initiated the interpretation of the Tarot as an arcane repository of timel ...
derives the term cagot from the Latin , meaning "false, bad, deceitful", and meaning "god", due to a belief that Cagots were descended from the
Alans The Alans (Latin: ''Alani'') were an ancient and medieval Iranian nomadic pastoral people of the North Caucasus – generally regarded as part of the Sarmatians, and possibly related to the Massagetae. Modern historians have connected the Al ...
and followed
Arianism Arianism ( grc-x-koine, Ἀρειανισμός, ) is a Christological doctrine first attributed to Arius (), a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt. Arian theology holds that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who was begotten by God ...
.


Variations

Their name differed by province and the
local language * A regional language is a language spoken in a region of a sovereign state, whether it be a small area, a federated state or province or some wider area. Internationally, for the purposes of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Lan ...
: * In
Gascony Gascony (; french: Gascogne ; oc, Gasconha ; eu, Gaskoinia) was a province of the southwestern Kingdom of France that succeeded the Duchy of Gascony (602–1453). From the 17th century until the French Revolution (1789–1799), it was part o ...
they were called , and ; "" The_gafets_or_gahets_of_Guyenne_make_their_appearance_in_history_towards_the_end_of_the_13th_century,_at_the_same_time_as_the_cagots._They,_too,_were_considered_wretches;_they_had_in_the_church_a_door,_a_place_and_a_stoup_reserved,_and_they_were_buried_separately._The_custom_of_Le_Mas-d'Agenais.html" ;"title="Guyenne.html" ;"title="The gafets or gahets of Guyenne">The gafets or gahets of Guyenne make their appearance in history towards the end of the 13th century, at the same time as the cagots. They, too, were considered wretches; they had in the church a door, a place and a stoup reserved, and they were buried separately. The custom of Le Mas-d'Agenais">Mas-d'Agenais, written in 1388, forbids anyone "to buy, to sell, cattle or poultry from gafet or gafete, or to rent gafet or gafete for harvesting." The custom of Marmande forbids gafets to go barefoot through the streets and without a "signal" of red cloth applied to the left side of the dress, to buy or to stay in the city on a day other than Monday; she enjoins them, if they meet man or woman, to stand apart as much as possible until the passer-by has moved away."] * In
Bordeaux Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
they were called , : "" ["They are known in Brittany under the name of Cacous or Caqueux. They can be found in Aunis, especially on the island of Maillezais, as well as in La Rochelle, where they are called Coliberts. In Guyenne and Gascogne, near Bordeaux, they appear under the name of the Cahets, and can be found in the most uninhabitable swamps, swamps and heaths. In the two Navarres they are called Caffos, Cagotes, Agotes."] or * In Agenais, Bordeaux, and Landes de Gascogne they were called * In the Southern Basque Country, Spanish Basque country they were called , , , and * In
Anjou Anjou may refer to: Geography and titles France *County of Anjou, a historical county in France and predecessor of the Duchy of Anjou **Count of Anjou, title of nobility *Duchy of Anjou, a historical duchy and later a province of France **Duke ...
,
Languedoc The Province of Languedoc (; , ; oc, Lengadòc ) is a former province of France. Most of its territory is now contained in the modern-day region of Occitanie in Southern France. Its capital city was Toulouse. It had an area of approximately ...
, and
Armagnac Armagnac (, ) is a distinctive kind of brandy produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, southwest France. It is distilled from wine usually made from a blend of grapes including Baco 22A, Colombard, Folle blanche and Ugni blanc, traditionally ...
they were called , and (''marsh people'') * In
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...
they were called , (possibly from the
Breton Breton most often refers to: *anything associated with Brittany, and generally ** Breton people ** Breton language, a Southwestern Brittonic Celtic language of the Indo-European language family, spoken in Brittany ** Breton (horse), a breed **Ga ...
word meaning leprous), and . They were also sometimes referred to as , , ,: ""
Ramond Ramond is a surname, and may refer to: *Louis Ramond de Carbonnières (1755–1827), French politician, geologist and botanist, who gave his name to the Société Ramond *Pierre Ramond Pierre Ramond (; born 31 January 1943) is distinguished profess ...
'' in the affirmative. The close affinity of names, the similarity of their condition, the same contempt in all places, and the same spirit emanating from all the ordinances concerning them, seem to prove this."] , and , names of the local due to similar low stature and discrimination in society. , or referencing Gehazi the servant of
Elisha Elisha ( ; or "God is my salvation", Greek: , ''Elis îos'' or , ''Elisaié,'' Latin: ''Eliseus'') was, according to the Hebrew Bible, a prophet and a wonder-worker. His name is commonly transliterated into English as Elisha via Hebrew, Eli ...
who was cursed with leprosy due to his greed. With the recording as an insult regularly used against Cagots. is seen in the writings of
Dominique Joseph Garat Dominique Joseph Garat (8 September 17499 December 1833) was a French Basque writer, lawyer, journalist, philosopher and politician. Biography Garat was born at Bayonne, in the French Basque Country. After a good education under the direction ...
. Also in the French Basque Country the forms and were also used. * In
Bigorre Bigorre ({{IPA-fr, biɡɔʁ; Gascon: ''Bigòrra'') is a region in southwest France, historically an independent county and later a French province, located in the upper watershed of the Adour, on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, part of t ...
they were also called or * In
Aunis Aunis () is a historical province of France, situated in the north-west of the department of Charente-Maritime. Its historic capital is La Rochelle, which took over from Castrum Allionis (Châtelaillon) the historic capital which gives its name ...
and
Poitou Poitou (, , ; ; Poitevin: ''Poetou'') was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers. Both Poitou and Poitiers are named after the Pictones Gallic tribe. Geography The main historical cities are Poitiers (historical c ...
they were also called / * Also other recorded names include , , , , , and (most likely from the
Old French Old French (, , ; Modern French: ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France from approximately the 8th to the 14th centuries. Rather than a unified language, Old French was a linkage of Romance dialects, mutually intelligib ...
meaning leper). Previously some of these names had been viewed as being similar yet separate groups from the Cagots, though this changed in some cases in later research.


Geography

The cagots were present in France in
Gascony Gascony (; french: Gascogne ; oc, Gasconha ; eu, Gaskoinia) was a province of the southwestern Kingdom of France that succeeded the Duchy of Gascony (602–1453). From the 17th century until the French Revolution (1789–1799), it was part o ...
to the Basque Country, but also in the north of Spain (in
Aragon Aragon ( , ; Spanish and an, Aragón ; ca, Aragó ) is an autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces (from north to sou ...
, south and north
Navarre Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...
, and
Asturias Asturias (, ; ast, Asturies ), officially the Principality of Asturias ( es, Principado de Asturias; ast, Principáu d'Asturies; Galician-Asturian: ''Principao d'Asturias''), is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in nor ...
) where they are referred to commonly by the term Agotes. Cagots were typically required to live in separate quarters, on the outskirts of towns. These hamlets were called then from the 16th century , which were often on the far outskirts of the villages. On the scale of
Béarn The Béarn (; ; oc, Bearn or ''Biarn''; eu, Bearno or ''Biarno''; or ''Bearnia'') is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Bas ...
, for example, the distribution of cagots, often carpenters, was similar to that of other craftsmen, who were numerous mainly in the
Piedmont it, Piemontese , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demographics1_title2 ...
. Far from congregating in only a few places, the cagots were scattered in over 137 villages and towns. Outside the mountains, 35 to 40% of communities had cagots, especially the largest ones, excluding very small villages.


Toponomy

Toponymy and topography indicate that the places where the cagots were found have constant characteristics; these are gaps, generally across rivers or outside
town walls A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...
, called “” (and derivatives) or “” (Laplace names are frequent) next to water points, places allocated to live and above all to practice their trades. Toponymy also provides evidence of areas where Cagots had lived in the past. Various Street names are still in use such as: * in the municipalities of Montgaillard and
Lourdes Lourdes (, also , ; oc, Lorda ) is a market town situated in the Pyrenees. It is part of the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France. Prior to the mid-19th century, the town was best known for the Château ...
* in Laurède * in (
Roquefort Roquefort is a sheep milk cheese from Southern France, and is one of the world's best known blue cheeses. Though similar cheeses are produced elsewhere, EU law dictates that only those cheeses aged in the natural Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur ...
) * in Saint-Girons * in the municipalities of
Mézin Mézin (; oc, Mesin) is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, south-western France. It is part of the arrondissement of Nerac. Geography The Auzoue flows into the Gélise in the commune. The Gélise forms most of the ...
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Sos is a Morse code distress signal (), used internationally, that was originally established for maritime use. In formal notation is written with an overscore line, to indicate that the Morse code equivalents for the individual letters of "SOS" ...
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Vic-Fezensac Vic-Fezensac (; Gascon: ''Vic en Fesensac''; Occitan: ''Vic de Fesensac'') is a commune in the Gers department in the Occitanie region of Southwestern France. In 2017, it had a population of 3,474. Geography Localisation Vic-Fezensac is ...
,
Aire-sur-l'Adour Aire-sur-l'Adour (; oc, Aira d'Ador or simply ) is a commune in the Landes department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. It lies on the river Adour in the wine area of southwest France. It is an episcopal see of the Diocese of Aire and D ...
,
Eauze Eauze (; Gascon: ''Eusa'') is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France. History Located in the heart of south-west France, 130 kilometers from the Spanish border, Eauze is originally a proto-Basque city that became Roman. It was t ...
, and
Gondrin Gondrin () is a commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or ...
* in
Villeneuve-de-Marsan Villeneuve-de-Marsan (; oc, Vilanava de Marsan) is a commune in the Landes department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. Population See also *Communes of the Landes department The following is a list of the 327 communes of the ...
* in Vérines In
Aubiet Aubiet () is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France. Geography Localisation Roads and transports National road 124, which goes from Toulouse Toulouse ( , ; oc, Tolosa ) is the prefecture of the French department ...
, there is a locality called “”. It was in this hamlet, that the cagots () of Aubiet lived, on the left bank of the
Arrats The Arrats is a 162 km long river in southern France, left tributary of the Garonne. Its source is in the northern foothills of the Pyrenees, near Sariac-Magnoac. It flows north through the following ''departments of France, départements'' an ...
, separated from the village by the river. In this last example, the discovery of the name of the place allowed teachers to discover the local history of the cagots and to start educational work. Until the beginning of the 20th century, several districts of cagots still bore the name of ("Carpenter").


Treatment

Cagots were shunned and hated; while restrictions varied by time and place, with many discriminatory actions being codified into law in France in 1460, they were typically required to live in separate quarters. Cagots were excluded from various political and social rights.


Religion and government

Cagots were not allowed to marry non-Cagots leading to forced
endogamy Endogamy is the practice of marrying within a specific social group, religious denomination, caste, or ethnic group, rejecting those from others as unsuitable for marriage or other close personal relationships. Endogamy is common in many cultu ...
, though in some areas in the later centuries (such as
Béarn The Béarn (; ; oc, Bearn or ''Biarn''; eu, Bearno or ''Biarno''; or ''Bearnia'') is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Bas ...
) they were able to marry non-Cagots though the non-Cagot would then be classed as a Cagot. They were not allowed to enter taverns or use public fountains. The marginalization of the Cagots began at baptism where chimes were not rung in celebration as was the case for non-Cagots and that the baptisms were held at nightfall. Within parish registries the term , or its scholarly synonym , was entered. Cagots were buried in cemeteries separate from non-Cagots with reports of riots occurring if bishops tried to have the bodies moved to non-Cagot cemeteries. Commonly Cagots were not given a standard last name in registries and records but were only listed by their first name, followed by the mention "" or "", such as on their baptismal certificate, They were allowed to enter a church only by a special door: "" that they were not allowed to enter the churches other than through separate doors, and in these had their own stoups and chairs for themselves and their families."/ref> and, during the service, a rail separated them from the other worshippers. They were forbidden from joining the priesthood. Either they were altogether forbidden to partake of the sacrament, or the
Eucharist The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instit ...
was given to them on the end of a wooden spoon, while a
holy water stoup A holy water font or stoup is a vessel containing holy water which is generally placed near the entrance of a church. It is often placed at the base of a crucifix or religious representation. It is used in the Catholic Church, Anglican Churches ...
was reserved for their exclusive use. They were compelled to wear a distinctive dress to which, in some places, was attached the foot of a goose or duck (whence they were sometimes called ), and latterly to have a red representation of a goose's foot in fabric sewn onto their clothes. Whilst in Navarre a court ruling in 1623 required all Cagots to wear cloaks with a yellow trim to identify them as Cagots.


Work

Cagots were prohibited from selling food or wine, touching food in the market, working with livestock, or entering mills. The Cagots were often restricted to craft trades including those of carpenter, masons, woodcutters, wood carvers,: "" Apart from splitting wood and carving, they are not allowed to do any other craft: these two occupations have become contemptible and dishonorable because of this."/ref> coopers, butcher, and rope-maker. Due to association with crafts working with wood Cagots, as well as making the instruments, they often worked operating instruments of torture that were made of wood in towns and villages, as well as executioners. Such professions may have perpetuated their social ostracisation. Cagot women were often midwives until the 15th century. Due to social exclusion, in France the Cagots were exempt from taxation until the 18th century. By the 19th century these restrictions seem to have been lifted, but the trades continued to be practiced by Cagots, along with other trades such as
weaving Weaving is a method of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. Other methods are knitting, crocheting, felting, and braiding or plaiting. The longitudinal th ...
and blacksmithing. Cagots who were involved in masonry and carpentry were often contracted to construct major public buildings, such as churches, an example being the . Because the main identifying mark of the Cagots was the restriction of their trades to a few small options, their segregation has been compared to the
caste system in India The caste system in India is the paradigmatic ethnographic example of classification of castes. It has its origins in Outline of ancient India, ancient India, and was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval, early-modern, and modern ...
.: "" St. Malo to deep up the Pyrenees, there is a class of people who come very close to the Indian pariah, and are on the same level of humiliation with them. They have been scattered in these areas, from time immemorial to the present day, under constant disparagement from their more fortunate fellow citizens. With their best-known and most general designation they are called Cagots, and it remains doubtful whether the hypocrites gave them or they gave them their names, although the last one seems more credible to me."]


Accusations and pseudo-medical beliefs

The Cagots were not an ethnic nor a religious group. They spoke the same language as the people in an area and generally kept the same religion as well, with later researchers remarking that there was no evidence to mark the Cagots as distinct from their neighbours. Their only distinguishing feature was their descent from families long identified as Cagots. Few consistent reasons were given as to why they were hated; accusations varied from Cagots being cretins,
lepers Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve damag ...
,
heretics Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization. The term is usually used in reference to violations of important religi ...
,
cannibals Cannibalism is the act of consuming another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common ecological interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded in more than 1,500 species. Human cannibalism is well documented, bo ...
, sorcerers,
werewolves In folklore, a werewolf (), or occasionally lycanthrope (; ; uk, Вовкулака, Vovkulaka), is an individual that can shapeshift into a wolf (or, especially in modern film, a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature), either purposely or ...
, sexual deviants, to actions they were accused of such as poisoning wells, or for simply being intrinsically evil. also notes how it was also believed that they could cause children to fall ill by touching them or even just looking at them. So pestilential was their touch considered that it was a crime for them to walk the common road barefooted or to drink from the same cup as non-Cagots. It was also a common belief that the Cagots gave off a foul smell. The Cagots did have a culture of their own, but very little of it was written down or preserved; as a result, almost everything that is known about them relates to their persecution. The repression lasted through the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
,
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...
, and
Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in Great Britain, continental Europe, and the United States, that occurred during the period from around 1760 to about 1820–1840. This transition included going f ...
, with the prejudice fading only in the 19th and 20th centuries. The French early psychiatrist
Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol (3 February 1772 – 12 December 1840) was a French psychiatrist. Early life and education Born and raised in Toulouse, Esquirol completed his education at Montpellier. He came to Paris in 1799 where he worked a ...
wrote in his 1838 works that the Cagots were a subset of "
idiot An idiot, in modern use, is a stupid or foolish person. 'Idiot' was formerly a technical term in legal and psychiatric contexts for some kinds of profound intellectual disability where the mental age is two years or less, and the person cannot ...
", and separate from "cretins". By the middle of the 19th century, previous pseudo-medical beliefs and beliefs of them being intellectually inferior had waned and German doctors, by 1849, regarded them as “not without the ability to become useful members of society.” Though various French and British doctors were continuing to label the Cagots as a race inherently afflicted with congenital disabilities to the end of the 19th century. Daniel Tuke wrote in 1880 after visiting communities where Cagots lived, noted how local people would not subject "cretins" born to non-Cagots to living with Cagots.


Origin


Biblical legends

Various legends placed the Cagots as originating from biblical events, including being descendants of the carpenters who made the cross that
Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
was crucified on, or being descendants of the bricklayers who built
Solomon's Temple Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple (, , ), was the Temple in Jerusalem between the 10th century BC and . According to the Hebrew Bible, it was commissioned by Solomon in the United Kingdom of Israel before being inherited by th ...
after being expelled from
ancient Israel The history of ancient Israel and Judah begins in the Southern Levant during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. "Israel" as a people or tribal confederation (see Israelites) appears for the first time in the Merneptah Stele, an inscripti ...
by
God In monotheism, monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator deity, creator, and principal object of Faith#Religious views, faith.Richard Swinburne, Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Ted Honderich, Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Ox ...
due to poor craftsmanship. Similarly a more detailed legend places the origins of the Cagots in Spain as being descendants of a Pyrenean master carver named Jacques, who traveled to ancient Israel via
Tartessos Tartessos ( es, Tarteso) is, as defined by archaeological discoveries, a historical civilization settled in the region of Southern Spain characterized by its mixture of local Paleohispanic and Phoenician traits. It had a proper writing system ...
, to cast
Boaz and Jachin According to the Bible, Boaz ( he, ''Bōʿaz'') and Jachin ( ''Yāḵīn'') were two copper, brass or bronze pillars which stood on the porch of Solomon's Temple, the first Temple in Jerusalem. They are used as symbols in Freemasonry and sometim ...
for Solomon's Temple. While in Israel he was distracted during the casting of Jachin by a woman, and due to the imperfection this caused in the column his descendants were cursed to suffer leprosy.


Religious origin

Another theory is that the Cagots were descendants of the
Cathar Catharism (; from the grc, καθαροί, katharoi, "the pure ones") was a Christian dualist or Gnostic movement between the 12th and 14th centuries which thrived in Southern Europe, particularly in northern Italy and southern France. Follow ...
s, who had been persecuted for
heresy Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization. The term is usually used in reference to violations of important religi ...
in the
Albigensian Crusade The Albigensian Crusade or the Cathar Crusade (; 1209–1229) was a military and ideological campaign initiated by Pope Innocent III to eliminate Catharism in Languedoc, southern France. The Crusade was prosecuted primarily by the French crown ...
. With some comparisons including the use the term to refer to Cagots, which evokes the name that the Cathars gave to themselves, . A delegation by Cagots to
Pope Leo X Pope Leo X ( it, Leone X; born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, 11 December 14751 December 1521) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 March 1513 to his death in December 1521. Born into the prominent political an ...
in 1514 made this claim, though the Cagots predate the Cathar heresy and the Cathar heresy was not present in Gascony and other regions where Cagots were present. Perhaps this was a strategic move: in statutes such stains of heresy expired after four generations and if this was the cause of their marginalisation, it also gave grounds for their emancipation. Others have suggested an origin as
Arian Christians Arianism ( grc-x-koine, Ἀρειανισμός, ) is a Christological doctrine first attributed to Arius (), a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt. Arian theology holds that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who was begotten by God t ...
. One early mention of the Cagots is from 1288, when they appear to have been called or . Other terms seen in use prior to the
16th century The 16th century begins with the Julian year 1501 ( MDI) and ends with either the Julian or the Gregorian year 1600 ( MDC) (depending on the reckoning used; the Gregorian calendar introduced a lapse of 10 days in October 1582). The 16th cent ...
include , , and , which in medieval texts became inseparable from the term , and so in
Béarn The Béarn (; ; oc, Bearn or ''Biarn''; eu, Bearno or ''Biarno''; or ''Bearnia'') is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Bas ...
became synonymous with the word
leper Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve damage ...
. Thus, another theory is that the Cagots were early converts to
Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...
, and that the hatred of their
pagan Paganism (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Judaism. ...
neighbors continued after they also converted, merely for different reasons.


Medical origin

Another possible explanation of their name or is to be found in the fact that in medieval times all lepers were known as , and that, whether Visigoths or not, these Cagots were affected in the Middle Ages with a particular form of leprosy or a condition resembling it, such as
psoriasis Psoriasis is a long-lasting, noncontagious autoimmune disease characterized by raised areas of abnormal skin. These areas are red, pink, or purple, dry, itchy, and scaly. Psoriasis varies in severity from small, localized patches to complete ...
. Thus would arise the confusion between Christians and Cretins, and explain the similar restrictions placed on lepers and Cagots.
Ambroise Paré Ambroise Paré (c. 1510 – 20 December 1590) was a French barber surgeon who served in that role for kings Henry II, Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. He is considered one of the fathers of surgery and modern forensic pathology and a p ...
wrote in of Cagots in 1561 of being lepers with "beautiful faces" and skin with no signs of leprosy, describing them as "white lepers" (people afflicted with "white leprosy"). Later dermatologists believe that Paré was describing
leucoderma Vitiligo is a disorder that causes the skin to lose its color. Specific causes are unknown but studies suggest a link to immune system changes. Signs and symptoms The only sign of vitiligo is the presence of pale patchy areas of depigmen ...
. Early edicts apparently refer to lepers and Cagots as different categories of undesirables, With this distinction being explicit by 1593. The
Parlement A ''parlement'' (), under the French Ancien Régime, was a provincial appellate court of the Kingdom of France. In 1789, France had 13 parlements, the oldest and most important of which was the Parlement of Paris. While both the modern Fre ...
of
Bordeaux Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
repeated customary prohibitions against them but added when they are lepers, if there still are any, they must carry (rattles). One belief in Navarre were that the were descendants of French immigrant lepers to the region. Later English commentators supported the idea of an origin among a community of lepers due to the similarities in the treatment of Cagots in churches and the measures taken to allow lepers in England and Scotland to attend churches.


Other origins

wrote that the Cagots were likely descendants of Spanish Roma from the Basque country. In Bordeaux, where they were numerous, they were called (synonymous with the Gascon word for thief), also used in
Old French Old French (, , ; Modern French: ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France from approximately the 8th to the 14th centuries. Rather than a unified language, Old French was a linkage of Romance dialects, mutually intelligib ...
to refer to leprosy, close to the Catalan and the Spanish meaning robber or looter, similar to the older, probably
Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language * Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Fo ...
-origin Latin term (or bagad), a possible origin of . The alleged physical appearance and ethnicity of the Cagots varied wildly from legends and stories; some local legends (especially those that held to the leper theory) indicated that Cagots had blonde hair and blue eyes, while those favoring the Arab descent story said that Cagots were considerably darker. In
Pío Baroja Pío Baroja y Nessi (28 December 1872 – 30 October 1956) was a Spanish writer, one of the key novelists of the Generation of '98. He was a member of an illustrious family. His brother Ricardo was a painter, writer and engraver, and his nephew ...
's work comments that Cagot residents of had both individuals with "Germanic" features as well as individuals with "Romani" features. One common trend was to claim that Cagots had no ears or no
earlobe The human earlobe (''lobulus auriculae''), the lower portion of the outer ear, is composed of tough areolar and adipose connective tissues, lacking the firmness and elasticity of the rest of the auricle (the external structure of the ear). In s ...
s, or that one ear was longer than the other, with other supposed identifiers including webbed hands and/or feet, or the presence of
goitre A goitre, or goiter, is a swelling in the neck resulting from an enlarged thyroid gland. A goitre can be associated with a thyroid that is not functioning properly. Worldwide, over 90% of goitre cases are caused by iodine deficiency. The term is ...
s.
Graham Robb Graham Macdonald Robb FRSL (born 2 June 1958, Manchester) is a British author and critic specialising in French literature. Biography Born at Manchester, Robb attended the Royal Grammar School, Worcester, before going up to Exeter College, Ox ...
finds most of the above theories unlikely: A modern hypothesis of interest is that the Cagots are the descendants of a fallen medieval
guild A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular area. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradesmen belonging to a professional association. They sometimes ...
of carpenters. This theory would explain the most salient thing Cagots throughout France and Spain have in common: that is, being restricted in their choice of trade. The red webbed-foot symbol Cagots were sometimes forced to wear might have been the guild's original emblem. There was a brief construction boom on the
Way of St. James The Camino de Santiago ( la, Peregrinatio Compostellana, "Pilgrimage of Compostela"; gl, O Camiño de Santiago), known in English as the Way of St James, is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the Twelve Apostle ...
pilgrimage route in the 9th and 10th centuries; this could have brought the guild both power and suspicion. The collapse of their business would have left a scattered, yet cohesive group in the areas where Cagots are known. For similar reasons due to their restricted trades, Delacampagne suggests a possible origin as a culturally distinct community of woodsmen who were Christianised relatively late.


Religion

Cagots followed the same religion as the non-Cagots who lived around them. They were forced to use a side entrance to churches, often an intentionally low one to force Cagots to bow and remind them of their subservient status. This practice, done for cultural rather than religious reasons, did not change even between
Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
and
Huguenot The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster Be ...
areas. They had their own
holy water Holy water is water that has been blessed by a member of the clergy or a religious figure, or derived from a well or spring considered holy. The use for cleansing prior to a baptism and spiritual cleansing is common in several religions, from ...
fonts set aside for Cagots, and touching the normal font was strictly forbidden. These restrictions were taken seriously; in the 18th century, a wealthy Cagot had his hand cut off and nailed to the church door for daring to touch the font reserved for "clean" citizens. Cagots were expected to slip into churches quietly and congregate in the worst seats. Many
Bretons The Bretons (; br, Bretoned or ''Vretoned,'' ) are a Celts, Celtic ethnic group native to Brittany. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Common Brittonic, Brittonic speakers who emigrated from Dumnonia, southwestern Great Britain, par ...
believed that Cagots bled from their
navel The navel (clinically known as the umbilicus, commonly known as the belly button or tummy button) is a protruding, flat, or hollowed area on the abdomen at the attachment site of the umbilical cord. All placental mammals have a navel, although ...
on
Good Friday Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday (also Hol ...
. An appeal by the Cagots to Pope Leo X in 1514 was successful, and he published a
bull A bull is an intact (i.e., not castrated) adult male of the species ''Bos taurus'' (cattle). More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e., cows), bulls have long been an important symbol in many religions, includin ...
instructing that the Cagots be treated "with kindness, in the same way as the other believers." Still, little changed, as most local authorities ignored the bull.


Government

The nominal though usually ineffective allies of the Cagots were the government, the educated, and the wealthy. This included
Charles V Charles V may refer to: * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise * Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (1643–1690) * Infan ...
who officially supported tolerance of and improvements to the lives of Cagots. It has been suggested that the odd patchwork of areas which recognized Cagots has more to do with which local governments tolerated the prejudice, and which allowed Cagots to be a normal part of society. In a study in 1683, doctors examined the Cagots and found them no different from normal citizens. Notably, they did not actually suffer from
leprosy Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve damag ...
or any other disease that could clarify their exclusion from society. The Parliaments of Pau, Toulouse and Bordeaux were apprised of the situation, and money was allocated to improve the lot of the Cagots, but the populace and local authorities resisted. In 1673, the Ursúa lord of the municipality of Baztán advocated the recognition of the local Cagots as natural residents of the Baztán. By the 18th century Cagots made up considerable portions of various settlements, such as in Baigorri where Cagots made up 10% of the population. In 1709, the influential politician planned and constructed the manufacturing town of
Nuevo Baztán Nuevo Baztán is a municipality southeast of Madrid, near Alcalá de Henares, Spain. It consists of a small historic centre and modern housing estates. The historic centre was designed as an industrial and housing complex laid out on a grid pla ...
(after his native Baztan Valley in Navarre) near Madrid. He brought many Cagot settlers to Nuevo Baztán, but after some years, many returned to Navarre, unhappy with their work conditions. In 1723 the instituted a fine of 500
French livre The livre (abbreviation: £ or ₶., French for (pound)) was the currency of Kingdom of France and its predecessor state of West Francia from 781 to 1794. Several different livres existed, some concurrently. The livre was the name of coins ...
s for anyone insulting any individual as "alleged descendants of the Giezy race, and treating them as agots, cagots, gahets or ladres"; ordering that they will be admitted to general and particular assemblies, to municipal offices and honors of the church, they may even be placed in the galleries and other places of the said church where they will be treated and recognized as the other inhabitants of the places, without any distinction; as also that their children will be received in the schools and colleges of the cities, towns and villages, and will be admitted in all the Christian instructions indiscriminately. During the
French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...
substantive steps were taken to end discrimination toward Cagots. Revolutionary authorities claimed that Cagots were no different from other citizens, and ''
de jure In law and government, ''de jure'' ( ; , "by law") describes practices that are legally recognized, regardless of whether the practice exists in reality. In contrast, ("in fact") describes situations that exist in reality, even if not legally ...
'' discrimination generally came to an end. Still, local prejudice from the populace persisted, though the practice began to decline. Also during the Revolution, Cagots stormed record offices and burned birth certificates in an attempt to conceal their heritage. These measures did not prove effective, as the local populace still remembered. Rhyming songs kept the names of Cagot families known.


Modern status

Kurt Tucholsky Kurt Tucholsky (; 9 January 1890 – 21 December 1935) was a German journalist, satirist, and writer. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Kaspar Hauser (after the historical figure), Peter Panter, Theobald Tiger and Ignaz Wrobel. Tucholsky was on ...
wrote in his book on the ''Pyrenees'' in 1927: "There were many in the Argelès valley, near Luchon and in the Ariège district. Today they are almost extinct, you have to search hard if you want to see them". The Cagots no longer form a separate social class and were largely assimilated into the general population. Very little of Cagot culture still exists, as most descendants of Cagots have preferred not to be known as such. There was a distinct Cagot community in Navarre until the early 20th century, with the small northern village called
Arizkun Arizkun is a village located in the municipality of Baztan, Navarre, Spain. Hamlets Arizkun is composed of the following hamlets: * Aintzinalde * Arizkun (main village) * Bozate * Ordoki * Pertalats See also * Cagot The ''Cagots'' () ...
in
Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...
(or Arizcun in Spanish) being the last haven of this segregation, where the community was contained within the neighbourhood of Bozate. Family names in Spain still associated with having Cagot ancestors include: Bidegain, Errotaberea, Zaldua, Maistruarena, Amorena, and Santxotena. There are two museums dedicated to the history of the Cagots, one in the neighborhood of Bozate in the town of
Arizkun Arizkun is a village located in the municipality of Baztan, Navarre, Spain. Hamlets Arizkun is composed of the following hamlets: * Aintzinalde * Arizkun (main village) * Bozate * Ordoki * Pertalats See also * Cagot The ''Cagots'' () ...
, Spain, the (Ethnographic Museum of the Agotes), opened by in 2003, and a museum in the
Château des Nestes A château (; plural: châteaux) is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor, or a fine country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally, and still most frequently, in French-speaking regions. Nowaday ...
in
Arreau Arreau (; oc, Àrreu) is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in southwestern France. It is situated on the former Route nationale 618, the ''Route of the Pyrénées''. Arreau is at the crossroads of the Louron valley and the Aure val ...
, France.


Cagot symbols used in anti-vaccination protests

In 2021 and 2022
anti-vaccination Vaccine hesitancy is a delay in acceptance, or refusal, of vaccines despite the availability of vaccine services and supporting evidence. The term covers refusals to vaccinate, delaying vaccines, accepting vaccines but remaining uncertain abou ...
and anti-vaccine passport protestors in France started wearing the red goose's foot symbol that Cagots were forced to wear, and handed out cards explaining the discrimination against the Cagots.


In media

* In the 1793 French play , by
Sylvain Maréchal Sylvain Maréchal (15 August 1750 – 18 January 1803) was a French essayist, poet, philosopher and political theorist, whose views presaged utopian socialism and communism. His views on a future golden age are occasionally described as ''utopian ...
, the liberated subjects of the kings of Europe provide critiques of and insult their former rulers, where they say the Spanish king has "stupidity, cagotism and despotism ..imprinted on his royal face". * The author Thomas Colley Grattan's 1823 story ''The Cagot's Hut'' details the ''otherness'' he perceived in the Cagots during his travels in the French Pyrenees, detailing many of the mythical features that became folklore about the Cagots appearance. * The German poet
Heinrich Heine Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (; born Harry Heine; 13 December 1797 – 17 February 1856) was a German poet, writer and literary critic. He is best known outside Germany for his early lyric poetry, which was set to music in the form of '' Lied ...
visited the town of
Cauterets Cauterets (; in Occitan ''Cautarés'', in Catalan ''Cautarés'', in Aragonese ''Cautarès'') is a spa town, a ski resort and a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department and the region of Occitanie in south-western France. Geography Cauterets ...
in July 1841 and learned of the Cagots minority and their discrimination by others, subsequently becoming the topic of his poem ''Canto XV'' in ''Atta Troll''. * References to Cagots have appeared in multiple poems by the 19th century French poet
Édouard Pailleron Édouard Jules Henri Pailleron (7 September 183419 April 1899) was a French poet and dramatist best known for his play . Early life Édouard was born in Paris on 7 September 1834. From a Parisian cultured "bourgeoise" family (upper-middle class ...
. * The 2012 Spanish-language film ''Baztan'' by Iñaki Elizalde, deals with a young man fighting against the discrimination he and his family have suffered for centuries due to being Cagots. * The Cagot sculptor Xabier Santxotena, whose work explores the history and identity of the Cagots, opened the in his former family home. * A character called Beñat Le Cagot appears in the novel '' Shibumi'' published in 1979 by
Trevanian Rodney William Whitaker (June 12, 1931 – December 14, 2005) was an American film scholar and writer who wrote several novels under the pen name Trevanian. Whitaker wrote in a wide variety of genres, achieved bestseller status, and publishe ...
, a pseudonym of Rodney William Whitaker.


Gallery

File:Porte cagots église Sauveterre de Béarn.JPG, Door of the Cagots of the church of
Sauveterre-de-Béarn Sauveterre-de-Béarn (, literally ''Sauveterre of Béarn''; oc, Sauvatèrra; eu, Salbaterra Bearno) is a medieval village perched above the Gave d'Oloron and facing the Pyrenees in south-western France. It is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atl ...
. File:Maison du Cagot à Langogne (48).gif, Protruding badge on the facade indicating the dwelling of a Cagot in
Langogne Langogne (; oc, Lengònha) is a commune in the Lozère department in southern France. Located on the antique Regordane way, the Paris–Nimes railway line and the road RN 88 (Lyon–Toulouse), the city has long been a commercial crossroad betwe ...
(
Lozère Lozère (; oc, Losera ) is a landlocked department in the region of Occitanie in Southern France, located near the Massif Central, bounded to the northeast by Haute-Loire, to the east by Ardèche, to the south by Gard, to the west by Aveyron, ...
). File:(65) Bagnères de Bigorre - l'adour et le quartier des cagots.jpg, A postcard of the subprefecture of
Bagnères-de-Bigorre Bagnères-de-Bigorre (, literally ''Bagnères of Bigorre''; oc, label= Gascon, Banhèras de Bigòrra ) is a commune and subprefecture of the Hautes-Pyrénées Department in the Occitanie region of southwestern France. Name The town was known ...
, showing the
Adour The Adour (; eu, Aturri; oc, Ador) is a river in southwestern France. It rises in High-Bigorre (Pyrenees), in the commune of Aspin-Aure, and flows into the Atlantic Ocean (Bay of Biscay) near Bayonne. It is long, of which the uppermost ca. i ...
and the neighborhood of the Cagots. File:Cagot saint girons.jpg, Sculpture of a "Cagot" in the
Église Saint-Girons (English: ''Saint-Girons Church''; Béarnese Occitan: ''glèisa de Sent Gironç'') is a Roman Catholic church located in the commune of Monein in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Aquitaine. The edifice is in the Gothic architectural style. It was clas ...
in
Monein Monein (; oc, Monenh) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. Geography Neighbouring Communes *North: Lahourcade and Pardies *West: Lucq-de-Béarn and Cardesse *South: Estialescq and Lasseube *East: Auberti ...
, which was built by the local cagot craftsmen in 1464. File:SAINT-SAVIN (Hautes-Pyrénées) La Maison des CAGOTS.jpg, Cagot houses in the Mailhòc district (wooden mallet), Saint-Savin, 1906. File:Rue du village de Campan (Hautes-Pyrénées) 3.jpg, A sign for in
Campan Campan (; oc, Campan) is a Communes of France, commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie region of south-western France. Geography Campan stands in a valley of the sa ...
. File:Campan - La halle.JPG, which was built by the local Cagots. File:CastethMontaner.jpg, Montaner castle, built by the Cagots, for
Gaston III, Count of Foix Gaston Fébus (also spelt Phoebus) (30 April 1331 – 1391) was the eleventh count of Foix (as Gaston III) and twenty-fourth viscount of Béarn (as Gaston X) from 1343 until his death. Early life Gaston was born either in Orthez or Foix, the el ...
.


See also

* , untouchable
caste Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultura ...
in Korea. * , outcast community of Vietnam after
Fall of Saigon The Fall of Saigon, also known as the Liberation of Saigon by North Vietnamese or Liberation of the South by the Vietnamese government, and known as Black April by anti-communist overseas Vietnamese was the capture of Saigon, the capital of ...
. * , a discriminated group in Japan. * , a derogatory term used to describe coopers and
rope A rope is a group of yarns, plies, fibres, or strands that are twisted or braided together into a larger and stronger form. Ropes have tensile strength and so can be used for dragging and lifting. Rope is thicker and stronger than similarly ...
makers. * , an ethnic group in the Spanish Basque country and the French Basque coast sometimes linked to the Cagots. *
Cleanliness of blood The concept of (), (, ) or (), literally "cleanliness of blood" and meaning "blood purity", was an early system of racialized discrimination used in early modern Spain and Portugal. The label referred to those who were considered "Old Chri ...
, ethnic discrimination in the Spanish Old Regime. *
Dalit Dalit (from sa, दलित, dalita meaning "broken/scattered"), also previously known as untouchable, is the lowest stratum of the Caste system in India, castes in India. Dalits were excluded from the four-fold Varna (Hinduism), varna syste ...
, (also known as untouchables) in India. * , an ethnic minority in Spain and Portugal. * , an ethnic group in Spain who were also discriminated against and have unknown origins. *
Melungeons Melungeons ( ) are an ethnicity from the Southeastern United States who descend from Demographics of Europe, Europeans, Native Americans in the United States, Native American, and sub-Saharan Africans brought to America as indentured servants and ...
, of America's central
Appalachia Appalachia () is a cultural region in the Eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York State to northern Alabama and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ca ...
. * (danhu) ("boat people") in
Guangdong Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized as Canton or Kwangtung, is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of the South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.01 million (as of 2020) ...
, Fuzhou Tanka in
Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
, ''si-min'' (small people) and ''mianhu'' in
Jiangsu Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, Postal romanization, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an Eastern China, eastern coastal Provinces of the People's Republic of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China. It is o ...
, and (; ) in
Zhejiang Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiang ...
, '' jiuxing yumin'' () in the
Yangtze The Yangtze or Yangzi ( or ; ) is the longest river in Asia, the third-longest in the world, and the longest in the world to flow entirely within one country. It rises at Jari Hill in the Tanggula Mountains (Tibetan Plateau) and flows ...
River region, ("music people") in
Shanxi Shanxi (; ; formerly romanised as Shansi) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the North China region. The capital and largest city of the province is Taiyuan, while its next most populated prefecture-lev ...
*
Untouchability Untouchability is a form of social institution that legitimises and enforces practices that are discriminatory, humiliating, exclusionary and exploitative against people belonging to certain social groups. Although comparable forms of discrimin ...
, the practice of ostracising a group of people regarded as 'untouchables'. * , a discriminated group of cowherders in Northern Spain. * a persecuted ethnic minority in
Mallorca Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest island in the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain and located in the Mediterranean. The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Bal ...
, often referenced in works discussing the persecution of Cagots in Spain.


References


Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Further reading

* * * * * *


External links


Cagots Museum in Arreau with illustrations
{{Conformity Basque history Kingdom of France Social history of France Discrimination in France Discrimination in Spain