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The Puisaye () is a natural and historical region of France, now divided between the departments of
Loiret Loiret (; ) is a department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of north-central France. It takes its name from the river Loiret, which is contained wholly within the department. In 2019, Loiret had a population of 680,434.
,
Nièvre Nièvre () is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, central-east France. Named after the river Nièvre, it had a population of 204,452 in 2019.Yonne Yonne () is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in France. It is named after the river Yonne, which flows through it, in the country's north-central part. One of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté's eight constituent departments, it is lo ...
. Its historical and administrative center is the town of Saint-Fargeau. Its inhabitants are known as ''Poyaudins'' (or ''Puisayens''). Regions of France Geographical, historical and cultural regions of France


Name

According to local 19th-century historian , the name ''Puisaye'' first appeared in 12th-century
charters A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the rec ...
. It was variously spelled ''Poiseia'', ''Puseium'', ''Pusaya'', ''Puiseia'', ''Puteacia'', or ''Poidaceia''.


Geography

Since the Puisaye is not an administrative region, its exact definition and limits can vary depending on time and context. Its core is a land of forests and ponds, traversed by several rivers including the
Loing The Loing () is a long river in central France, a left tributary of the Seine. Its source is in Sainte-Colombe-sur-Loing, in the southwestern of the department of Yonne, and it flows into the Seine in Saint-Mammès, near Moret-sur-Loing. Its ma ...
. It is bordered by Sancerrois to the west across the
Loire The Loire (, also ; ; oc, Léger, ; la, Liger) is the longest river in France and the 171st longest in the world. With a length of , it drains , more than a fifth of France's land, while its average discharge is only half that of the Rhône ...
river,
Gâtinais Gâtinais () or Gâtine () was a province of France, containing the area around the valley of the Loing, corresponding roughly to the northeastern part of the département of Loiret, and the south of the present department of Seine-et-Marne. Unde ...
to the northwest, Auxerrois to the northeast,
Forterre The Forterre is a small natural region on the western edge of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France. Name The name Forterre is a contraction of ''forte terre'', "strong earth". Geography The Forterre is neighbored by the Puisaye ...
to the southeast, and Donziais to the south. The , created in 2017, covers most of the historical Puisaye, though not its Western fringe in the
Loiret Loiret (; ) is a department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of north-central France. It takes its name from the river Loiret, which is contained wholly within the department. In 2019, Loiret had a population of 680,434.
. It also includes the geologically distinct land of Forterre as well as parts of the Auxerrois, both to the east. The name Puisaye appears to exert a certain attraction, leading communities that are not historically part of Puisaye to adopt it. This has been the case of Sougères-en-Puisaye, which changed its name from Sougères-les-Simon in 1955, and of
Charny-Orée-de-Puisaye Charny-Orée-de-Puisaye is a commune in the Yonne department of central France, on the Northern end of the historical region of Puisaye. The municipality was established on 1 January 2016 by merger of the former communes of Charny, Chambeugle, ...
, which adopted this name when it was formed by the merger of 14 villages in 2016. As a result, the contemporary usage of the word Puisaye can cover a broader territory than has been the case in the past. The Lac du Bourdon is the largest body of water in Puisaye, albeit far from the only one. It is a reservoir formed in 1901 to help regulate water levels of the Briare Canal. The ''Bourdon'' is a small tributary of the
Loing The Loing () is a long river in central France, a left tributary of the Seine. Its source is in Sainte-Colombe-sur-Loing, in the southwestern of the department of Yonne, and it flows into the Seine in Saint-Mammès, near Moret-sur-Loing. Its ma ...
that feeds into and from the lake.


History

The territory of Puisaye was
Christianized Christianization ( or Christianisation) is to make Christian; to imbue with Christian principles; to become Christian. It can apply to the conversion of an individual, a practice, a place or a whole society. It began in the Roman Empire, conti ...
in
late antiquity Late antiquity is the time of transition from classical antiquity to the Middle Ages, generally spanning the 3rd–7th century in Europe and adjacent areas bordering the Mediterranean Basin. The popularization of this periodization in English ha ...
. Some villages are traditionally associated with late-Antiquity saints, e.g. in Saints-en-Puisaye. A Carolingian manuscript lists several Puisaye parishes on the itinerary of Saint Aunarius,
Bishop of Auxerre The diocese of Auxerre ( la, dioecesis Antissiodorensis) is a former French Roman Catholic diocese. Its historical episcopal see was in the city of Auxerre in Burgundy, now part of eastern France. Currently the non-metropolitan Archbishop of Sens, ...
in the late 6th century, namely
Neuvy-sur-Loire Neuvy-sur-Loire (, literally ''Neuvy on Loire'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Nièvre Departments of France, department in central France. Demographics On 1 January 2019, the estimated population was 1,410. See also *Communes of the N ...
(''Novus Vicus''),
Briare Briare (, also known as Briare-le-Canal) is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. The composer and organist Henri Nibelle Henri Jules Joseph Nibelle (6 November 1883 – 18 November 1967) ...
(''Brioderus''), Bléneau (''Blanoilus''), Bitry (''Vitriacus''), and Arquian (''Arcuncius''), and also refers to
Toucy Toucy () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. Personalities Toucy was the birthplace and hometown of Pierre Larousse, lexicographer and founder of the publ ...
(''Tociacus''). The lordship of
Toucy Toucy () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. Personalities Toucy was the birthplace and hometown of Pierre Larousse, lexicographer and founder of the publ ...
was prominent in the
High Middle Ages The High Middle Ages, or High Medieval Period, was the periodization, period of European history that lasted from AD 1000 to 1300. The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and were followed by the Late Middle Ages, which ended ...
, as several of its leaders and family affiliates played significant roles, not least as associates of the
House of Courtenay The House of Courtenay is a medieval noble house, with branches in France, England and the Holy Land. One branch of the Courtenays became a Royal House of the Capetian Dynasty, cousins of the Bourbons and the Valois, and achieved the title o ...
in their overseas endeavors. Meanwhile, the south of the Puisaye was in the orbit of the
County of Nevers The County of Nevers () was a county in central France. Its principal town was Nevers. It roughly corresponds to the later province of Nivernais and the modern of department of Nièvre.Donzy Donzy is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France. It is notable for having mirrored the national voting pattern at every election since 1981. Demographics See also *Communes of the Nièvre department The following is a list o ...
. The
crisis of the late Middle Ages The Crisis of the Late Middle Ages was a series of events in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries that ended centuries of European stability during the Late Middle Ages. Three major crises led to radical changes in all areas of society: demog ...
and specifically the
Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from disputed claims to the French Crown, ...
marked a rupture in the history of the region.
Toucy Toucy () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. Personalities Toucy was the birthplace and hometown of Pierre Larousse, lexicographer and founder of the publ ...
was devastated in the runup to the
Battle of Cravant The Battle of Cravant was fought on 31 July 1423, during the Hundred Years' War between English and French forces at the village of Cravant in Burgundy, at a bridge and ford on the banks of the river Yonne, a left-bank tributary of the Seine, ...
, and was subsequently displaced by Saint-Fargeau as the main urban center of the Puisaye.
Antoine de Chabannes Antoine is a French given name (from the Latin ''Antonius'' meaning 'highly praise-worthy') that is a variant of Danton, Titouan, D'Anton and Antonin. The name is used in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, West Greenland, Haiti, French Guian ...
significantly developed Saint-Fargeau, reconstructing its
castle A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...
but also founding a hospital there. Generally, the century between 1450 and 1550 was a time of prosperity and renewal in the region, still represented in the landscape by numerous village churches built during that era. This period of prosperity ended with the
Wars of Religion A religious war or a war of religion, sometimes also known as a holy war ( la, sanctum bellum), is a war which is primarily caused or justified by differences in religion. In the modern period, there are frequent debates over the extent to wh ...
and troubles of the early 17th century. By the end of France's
Ancien Régime ''Ancien'' may refer to * the French word for "ancient, old" ** Société des anciens textes français * the French for "former, senior" ** Virelai ancien ** Ancien Régime ** Ancien Régime in France {{disambig ...
, the core of Puisaye including Bléneau, Saint-Fargeau, Toucy and Saint-Sauveur was part of the
province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...
of
Orléanais The Duchy of Orléanais () is a former province of France, which was created during the Renaissance by merging four former counties and towns. However after the French Revolution, the province was dissolved in 1791 and succeeded by five ''départm ...
. It was a provincial borderland, with parts of the present ''communauté de communes de Puisaye-Forterre'' in
Champagne Champagne (, ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, that demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...
(e.g. Charny),
Burgundy Burgundy (; french: link=no, Bourgogne ) is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. The c ...
(e.g. Pourrain,
Courson-les-Carrières Courson-les-Carrières () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France. The commune lies south of Auxerre on the main N151 road from Auxerre to Clamecy. It is the largest single settlement in the nat ...
), and
Nivernais Nivernais (, ) was a province of France, around the city of Nevers, which forms the modern department of Nièvre. It roughly coincides with the former Duchy of Nevers.Saint-Vérain). Moreover,
Île-de-France , timezone1 = CET , utc_offset1 = +01:00 , timezone1_DST = CEST , utc_offset1_DST = +02:00 , blank_name_sec1 = Gross regional product , blank_info_sec1 = Ranked 1st , bla ...
(e.g. Courtenay) was close by to the north, and
Berry A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, raspb ...
just across the Loire river.


Lordship of Puisaye

The Lordship of Puisaye is attested under that name from the late 13th century to the late 16th century, corresponding to an area that varied across time but generally included the towns of Bléneau, Mézilles, Saint-Fargeau, and until the early 16th century,
Toucy Toucy () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. Personalities Toucy was the birthplace and hometown of Pierre Larousse, lexicographer and founder of the publ ...
. The lordship of Puisaye was inherited by the Counts, then Dukes of Bar following the 1255 marriage between
Theobald II, Count of Bar Theobald II (1221– October 1291) was a count of Bar. He was the son of Henry II of Bar and Philippa of Dreux. He became count of Bar when his father was killed during the Barons' Crusade in 1239, but news of Henry's death did not reach him u ...
and Joanna of Toucy, heiress of a lineage that started with Ythier de Narbonne in the 11th century (). On Joanna of Toucy's death in 1317 the lordship went to
Edward I, Count of Bar Edward I (died November 1336), was the Count of Bar from 1302 to his death. He was a minor when he succeeded his father Henry III as count, so ruled initially under the regency of his uncles, John of Puisaye, Theobald, Bishop of Liège, and R ...
and then to his son
Henry IV, Count of Bar Henry IV of Bar (abt 1315–1344) was count of Bar from 1336 to 1344. His aunt, Joan of Bar, Countess of Surrey, governed Bar in his name during his minority. He was the son of Edward I of Bar and his wife Marie of Burgundy. He married Yolande of ...
, and grandson,
Robert, Duke of Bar Robert I of Bar (8 November 1344 – 12 April 1411) was Marquis of Pont-à-Mousson and Count and then Duke of Bar. He succeeded his elder brother Edward II of Bar as count in 1352. His parents were Henry IV of Bar and Yolande of Flanders. When R ...
. One of Robert's sons, John of Bar, inherited the lordship (but not the Duchy of Bar) when Robert died in 1411, but he was himself soon killed at the
Battle of Agincourt The Battle of Agincourt ( ; french: Azincourt ) was an English victory in the Hundred Years' War. It took place on 25 October 1415 (Saint Crispin's Day) near Azincourt, in northern France. The unexpected English victory against the numerica ...
in October 1415. The Lordship of Puisaye was then seized, together with the Duchy (whose ruler
Edward III Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring r ...
was also killed in Agincourt) by Cardinal Louis of Bar, brother of John and Edward and a significant political figure of the era. On Louis's death the lordship of Puisaye went to John Jacob, Marquis of Montferrat, son of Marquis Theodore II who had married Louis's sister Joanna. John Jacob sold parts of the lordship to
Georges de La Trémoille Georges may refer to: Places *Georges River, New South Wales, Australia *Georges Quay (Dublin) *Georges Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania Other uses *Georges (name) * ''Georges'' (novel), a novel by Alexandre Dumas * "Georges" (song), a 1977 ...
, but he wasn't able or willing to pay and John Jacob's sons recovered them in the late 1440s. They in turn sold the entire lordship to
Jacques Coeur Ancient and noble French family names, Jacques, Jacq, or James are believed to originate from the Middle Ages in the historic northwest Brittany region in France, and have since spread around the world over the centuries. To date, there are over ...
in February 1450. After Jacques Coeur's downfall in 1451, the lordship was taken by
Antoine de Chabannes Antoine is a French given name (from the Latin ''Antonius'' meaning 'highly praise-worthy') that is a variant of Danton, Titouan, D'Anton and Antonin. The name is used in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, West Greenland, Haiti, French Guian ...
. Charles VII's decision of 29 May 1453 specifically granted him: ''"(1) the lands, castles and lordships of Saint-Fargeau, of Lavau, of La Couldre, of Perreuse, of
Champignelles Champignelles () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France. The commune of Champignelle is situated near the Loiret department, at 50 km from Auxerre and Montargis and 150 km south of Par ...
, of Mézilles, or Villeneuve-les-Genêts and their dependencies; (2) the lands of Saint-Maurice-sur-Aveyron, Melleroy, La Frenaie,
Fontenelles Fontenelle Abbey (french: Abbaye de Fontenelle) was a Cistercian nunnery in Maing, Nord, France, extant from 1212 to 1793. History The abbey was founded in 1212 to the south of Valenciennes on the banks of the Scheldt as a small oratory by tw ...
, and their dependencies; (3) the Barony of
Toucy Toucy () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. Personalities Toucy was the birthplace and hometown of Pierre Larousse, lexicographer and founder of the publ ...
with its belongings and dependencies."'' Jacques Coeur's family sued, but eventually the Chabannes were able to keep their Puisaye domains. After the death of Antoine's son John of Chabannes in 1503, the lordship was divided between his two young daughters. Antoinette (1498-ca. 1527) received most of Puisaye including Saint-Fargeau. In 1515 she married René d'Anjou- Mézières (1483-1521) who thus became lord of Puisaye as later was his son Nicolas (1518-1569). These domains later went to
François, Duke of Montpensier François de Bourbon (1542 – 4 June 1592) was the Duke of Montpensier and member of the House of Bourbon. He was the brother of Charlotte de Bourbon, Princess of Orange and wife of William the Silent, ''Prince of Orange''. He was the great g ...
following his 1566 marriage with , daughter of Nicolas d'Anjou. John of Chabannes's elder daughter Avoye (1492-ca. 1545) kept other Chabannes domains including
Toucy Toucy () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. Personalities Toucy was the birthplace and hometown of Pierre Larousse, lexicographer and founder of the publ ...
, and in 1504 she married Aymon du Prie (or Prye). The latter's family kept the Barony of Toucy following Aymon's death in 1510. In 1575, King Henry III elevated the County of Saint-Fargeau to a ''Duché-
Pairie The Peerage of France (french: Pairie de France) was a hereditary distinction within the French nobility which appeared in 1180 in the Middle Ages. The prestigious title and position of Peer of France (french: Pair de France, links=no) was ...
''. After that, the reference to Puisaye as a lordship or political entity, which had already been infrequent under Nicolas d'Anjou, appears to fade away. In the archives of the Château de Saint-Fargeau, however, there are references to the "duché de Saint-Fargeau et de Puisaye" in a document from 1606 and "duché de Saint-Fargeau et du païs de Puisaie" in another one from 1714.


Personalities connected to Puisaye


Antiquity and Middle Ages

* or Priscus (d. 274), soldier and Christian martyr decapitated together with companions near Saints-en-Puisaye * (771-?), associate of
Charlemagne Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first Holy ...
and first
Count of Auxerre The County of Auxerre is a former state of current central France, with capital in Auxerre. History The first count attested by the sources is one Ermenaud I of Auxerre, Ermenaud, a companion of Charlemagne who reigned around 770. In 859 Charles ...
, founded a monastery in
Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye () is a Communes of France, commune in the north-central French Departments of France, department of Yonne. It is located in an area historically known as Puisaye. In the early 1970s the Château de la Folie, north of the ...
*
Rodulfus Glaber Rodulfus, or Raoul Glaber (which means "the Smooth" or "the Bald") (985–1047), was an 11th-century Benedictine chronicler. Life Glaber was born in 985 in Burgundy. At the behest of his uncle, a monk at Saint-Léger-de-Champeaux, Glaber was sent ...
(985-1047), chronicler and monk at the priory of Moutiers-en-Puisaye * Ithier de Narbonne (11th century), founder of the *
Gilo of Toucy Gilo of Toucy, also called Gilo of Paris or Gilo of Tusculum (died 1139×1142), was a French poet and cleric. A priest before he became a monk at Cluny, he was appointed cardinal-bishop of Tusculum sometime between 1121 and 1123. He served as a pa ...
(ca. 1080–1140),
cardinal Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
and
papal legate 300px, A woodcut showing Henry II of England greeting the pope's legate. A papal legate or apostolic legate (from the ancient Roman title ''legatus'') is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic ...
, born in
Toucy Toucy () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. Personalities Toucy was the birthplace and hometown of Pierre Larousse, lexicographer and founder of the publ ...
*
Narjot III de Toucy Narjot III de Toucy (died 1241), lord of Bazarnes, was the son of Narjot II of Toucy (France) and his wife Agnes de Dampierre. Life Alongside his father-in-law Theodore Branas and Geoffroy de Merry, Narjot de Toucy formed part of the council that ...
(d. 1241), Regent of the
Latin Empire of Constantinople The Latin Empire, also referred to as the Latin Empire of Constantinople, was a feudal Crusader state founded by the leaders of the Fourth Crusade on lands captured from the Byzantine Empire. The Latin Empire was intended to replace the Byzanti ...
in 1228-1231 * (d. 1274),
Archbishop of Sens The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sens and Auxerre (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Senonensis et Antissiodorensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Sens et Auxerre'') is a Latin Rite Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in France. The Archdiocese compr ...
born in Charny *
Philippe de Toucy Philippe de Toucy (died 12 January 1277) was a French Crusader nobleman and ''Bailli'' of the Latin Empire. Philippe was the son of Narjot de Toucy, a senior lord of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, and a daughter of the Byzantine lord Theodo ...
(d. 1277), Regent of the
Latin Empire of Constantinople The Latin Empire, also referred to as the Latin Empire of Constantinople, was a feudal Crusader state founded by the leaders of the Fourth Crusade on lands captured from the Byzantine Empire. The Latin Empire was intended to replace the Byzanti ...
in 1243–1248,
Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...
of the
Kingdom of Sicily The Kingdom of Sicily ( la, Regnum Siciliae; it, Regno di Sicilia; scn, Regnu di Sicilia) was a state that existed in the south of the Italian Peninsula and for a time the region of Ifriqiya from its founding by Roger II of Sicily in 1130 un ...
in 1273 * Narjot IV de Toucy (d. 1293),
Captain-General Captain general (and its literal equivalent in several languages) is a high military rank of general officer grade, and a gubernatorial title. History The term "Captain General" started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of Command ...
of the
Kingdom of Albania Kingdom of Albania may refer to: *Kingdom of Albania (medieval) — from the Capetian House of Anjou *Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939) — from the House of Zogu *Albanian Kingdom (1939–1943) — from the House of Savoy during the Italian occupati ...
,
Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...
of the
Kingdom of Sicily The Kingdom of Sicily ( la, Regnum Siciliae; it, Regno di Sicilia; scn, Regnu di Sicilia) was a state that existed in the south of the Italian Peninsula and for a time the region of Ifriqiya from its founding by Roger II of Sicily in 1130 un ...
in 1277, and
bailli A bailiff (french: bailli, ) was the king's administrative representative during the ''ancien régime'' in northern France, where the bailiff was responsible for the application of justice and control of the administration and local finances in h ...
of the
Principality of Achaea The Principality of Achaea () or Principality of Morea was one of the three vassal states of the Latin Empire, which replaced the Byzantine Empire after the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. It became a vassal of the Kingdom o ...
in 1282 * Mathieu of Ratilly (13th century), builder of the near
Treigny Treigny () is a former commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France. On 1 January 2019, it was merged into the new commune Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe.Robert Knolles Sir Robert Knolles or Knollys ( – 15 August 1407; aged 81-82) was an important English knight of the Hundred Years' War, who, operating with the tacit support of the crown, succeeded in taking the only two major French cities, other tha ...
(ca. 1325–1407), English warlord during the
Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from disputed claims to the French Crown, ...
, based in Malicorne between 1358 and 1360 *
Antoine de Chabannes Antoine is a French given name (from the Latin ''Antonius'' meaning 'highly praise-worthy') that is a variant of Danton, Titouan, D'Anton and Antonin. The name is used in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, West Greenland, Haiti, French Guian ...
(1408-1488), Lord of Puisaye and builder of the Château de Saint-Fargeau


Early modern period

* (ca. 1460–1540), Catholic priest and poet from
Toucy Toucy () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. Personalities Toucy was the birthplace and hometown of Pierre Larousse, lexicographer and founder of the publ ...
* Antoine de Rochechouart (ca. 1488–1544), military leader and builder of the Château de Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye *
Hugues Cosnier Hugues Cosnier () was a French engineer who conceived of the Briare Canal who was born in Tours, 1573, and died in 1629. in Paris He proposed to Henri IV the idea of building a canal from the Loire River to the River Seine. It would go from Bri ...
(1573-1629), engineer and builder of the pioneering Briare Canal between the
Loire The Loire (, also ; ; oc, Léger, ; la, Liger) is the longest river in France and the 171st longest in the world. With a length of , it drains , more than a fifth of France's land, while its average discharge is only half that of the Rhône ...
and
Seine ) , mouth_location = Le Havre/Honfleur , mouth_coordinates = , mouth_elevation = , progression = , river_system = Seine basin , basin_size = , tributaries_left = Yonne, Loing, Eure, Risle , tributarie ...
rivers (via the
Loing The Loing () is a long river in central France, a left tributary of the Seine. Its source is in Sainte-Colombe-sur-Loing, in the southwestern of the department of Yonne, and it flows into the Seine in Saint-Mammès, near Moret-sur-Loing. Its ma ...
) which runs on the northwestern fringe of Puisaye * (1626-1702),
Knight Hospitaller The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem ( la, Ordo Fratrum Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani), commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), was a medieval and early modern Catholic military order. It was headq ...
and provincial prior of the Order for
Aquitaine Aquitaine ( , , ; oc, Aquitània ; eu, Akitania; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Aguiéne''), archaic Guyenne or Guienne ( oc, Guiana), is a historical region of southwestern France and a former administrative region of the country. Since 1 January ...
from 1691 to 1702, born in Malicorne *
Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier, (,  – ) known as ''La Grande Mademoiselle'', was the only daughter of Gaston d'Orléans with his first wife, Marie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier. One of the greatest heiresses in ...
(1627-1693) known as ''la Grande Mademoiselle'', owner of the Château de Saint-Fargeau who lived there in exile from Paris from 1652 to 1657 * (1680-1754), naval commander who participated in the
Siege of Louisbourg (1745) The siege of Louisbourg took place in 1745 when a New England colonial force aided by a British fleet captured Louisbourg, the capital of the French province of Île-Royale (present-day Cape Breton Island) during the War of the Austrian Suc ...
, born in Bitry


Late modern and contemporary period


Political, administrative and military leaders

* (1741-1818), army general during the French Revolution, born in Mézilles *
Louis-Michel le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau Louis-Michel le Peletier, Marquis of Saint-Fargeau (sometimes spelled Lepeletier; 29 May 176020 January 1793) was a French politician and martyr of the French Revolution. Career Born in Paris, he belonged to a well-known family, his great-gran ...
(1760-1793), iconic victim of 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 ...
* (1763-1827), army commander and author born in Bitry * (1764-1830), army general during the Napoleonic Wars born in Saint-Fargeau * (1774-1840), army general during the Napoleonic Wars born in
Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye () is a Communes of France, commune in the north-central French Departments of France, department of Yonne. It is located in an area historically known as Puisaye. In the early 1970s the Château de la Folie, north of the ...
* (1805-1891), politician and banker, born in Saint-Fargeau and owner of a mansion in ''L'Orme du Pont'' near
Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye () is a Communes of France, commune in the north-central French Departments of France, department of Yonne. It is located in an area historically known as Puisaye. In the early 1970s the Château de la Folie, north of the ...
* (1843-1922), industrialist, politician and philanthropist, died in
Briare Briare (, also known as Briare-le-Canal) is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. The composer and organist Henri Nibelle Henri Jules Joseph Nibelle (6 November 1883 – 18 November 1967) ...
* Albert Grodet (1853-1933), colonial administrator in
French Sudan French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...
,
Equatorial Africa Equatorial Africa is an ambiguous term that sometimes is used to refer either to the equatorial region of Sub-Saharan Africa traversed by the Equator, more broadly to tropical Africa or in a biological and geo-environmental sense to the intra-tr ...
and
French Guiana French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic ...
, born in Saint-Fargeau * Georges Demetz (1865-1942), commander of French colonial troops during World War I, born in Saint-Fargeau * (1867-1916), army general killed during World War I, born in Bléneau *
Léon Noël Léon Philippe Jules Arthur Noël (March 28, 1888 – August 6, 1987) was a French diplomat, politician and historian. Biography He is the son of Jules Noël, ''conseiller d'Etat'', and Cécile Burchard-Bélaváry. He received a Doctor of La ...
(1888-1987), senior civil servant and politician, resistant during World War II and historian (including on
Gilo of Toucy Gilo of Toucy, also called Gilo of Paris or Gilo of Tusculum (died 1139×1142), was a French poet and cleric. A priest before he became a monk at Cluny, he was appointed cardinal-bishop of Tusculum sometime between 1121 and 1123. He served as a pa ...
) who settled and died in
Toucy Toucy () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. Personalities Toucy was the birthplace and hometown of Pierre Larousse, lexicographer and founder of the publ ...


Scholars, scientists and industrialists

* (1791-1855), geographer born in Saint-Fargeau *
Jean-Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy André Jean Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy (1 January 1799 in Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye – 25 June 1857 in Paris) was a French physician and entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera (flies) and to some extent of the Coleoptera (beetles). ...
(1799-1857), polymath and
entomologist Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...
from
Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye () is a Communes of France, commune in the north-central French Departments of France, department of Yonne. It is located in an area historically known as Puisaye. In the early 1970s the Château de la Folie, north of the ...
*
Onésime Delafond Henri-Mamert-Onésime Delafond (13 February 1805 – 15 November 1861) was a French veterinarian born in Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye, Nièvre department. Delafond was one of the primary representatives of veterinary science in France during the first ...
(1805-1861),
veterinarian A veterinarian (vet), also known as a veterinary surgeon or veterinary physician, is a medical professional who practices veterinary medicine. They manage a wide range of health conditions and injuries in non-human animals. Along with this, vet ...
and pioneer of
bacteriology Bacteriology is the branch and specialty of biology that studies the morphology, ecology, genetics and biochemistry of bacteria as well as many other aspects related to them. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classificat ...
born in
Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye (, literally ''Saint-Amand in Puisaye'') is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France. Its sights include the Château de Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye, a representative work of French Renaissance architecture. S ...
* (1806-1861), mineralogist at France's
Corps des mines The ''Corps des mines'' is the foremost technical Grand Corps of the French State (grands corps de l'Etat). It is composed of the state industrial engineers. The Corps is attached to the French Ministry of Economy and Finance. Its purpose is to e ...
from
Toucy Toucy () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. Personalities Toucy was the birthplace and hometown of Pierre Larousse, lexicographer and founder of the publ ...
, of which he was also mayor from 1848 to 1860 * (1813-1885), industrialist and developer of the
Faïencerie de Gien The Faïencerie de Gien is a faience (or earthenware) factory in Gien, France.Pascale Nourisson, ''Une aventure industrielle. La manufacture de Briare (1837-1962)'', Rennes: Editions Alan Sutton, 2001, p. 18 It was founded in 1821 by Thomas Edme Hu ...
, died in
Briare Briare (, also known as Briare-le-Canal) is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. The composer and organist Henri Nibelle Henri Jules Joseph Nibelle (6 November 1883 – 18 November 1967) ...
*
Pierre Larousse Pierre Athanase Larousse (23 October 18173 January 1875) was a French grammarian, lexicographer and encyclopaedist. He published many of the outstanding educational and reference works of 19th-century France, including the 15-volume ''Grand dict ...
(1817-1875), one of the foremost French lexicographers, born in
Toucy Toucy () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. Personalities Toucy was the birthplace and hometown of Pierre Larousse, lexicographer and founder of the publ ...
* Eugène Lefébure (1838-1908), Egyptologist who worked in the
Valley of the Kings The Valley of the Kings ( ar, وادي الملوك ; Late Coptic: ), also known as the Valley of the Gates of the Kings ( ar, وادي أبوا الملوك ), is a valley in Egypt where, for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th ...
, born in
Prunoy Prunoy is a former Communes of France, commune in the Yonne Departments of France, department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Charny-Orée-de-Puisaye. The Château de P ...
* (1843-1931), Catholic priest and polymath scholar from
Toucy Toucy () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. Personalities Toucy was the birthplace and hometown of Pierre Larousse, lexicographer and founder of the publ ...
* Edgar Bérillon (1859-1948), psychiatrist and researcher of
hypnosis Hypnosis is a human condition involving focused attention (the selective attention/selective inattention hypothesis, SASI), reduced peripheral awareness, and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion.In 2015, the American Psychologica ...
, born in Saint-Fargeau * (1869-1951), inventor of an early type of fractional distillation column, born in
Parly Parly () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France. See also *Communes of the Yonne department The following is a list of the 423 communes of the Yonne department of France. The communes coop ...
* (1885-1965), inventor and developer of an automatic
transmission system :''See Transmission (mechanics) for a car's transmission system'' In telecommunications, a transmission system is a system that transmits a signal from one place to another. The signal can be an Signal (electrical engineering), electrical, optical ...
that paved the way for modern gearboxes in a manufacturing facility in Bléneau *
Hubert Reeves Hubert Reeves (born July 13, 1932), is a Canadian astrophysicist and popularizer of science. Early life and education Reeves was born in Montreal on July 13, 1932, and as a child lived in Léry. Reeves attended Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, a ...
(b. 1932), astrophysicist and popularizer of science, has lived part of his time in Malicorne for decades


Literature and arts

*
Henri Harpignies Henri-Joseph Harpignies (; June 28, 1819 – August 28, 1916) was a French people, French Landscape art, landscape painter of the Barbizon school. Life He was born at Valenciennes. His parents intended for him to pursue a business career, but ...
(1819-1916), French landscape painter of the
Barbizon school The Barbizon school of painters were part of an art movement towards Realism in art, which arose in the context of the dominant Romantic Movement of the time. The Barbizon school was active roughly from 1830 through 1870. It takes its name f ...
, buried in Saint-Privé *
Colette Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (; 28 January 1873 – 3 August 1954), known mononymously as Colette, was a French author and woman of letters. She was also a mime, actress, and journalist. Colette is best known in the English-speaking world for her ...
(1873-1954), author who was born in
Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye () is a Communes of France, commune in the north-central French Departments of France, department of Yonne. It is located in an area historically known as Puisaye. In the early 1970s the Château de la Folie, north of the ...
and wrote acclaimed works about her native land *
Julienne Mathieu Julienne Alexandrine Mathieu ( - ) was one of the earliest French silent film actresses who appeared mostly in French silents between 1905 and 1909. She appeared in the silent film '' Hôtel électrique'' released in 1908, one of the first films ...
(1874-1943), early
silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...
actress from
Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye () is a Communes of France, commune in the north-central French Departments of France, department of Yonne. It is located in an area historically known as Puisaye. In the early 1970s the Château de la Folie, north of the ...
*
Henri Nibelle Henri Jules Joseph Nibelle (6 November 1883 – 18 November 1967) was a French organist, choral conductor and composer. Biography Born in Briare, son and grandson of organists, Henri Nibelle attended the école Niedermeyer as early as 1898, b ...
(1883-1967), organist and composer born in
Briare Briare (, also known as Briare-le-Canal) is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. The composer and organist Henri Nibelle Henri Jules Joseph Nibelle (6 November 1883 – 18 November 1967) ...
* Marie Noël (1883-1967), poet who spent her vacations in
Diges Diges () is a Commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France. See also *Communes of the Yonne department The following is a list of the 423 communes of the Yonne department of France. The communes cooper ...
from 1928 and 1956 * Robert Gall (1918-1990), author of the lyrics of songs for
Edith Piaf Edith is a feminine given name derived from the Old English words ēad, meaning 'riches or blessed', and is in common usage in this form in English, German, many Scandinavian languages and Dutch. Its French form is Édith. Contractions and vari ...
and for his daughter
France Gall Isabelle Geneviève Marie Anne Gall (9 October 1947 – 7 January 2018), known professionally as France Gall, was a French ''yé-yé'' singer. In 1965, aged 17, she won the Eurovision Song Contest for Luxembourg. Between 1973 and 1992, s ...
, born in Saint-Fargeau * (1919-1979), stoneware artist who promoted Puisaye pottery and renovated the *
Hubert Deschamps Hubert Deschamps (13 September 1923 – 29 December 1998) was a French actor. He was the son of the museum curator Paul Deschamps (1888–1974) and uncle of the French stage director Jérôme Deschamps. Selected filmography * ''The Strol ...
(1923-1998), cinema actor who was buried in
Chêne-Arnoult Chêne-Arnoult is a former commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Charny-Orée-de-Puisaye.Antoine de Vinck (1924-1992), Belgian ceramist and sculptor, lived in
Treigny Treigny () is a former commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France. On 1 January 2019, it was merged into the new commune Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe.Jean d'Ormesson Count Jean Bruno Wladimir François de Paule Le Fèvre d'Ormesson (16 June 1925 – 5 December 2017) was a French novelist. He was the author of forty books, the director of '' Le Figaro'' from 1974 to 1979, and the Dean of the Académie français ...
(1925-2017), author whose family owned the Château de Saint-Fargeau about which he wrote in his novel ''Au Plaisir de Dieu'' * (1927-2012), journalist and writer, owned an estate in Saint-Vérain and was buried there


Other

* (1855-1927), explorer of West Africa born in Saint-Fargeau * (1869-1956), physician and organizer of France's Armenian community, lived and died in Bléneau * Jules Guiraud (1876-1952), First Deputy Governor of the
Bank of France The Bank of France ( French: ''Banque de France''), headquartered in Paris, is the central bank of France. Founded in 1800, it began as a private institution for managing state debts and issuing notes. It is responsible for the accounts of the F ...
from 1934 to 1937, owner of the Château de Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye from 1935 to 1947 * (1881-1974), record-breaking cyclist born in Champcevrais * (b. 1947), owner of the Château de Saint-Fargeau and promoter of the
Guédelon Castle Guédelon Castle (french: Château de Guédelon ) is a castle currently under construction near Treigny, France. The castle is the focus of an experimental archaeology project aimed at recreating a 13th-century castle and its environment using p ...
project


Selected sights

File:Tannerrre-ferrier-mining hole 3.JPG, Ferrier of Tannerre-en-Puisaye, an iron mining and working site in Antiquity File:Moutiers-en-Puisaye-FR-89-église-08.jpg, Church of the ancient monastery of Moutiers-en-Puisaye, home of
Rodulfus Glaber Rodulfus, or Raoul Glaber (which means "the Smooth" or "the Bald") (985–1047), was an 11th-century Benedictine chronicler. Life Glaber was born in 985 in Burgundy. At the behest of his uncle, a monk at Saint-Léger-de-Champeaux, Glaber was sent ...
File:Tour Sarrazine ou donjon de Saint Sauveur.jpg, 11th-century keep (''tour sarrazine'') in
Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye () is a Communes of France, commune in the north-central French Departments of France, department of Yonne. It is located in an area historically known as Puisaye. In the early 1970s the Château de la Folie, north of the ...
File:Tour des évêques.jpg, "Bishops' Tower" in
Toucy Toucy () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. Personalities Toucy was the birthplace and hometown of Pierre Larousse, lexicographer and founder of the publ ...
, first built in the 12th century File:Bléneau-FR-89-église-intérieur-a2.jpg, Saint-Loup Church in Bléneau File:Dammarie-en-Puisaye-FR-45-A-11.JPG, Medieval tower at Dammarie-en-Puisaye File:Treigny-FR-89-église-intérieur-09.jpg, Saint-Symphorian Church in
Treigny Treigny () is a former commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France. On 1 January 2019, it was merged into the new commune Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe.Château de Saint-Fargeau, built by
Antoine de Chabannes Antoine is a French given name (from the Latin ''Antonius'' meaning 'highly praise-worthy') that is a variant of Danton, Titouan, D'Anton and Antonin. The name is used in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, West Greenland, Haiti, French Guian ...
File:Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye-FR-58-château-vue arrière-03.jpg, Château de Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye File:Lalande-89-château-A02.JPG, Chateau de Lalande, 16th-17th century File:Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses - 01.jpg, The seven locks of
Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France. The name of the commune comes from its impressive seven locks on Briare Canal. Geography The commune is located some west of ...
on the Briare Canal, early 17th century File:Breteau-FR-45-la Colonne-02.jpg, Memorial of the
Battle of Bléneau The Battle of Bléneau was a battle of the Second Fronde fought on April 7, 1652, near Bléneau in France between the armies of the rebel Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé and the Royalist Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne. Cond ...
(1652), erected in 1875 File:Saints.Puisaye-tombe.Alfred Saison-01.JPG, Tomb of Alfred Saison, opponent of the 1851 coup d'état, in Saints-en-Puisaye File:Breteau-FR-45-château du Muguet-02.jpg, Château du Muguet in
Breteau Breteau () is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. Population See also *Communes of the Loiret department The following is the list of the 325 communes of the Loiret department of France. The communes cooperate in ...
, June 1940
Anglo-French Supreme War Council The Anglo-French Supreme War Council (SWC) was established to oversee joint military strategy at the start of the Second World War. Most of its deliberations took place during the period of the Phoney War, with its first meeting at Abbeville on ...
venue File:Chateau Trousse-Barrière1 briare.jpg, Château de Trousse-Barrière in
Briare Briare (, also known as Briare-le-Canal) is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France, in the historical region of Puisaye. The composer and organist Henri Nibelle Henri Jules Joseph Nibelle (6 November 1883 – 18 November 1967) ...
, built in the late 1880s File:Lac du Bourdon (Bourgogne)-1.jpg, Reservoir of Bourdon File:Château de Guédelon (France) en mai 2014 et moutons.jpg, Castle construction at Guédelon File:Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye-FR-58-poterie dans la cour du Château-01.jpg,
Stoneware Stoneware is a rather broad term for pottery or other ceramics fired at a relatively high temperature. A modern technical definition is a Vitrification#Ceramics, vitreous or semi-vitreous ceramic made primarily from stoneware clay or non-refracto ...
(''grès de Puisaye'') in
Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye (, literally ''Saint-Amand in Puisaye'') is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France. Its sights include the Château de Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye, a representative work of French Renaissance architecture. S ...


Notes

{{coord, 47, 38, N, 3, 04, E, region:FR_dim:50000, display=title Geography of France Geographical, historical and cultural regions of France