Martigné-Ferchaud

Martigné-Ferchaud
Marzhinieg-Houarnruz
Martigné-Ferchaud
Administration
Country France
Region Brittany
Department Ille-et-Vilaine
Arrondissement Fougères-Vitré
Canton Retiers
Intercommunality Pays de la Roche-aux-Fées
Mayor Pierre Jégu
(2008—2014)
Statistics
Elevation 42–121 m (138–397 ft)
Land area1 74.10 km2 (28.61 sq mi)
Population2 2,634  (1999)
 - Density 36 /km2 (93 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 35167/ 35640
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Martigné-Ferchaud (Breton: Marzhinieg-Houarnruz, Gallo: Marteinyaé-Fèrchaud) is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Bretagne in north-western France.

Contents

Name origin

Its name dates from the Gallo-Roman period being named for Martinus. The name was recorded in 1218 as Martigneum. The origin of the second part of the name is less clear. Fer chaud being translatable from the French as hot iron, the two most likely origins are either the practice of shoeing horses with hot iron or the local iron working industry.

Geography

The town lies in the middle of the commune, on the left bank of the Semnon, which flows westward through the commune.

History

In ancient times the town was part of the Riedones, one of the five Breton federations(2). Following the Roman invasion of 56BC it became part of the Province of Lyonnaise, under Governor Martinus.

Situated on the Roman road from Angers to Rennes, it was a main crossing point on the Semnon. It is believed to have had a small Roman garrison due to its strategic position as a river crossing and as a centre for arms manufacture.

The Roman legions withdrew from Gaul in 410AD.

During the feudal period judicial rights were administered by the local lord and that lord was required to give service to his sovereign. The service required of the lord of Martigne Ferchaud was 2 horsemen fully equipped, while that of Vitre was 5 men at arms.

The lord of Martigne had the right of High Justice, including capital crime.

Martigne Ferchaud was one of the larger country towns in the Region and was subject to the Barony of Vitre.

The title became associated by marriage with that of Chateaubriant in the 11th century.

Though predominantly an area of agriculture, metal smelting and working continued in Martigne from Roman times until the early 20th century.

Demographics

Inhabitants of Martigné-Ferchaud are called Martignolais.

Historical population of Martigné-Ferchaud
(Source : INSEE[1])
Year 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999
Population 3168 3227 3285 3150 2920 2634
From the year 1962 on: population without double counting—residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) are counted only once.

See also

References

  1. ^ Martigné-Ferchaud sur le site de l'Insee

(2) "Le Pays de Martigne Ferchaud" Yves Breton 1985

External links